Chelsea Under-21s fought hard at The Valley against senior opposition on Tuesday evening, but despite our efforts we were unable to counter an early goal in the first half and two more in the second, as we suffered our first defeat in this season's EFL Bristol Street Motors Trophy.
The Blues faced League One opponents Charlton Athletic in the first of two fixtures in five days, and our second of this season's EFL Trophy after last month's win over Bromley.
We started this clash strong and looked threatening upfield. However, the home side broke the deadlock just 10 minutes in, when Miles Leaburn connected with Thierry Small's cross to head into the back of the net. Despite being one down as we returned for the second half, we displayed promising traits and looked dangerous, forcing the Charlton keeper into multiple saves, but he stood tall and protected his goal well.
Leaburn then secured his brace with another header that found the bottom corner, extending the senior team's advantage. As we entered the dying moments of the game in stoppage time, with Chelsea pushing for a consolation goal, Charlton substitute Tyreece Campbell completed their victory with a low shot that ended the match.
Finding our rhythm
Chelsea started the game strongly and adjusted well to the tempo of a senior match against League One side Charlton. Early on, a lovely piece of team play nearly ended with Harvey Vale providing the opener. The move began with Tyrique George driving impressively upfield and spotting Deivid Washington in the area, who flicked a perfect through-ball to Vale. Our captain struck a powerful effort across the face of goal, but it flashed just past the post.
Our experienced opponents quickly fought back, capitalising on a swift break. Leaburn made a confident run, heading straight toward goal, but our shot-stopper Max Merrick did well to come off his line and smother the ball to protect the net.
Charlton soon threatened again from a set-piece. Although Blues defender Kaiden Wilson cleared the initial corner, Small gathered it outside the area and hammered in a shot from distance that drifted wide.
Falling behind
As the first half unfolded, so did the pace and intensity, with our opponents managing to take the lead. Small sprung onto a loose pass from our keeper as we tried to play out from the back, then sent in a looping cross to the far post, where Leaburn was perfectly positioned to head home.
The Addicks, with their energy, soon had a chance to double their advantage. Allan Campbell forced Merrick into a save with a chipped effort from range, but our keeper stayed composed and leaped to deny him an audacious goal.
Chelsea reacted well, quickly creating a chance with the same Blues trio coming into play as early in the game. George showcased skillful footwork on the wing and whipped the ball over to Deivid, who controlled it on his chest and passed to Vale for a shot that was unfortunately blocked by a defender.
Not long after, Chelsea were gifted a free-kick in a promising position about 30 yards out after a Charlton defender fouled Deivid. Vale stepped up and, although his whipped effort had power and spin, Ashley Maynard-Brewer managed to get his hands to it and turn the shot away.
As the interval approached, we continued to build confidence and aggression. Striker Shumaira Mheuka nearly secured an equaliser after Deivid’s excellent work inside the penalty area. Holding off his marker, Deivid found Mheuka, who fired a shot from a tight angle, but the keeper reacted swiftly and blocked the effort with his leg.
Despite our determination, the hosts held on to their lead and we went into the break 1-0 down, leaving us with work to do in the second half to mount a comeback.
Addicks push ahead
The Blues began the second half with renewed energy and initially emerged as the stronger side with the first real attacking threat. Richard Olise stormed into the area, where Mheuka took over and hit a powerful volley, but Maynard-Brewer somehow stopped the effort again.
Instead, the hosts doubled their advantage through Leaburn, who struck a second for his side. Found in space at the back post, he connected with Terry Taylor's corner with a controlled header and guided it into the bottom of the net.
Chance after chance
Looking to get back into the game, Filipe Coelho turned to his bench for fresh legs. Jimmy-Jay Morgan immediately made an impact and combined well with Olise, though Morgan’s effort was blocked by a defender before it reached the net. Ishe Samuels-Smith tried his luck next, hammering a strike from distance that just sailed over the crossbar.
Maynard-Brewer was forced into a double save and it was desperately unlucky for the Blues that we somehow didn’t find the back of the net. Another substitute Reiss Denny made a brilliant run upfield and shook off a defender to find open space, drilling a strike from distance. That was saved and when Mheuka arrived to smash in the rebound, our striker was denied again by the keeper's quick reflexes in a brilliant double-stop.
Mheuka continued pressing and set up Ato Ampah for a one-on-one chance. Ampah used his speed to sprint into space in the left channel and unleashed a right-footed strike, but the Charlton keeper stood strong once more and made it difficult to find a way past.
The action then turned end-to-end as Charlton got back into the swing of the game, countering as we pushed forward hoping to half the deficit. Merrick was tested and made a great save to stop Campbell’s curled effort, but it didn’t seem to trouble our keeper.
However, as we entered the final moments of stoppage time, Charlton continued to battle and look for opportunities on the break, which eventually led to them extending their lead. Substitute Tyreece Campbell completed the scoring with the final kick of the game, finishing off a solo goal by firing a shot in at the near post, making the final score 3-0 in favour of the men's team.
What's next
Chelsea Under-21s return to action this Friday evening, when focus switches back to our Premier League 2 campaign. We will host Arsenal at Kingsmeadow, with kick-off scheduled for 7pm. Tickets are available priced at £7 for adults or £5 for juniors and seniors, with every supporter purchasing tickets for that match being entered into a prize draw to win tickets for the men's Premier League match between Chelsea and Arsenal at Stamford Bridge 10 days later.
The teams
Chelsea (3-4-2-1): Max Merrick; Brodi Hughes, Kaiden Wilson (Travis Akomeah 68), Ishe Samuels-Smith; Richard Olise, Samuel Rak-Sakyi (Reiss Denny 68), Alex Matos (Kiano Dyer 45+1), Harvey Vale (c); Deivid Washington (Jimmy-Jay Morgan 60), Tyrique George (Ato Ampah 69); Shumaira Mheuka
Unused subs: Hudson Sands, Somto Boniface
Booked: Matos 38, Coelho 75
Charlton Athletic (4-4-2): Ashley Maynard-Brewer, Greg Docherty (c), Miles Leaburn (Danny Hylton 66), Terry Taylor (Kaheim Dixon 87), Tayo Edun, Nathan Asiimwe (Josh Laqeretabu 86), Zach Mitchell, Rarmani Edmonds-Green, Thierry Small, Allan Campbell, Henry Rylah (Tyreece Campbell 66)
Unused subs: Tommy Reid, Macaulay Gillesphey, Conor Coventry
Scorers: Leaburn 10, 52, Campbell 90+4
Booked: Rylah 23, Edmonds-Green 26, Edun 38, Taylor 55, Hylton 7