FA Youth Cup Semi-Final, 2nd Leg, 2016-17
           Stamford Bridge, Fulham Broadway
           Saturday 18th March 2017, 5.15pm.

               CHELSEA     v      SPURS
              (All Blue)       (White/Blue)
               4-2-3-1           4-2-3-1

                 7(3)              1(0)
            (Chelsea win 9-2 on aggregate) 

           Jared Thompson  1  Brandon Austin
              Reece James  2  Timothy Eyoma
          Trevoh Chalobah  3  Nicholas Tsaroulla
             Joshua Grant  4  George Marsh(C)
            Juan Castillo  5  Jonathan Dinzeyi
             Tariq Uwakwe  6  Japhet Tanganga
           Dujon Sterling  7  Reo Griffiths
             Jacob Maddox  8  Tashan Oakley-Boothe
                 Ike Ugbo  9  Kazaiah Sterling
           Mason Mount(C) 10  Dylan Duncan
         George McEachran 11  Jack Roles

               Marc Guehi 12  Samuel Shashoua
                (2)64Mins
            Jamie Cumming 13  Alfie Whiteman
           Luke McCormick 14  Jaden Brown
                              (3)52Mins
       Callum Hudson-Odoi 15  Keanan Bennetts
                (6)58Mins     (7)74Mins
          Harvey St.Clair 16  Oliver Skipp
                (9)68Mins     (10)61Mins

Scorers:-
    Ugbo 4,37(pen), 68 Roles 69
    Chalobah 18
    Sterling 56
    Hudson-Odoi 58
    Castillo 85

Booked:-
                              Tsaroulla 20(Foul)
                              Marsh 40(Late)
                              Roles 64(Foul)

Coaches:-
              Jody Morris     John McDermott 

Attendance:– 3314

Referee:– John Busby
Assistants:– Christopher Wade & Graham Kane
Fourth Official:– Aji Ajibola

Spurs travelled to Stamford Bridge for the second leg of the tie only 2-1 down having survived a battering at White Hart Lane. Both sides made a few changes from the first leg from almost identical squads. Chelsea's ability to aquire good young players every season has led them to be the dominant force in the southern Academy league and the Cup finalists for six of the last seven years. Long gone were the days when Spurs would beat them regularly and the likelihood of them turning this tie around were slim.

Spurs lined up with Austin in goal behind Dinzeyi and Tanganga with Eyoma at right back and Tsaroulla on the left. Marsh anchored the midfield with Oakley-Boothe. Ahead of them was Duncan flanked by Griffiths on the right and Roles on the left in support of Sterling up front. Bennetts and Shashoua were left on the bench which reduced the width up front.

Spurs defended the South end in the first half and were pushed back from the start as Chelsea pressed using pace on the wings taking an early lead when James crossed for Ugbo to head in. Roles played in Griffiths for a chance that was saved before Castillo drew a save from Austin and seconds later McEachran also had an effort saved before Chelsea got another goal when Mount crossed for Chalobah to fire home.

Tsaroulla got an early booking for a tackle from behind with the free kick finding the head of Chalobah only for Austin to save. Spurs won a penalty when Sterling was fouled by Mount. Sterling took the kick which was saved by Thompson going for the top corner.

McEachran got round Austin but hit the near post with his effort before Chelsea got a penalty when Tsaroulla fouled Dujon Sterling. Ugbo drove the ball straight down the middle as Austin went to his right. Marsh was booked for a late challenge on McEachran as the home side continued to press. Chalobah fired wide before Ugbo had a goal disallowed and Maddox fired over before the break.

There were no changes for the start of the second half but after Roles fired wide Spurs made a quick change with Brown replacing Tsaroulla. Griffiths played in Sterling to fire wide before Chelsea scored again when Castillo got down the left and crossed for their Sterling to score at the far post.

Spurs were now pushing players forward leaving gaps at the back. McEachran was gifted the ball from a poor clearance by Austin but chipped wide. Sterling played in McEachran to draw a save from Austin, but the keeper could do little when Hudson-Odoi was played through for a one on one for the fifth goal.

Skipp replaced Duncan in midfield to allow Oakley-Boothe to move forward but after Roles was booked for a foul, Ugbo completed his hat-trick with the sixth goal. Spurs finally got on the score-sheet when Griffiths was played in on the right for a strike that was saved but Roles followed up to score.

Spurs last change was forced on them when Griffiths went down with what looked like an ankle injury. He was replaced by Bennetts. Chelsea looked to close out the game but still found gaps for Mount and Castillo to draw saves from Austin before Castillo drove forward to score their seventh . There was still time McEachran to fire over in added time.

This was the heaviest defeat I have seen suffered by Spurs and shows the gulf between the two sides. Spurs had scored 21 goals getting to the semi-final while Chelsea had not conceded any goals until meeting Spurs. Spurs had few chances against the"Blues"' defence in both matches and the pace and strength of their attack was too much for a usually sound defence. Spurs now start the second phase of the league with a home match against Stoke City on Saturday morning. Stoke were hammered 6-0 by Manchester City in the first leg of the other semi-final and drew 2-2 against Fulham in their first second phase match on Saturday.

Ray

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