Chelsea started brightly, dictating the tempo and applying sustained pressure in the opening stages, but early dominance went unrewarded as we were unable to turn possession into a breakthrough.

Spurs grew into the contest and took the lead shortly after the half-hour mark when Armend Muslika curled a free-kick into the top corner. Despite continuing to probe, we headed into the interval trailing by one.

The response came soon after the restart. Ezenwata confidently converted from the penalty spot following a handball inside the box to level the scores. However, Tottenham restored their advantage moments later through a close-range finish from Tyler Tingey.

Chelsea refused to let the setback halt their momentum. New signing Jashayde Greenwood marked his debut in style, reacting quickest to a rebound and firing home to bring us level once more. It was a proud moment for the young forward and a timely boost for the side.

With confidence restored, we pushed hard for a late winner, but despite our relentless effort the contest ended all square in what proved to be an intense and entertaining London derby.

Quick start

Chelsea started with real intent, flying out of the blocks and immediately putting Spurs under sustained pressure. Lewi Richards stormed down the left and drilled a low cross across the face of goal, signalling our attacking intent from the first whistle.

Ezenwata was next to threaten. Latching onto a through ball, he lifted a delicate effort over the goalkeeper, only to be denied by a covering defender who hooked the ball off the line at full stretch.

The momentum stayed firmly with the Blues. Sol Gordon drove forward with purpose on the opposite flank, repeatedly testing the Spurs backline. The visitors offered a reminder of their threat on the break, as Jamel Beggs tried his luck from distance, but Freddy Bernal was equal to it with a confident save.

Chelsea quickly regained control. Charlie Holland went close with a powerful strike from the edge of the box that skimmed inches over the bar, and with pressure mounting, Mathis Eboue forced Dylan Thompson into another stop from range as we approached the half-hour mark.

Our pressure continued to mount. Holland weaved brilliantly inside the penalty area and appeared to be brought down, but the referee waved away strong appeals. Play continued and Kobe Barbour reacted quickest to the loose ball. He curled a superb effort towards the far corner, only for Thompson to tip it wide at full stretch.

Against the run of play

Despite our control of the game, it was Spurs who found the opener. A free-kick from a dangerous position was whipped into the top corner by Muslika, leaving Bernal helpless as it flew beyond his reach. It came against the run of play after a half we had largely dictated.

We looked to respond immediately. Kobe Barbour found space on the edge of the box and tried his luck, but his effort rose over the bar.

Our best chance of the half came in stoppage time. Richards delivered another pinpoint free-kick into the six-yard area, and Ezenwata met it cleanly at close range, but keeper Thompson produced an outstanding save to deny the equaliser and send Spurs into the break with a narrow lead.

Spurs started the second half with purpose and came close to extending their lead within minutes of the restart. Miracle Adewole found space inside the box and drilled a low effort towards goal, but it ricocheted off the post.

We quickly issued a response. Eboue surged into the area and unleashed a powerful strike, drawing a strong save from Thompson before the rebound cannoned off the woodwork. The momentum was shifting - and moments later, it fully swung in our favour.

Back on level terms

A corner from Richards sparked chaos in the Spurs penalty area and a defender was penalised for a blatant handball. Up stepped Ezenwata, composed as ever, to send the goalkeeper the wrong way and calmly slot home from the spot to level the scores at 1-1.

The lead was short-lived. Spurs launched a swift counter, and although Bernal produced a strong save from Samal Bangura, the loose ball fell to Tingey, who reacted quickest to force it over the line and restore Spurs’ advantage.

The young Blues refused to be shaken and continued to press for another equaliser. Reggie Watson delivered a perfectly lofted cross to the back post, where Ezenwata rose highest and met it with a firm header. The effort looked destined to find the net but rattled back off the post. Greenwood reacted fastest, smashing the rebound home to make it 2-2.

With momentum firmly on our side, we pushed for a late winner. Substitute Ibrahim Rabbaj injected energy and pace, racing past defenders before unleashing a powerful strike on goal. Thompson was equal to it, tipping the effort wide to keep the scores level.

Despite relentless efforts from both sides in the closing stages, neither could find a decisive goal, and the points were shared in a thrilling London derby.

What's next

The Under-18s will resume our league campaign next Saturday with an away match against Reading at Bearwood Park Training Ground. The game kicks off at 11am and will be available to watch for free via live stream on the Chelsea Official App and website.

The teams

Chelsea (4-3-3): Freddy Bernal; Lewi Richards, Dante Waite, Olutayo Subuloye (c) (Jacob Hall 64), Calvin Diakite (Reggie Watson 67); Isaac Badu, Charlie Holland, Mathis Eboue (Jashayde Greenwood 67); Kobe Barbour (Ibrahim Rabbaj 64), Chizaram Ezenwata, Sol Gordon
Unused sub: Hezekiah Grimwade
Scorers: Ezenwata (pen) 52, Greenwood 74
Booked: Bernal 55, Waite 83

Tottenham Hotspur: Dylan Thompson, Tyler Tingey, Harry Byrne (Ezra Agyekum 70), Malachi Hardy (Tye Hall 70), Elijah Upson, Jamel Beggs, Oliver Boast, Samal Bangura, Reiss Elliot-Parris, Armend Muslika (Ronny Moncur 78), Miracle Adewole (Leon Myrtaj 78)
Unused sub: Blake Irow
Scorers: Muslika 35, Tingey 54
Booked: Beggs 36, Byrne 55, Moncur 80