The Blues made an energetic start on away turf, dominating possession and pressing high from the first whistle. Our intensity was rewarded when a handball in the build-up gave Chelsea a penalty. Watson stepped up and calmly converted to give the Blues an early lead.

Leicester gradually grew into the game and were level just before the break. Alpha Diallo rose highest from a corner to head home and send the sides into the interval on level terms.

Chelsea began the second half with renewed energy and purpose. Our persistence earned a second penalty. Watson confidently converted to mark his fourth Under-18 league goal.

Ibrahim Rabbaj then put the finishing touches on a memorable afternoon. He first fired home with composure into the bottom corner, doubled his tally with a curling strike late on and completed his hat-trick in stoppage time with a low, clinical finish.

It was a commanding performance from start to finish. We returned to Cobham with all three points and a statement victory that propels us to the top of the Under-18 Premier League table.

Bright opening

Chelsea made a bright start to our weekend fixture away from home, pushing forward with intent and applying early pressure on the Leicester City backline. Despite that energy, the opening stages were cagey, with both sides struggling to create a clear opening.

As the game settled, it was the hosts who registered the first attempt on goal. Lorenz Hutchinson found space down the flank and drove a low effort towards goal, but Hudson Sands was well-positioned to make a comfortable save.

Chelsea responded quickly at the other end. Rabbaj was fouled just outside the penalty area, earning the Blues a free-kick in a dangerous position. Watson, fresh from scoring a free-kick earlier in the week during our 3-2 win over Reading, stepped up confidently. His effort took a slight deflection and skimmed the roof of the net, coming agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock.

Patience paying off

The breakthrough arrived on the half-hour when we were awarded a penalty. After sustained pressure, Rabbaj lifted the ball into the area, striking Hutchinson’s arm and leaving the referee with little hesitation in pointing to the spot.

Watson stepped up with trademark composure, sending Freddie Marson the wrong way and rolling the ball into the bottom corner to put us 1-0 ahead at the Leicester City Training Ground.

The hosts almost responded immediately from a dangerous set-piece. A whipped corner found Maxwell Adedeji at close range, but Sands produced an excellent reflex save to keep the Blues in front.

Foxes fight back

Leicester’s sustained pressure eventually paid off from another set-piece. Joseph Corden delivered a teasing corner into the box, and towering midfielder Diallo rose highest to power a header home.

Chelsea responded well and nearly regained the lead before the interval. Riley Ebho drove forward with intent and squared the ball to Jashyade Greenwood, whose strike from the centre of the box rattled the side post. It proved to be the final action of the first half, with the sides heading into the break level at 1-1.

After the interval, Chelsea wasted no time in pressing for the lead. Sol Gordon delivered a neat ball into the penalty area, which defender Jacob Hall flicked goalbound, but Marson was alert to gather comfortably.

Restoring our advantage in style

Dan Hogan made his first changes of the afternoon, bringing on Kobe Barbour and Chizaram Ezenwata for Gordon and Greenwood. Barbour immediately made an impact, charging forward and playing a perfectly timed through ball to Mathis Eboue. The striker’s sliding effort from close range rattled the side netting, missing by inches.

Our persistence paid off when we were awarded a second penalty. Barbour was brought down in the area after Leicester defender Will Lawrence could not match his pace and footwork. Watson stepped up confidently once again, sending Marson the wrong way and tucking the ball into the bottom corner to claim his brace and our second penalty of the game.

Our hat-trick hero!

With momentum firmly on our side, we continued to dominate. A quick, incisive counter-attack saw Ezenwata spot Rabbaj, who was completely unmarked with a clear run on goal. The winger remained calm under pressure and slid the ball into the bottom corner.

Chelsea kept the pressure high, and it paid off again. Lewi Richards spotted Rabbaj making another lively run. The winger weaved past his marker before curling a composed finish past the Foxes’ keeper, sending the Blues into celebrations.

And Rabbaj wasn’t finished. In stoppage time, following a high press from us, Ezenwata rolled the ball across the box, and Rabbaj was first to react, calmly slotting the ball low to complete his hat-trick and cap a perfect afternoon for the Blues.

What's next

Chelsea will continue our Under-18 Premier League campaign by hosting Crystal Palace on Saturday 24 January, with an 11am kick-off. The match will be available to watch free of charge on the Chelsea Official App and website.

The teams

Chelsea (4-3-3): Hudson Sands; Riley Ebho (Isago Silva 78), Lewi Richards, Jacob Hall, Dante Waite; Charlie Holland, Mathis Eboue, Reggie Watson; Ibrahim Rabbaj, Jashayde Greenwood (Chizaram Ezenwata 54), Sol Gordon (Kobe Barbour 54)
Unused substitute: Aaron Woolford
Scorers: Watson (P) 30, (P) 61, Rabbaj 68, 88, 90+2
Booked: Watson 62, Waite 66

Leicester City: Freddie Marson, Will Lawrence, Fabian Simons, Tanashe Manyumba, Alpha Diallo, Maxwell Adedeji, David Anugo, Christian Boothe, Lorenz Hutchinson (Luqman Aideed 63), Joseph Corden (Jake Fletcher h-t), Birmark Owusu (Joseph Colangelo-Allen 79)
Unused substitutes: Leo Stretton, Alfie Dignum
Scorer: Diallo 37
Booked: Boothe 49, Lawrence 66