On a clear evening, Chelsea started on the front foot, controlling possession and creating early chances. It was Dujuan Richards who broke the deadlock 15 minutes in, producing a powerful, well-taken strike to give the Blues a deserved lead heading into the interval.

Aston Villa responded after the break, with Trai-Varn Mulley finding the net to level the scores, but Chelsea refused to let up, continuing to press forward and create opportunities as we hunted for the winner.

Introduced as a substitute, Leo Cardoso made an instant impact. Even as stoppage time approached and the game seemed destined for a draw, the Portuguese international kept the Blues’ hopes alive. He delivered a stunning last-minute strike to seal a dramatic victory, marking it three consecutive Premier League 2 wins for Chelsea Under-21s.

Chelsea began the fixture with confidence, enjoying plenty of possession and looking to make an early mark in opposition territory, but it was Villa who carved out the first real chance. Rodrigo Fortes delivered a dangerous cross that looked destined to find Mulley at close range but, to Chelsea’s relief, the striker’s header flew over the bar.

The Blues responded quickly with a chance of our own. Ryan Kavuma-McQueen, ever dangerous on the flank, surged forward with pace before unleashing a powerful strike from outside the area, only to see the ball rise over the crossbar. It was a promising reaction.

What a hit!

With Chelsea building momentum, the breakthrough felt inevitable - and it arrived in style. Landon Emenalo powered down the wing before cutting the ball back into the path of Richards. After a neat first touch outside the penalty area, the forward unleashed a thunderous strike that flew past Ronnie Hollingshead in goal to give the Blues a deserved lead.

We almost doubled our advantage moments later. Richards turned creator, sending a pinpoint cross towards Kavuma-McQueen at the back post, but the winger glanced his header narrowly wide. It was a real warning for Villa.

Richards was involved in another dangerous moment soon after. Following a swift counter-attack, the lively winger drove into the box, showing strength and skill before flicking an effort towards goal. However, Charlie Pavey was alert to the danger, producing a crucial goal-line clearance to keep the deficit at just one.

Villa reminded us of their threat just after the half-hour mark. Alfie Lynskey delivered a dangerous cross that picked out Cole Brannigan, but the striker couldn’t connect cleanly and his close-range effort trickled wide.

The final chance of a frantic first half also went the way of the hosts. From a free-kick, Aidan Borland lofted a ball into the box, where Mohamed Kone met it under pressure from Harrison McMahon. His effort, hurried and off-balance, drifted wide - meaning Chelsea held our advantage going into the break.

The second half began with the same intensity as the first. Chelsea pushed Villa back, forcing them into defensive work early on. Kavuma-McQueen whipped in a dangerous cross towards captain Shumaira Mheuka, looking to get the striker into the game, but the hosts’ defence stood firm to block.

There was a welcome moment soon after as winger Ato Ampah made his first appearance of the 2025/26 campaign, returning from the injury that kept him out of the opening fixtures.

Back on level terms

Despite Chelsea’s bright start, Villa found a way back into the contest. Pavey drove forward and delivered a low cross into the area, where striker Mulley burst onto the ball and finished clinically beyond Ted Curd to level the scores at 1-1.

Chelsea immediately looked to respond. Substitute Ampah tried his luck from distance, striking a powerful effort on target, but Hollingshead was equal to it with a confident catch. The pressure kept building as the Blues sought to restore our lead.

Midfielder Reggie Walsh was next to go close, letting fly from outside the penalty area, but his shot skipped just wide of the post.

Giving our all

As the match entered the final 10 minutes, the contest grew increasingly feisty, as both sides battled for the winner. Chelsea pushed forward relentlessly in search of the decisive goal.

Ampah found captain Mheuka on the edge of the box and the striker pivoted sharply before unleashing a powerful effort that looked destined for the back of the net, only for a Villa defender to make a crucial block.

Moments later, Kian Best went close with a fierce strike from a tight angle, forcing Hollingshead into a smart save as the Villa goalkeeper tipped the stinging effort away.

As the clock ticked towards full-time, Ampah once again made the difference in the build-up. Driving forward with purpose, he cut the ball back perfectly for Ollie Harrison, who arrived unmarked inside the area. The midfielder struck low towards goal, but Hollingshead somehow produced another vital stop to deny the Blues.

Deep into stoppage time, Chelsea were handed another opportunity, when Harrison Murray-Campbell was brought down inside the box and the referee pointed to the spot. Mheuka stepped up with the chance to seal the win, but Hollingshead guessed correctly and made the save.

Our big moment!

It was only a temporary reprieve for Villa in the end, though The decisive strike eventually arrived in the sixth minute of added time, and it was worth the wait.

Substitute Cardoso collected a simple pass from McMahon, drove forward with purpose, and unleashed a stunning effort from distance that flew beyond the Villa goalkeeper and in off the left-hand post. The Blues erupted in celebration as Cardoso’s last-gasp winner sealed all three points away from home.

What it means

Chelsea Under-21s go clear at the top of the Premier League 2 table with maximum points from our opening three games. Manchester United or Fulham could level our tally of nine points when they play their last games before the international break, although they would need to win by at least five to match our impressive early goal difference of +8.

What's next

Chelsea Under-21s' next Premier League 2 fixture is scheduled for Saturday 20 September, when we host Ipswich Town at Kingsmeadow, with kick-off at 2pm.

All supporters with a men's or women's season ticket, or a Chelsea Membership, as well as anyone under the age of 20, can claim one free ticket for the game via their online ticket account, until midday on Friday 19 September. All other tickets can be purchased for £4 each online or, from two hours before kick-off, at the Kingsmeadow ticket office.

The teams

Chelsea (4-3-3): Ted Curd; Genesis Antwi, Harrison Murray-Campbell, Kaiden Wilson, Landon Emenalo (Kian Best 79); Harrison McMahon, Ollie Harrison, Reggie Walsh; Dujuan Richards (Leo Cardoso h-t), Shumaira Mheuka (c), Ryan Kavuma-McQueen (Ato Ampah 56)
Unused subs: Hudson Sands, Richard Olise
Scorers: Richards 15, Cardoso 90+6
Booked: Wilson 33, Kavuma-McQueen 44, Best 79

Aston Villa: Ronnie Hollingshead, Ashton McWilliams, Rodrigo Fortes, Theodore Carroll, Leon Routh (Calum Moreland 78), Aidan Borland (c), Charlie Pavey, Mohamed Kone, Trai-Varn Mulley, Cole Brannigan (Woody Burgess 86), Alfie Lynskey (Markie Meade 65)
Unused subs: Rhys Oakley, Oliver Bindley
Scorer: Mulley 58
Booked: McWilliams 21, Kone 45, Pavey 90+4