Ed Brand's side salvaged a point after going down early in the first half against AC Milan to ensure our young Blues are still in a good position to qualify from the group.

Chelsea were dealt an early blow as a quick free-kick caught out keeper Ted Curd, who parried the effort into the path of Jan-Carlo Simic to tap into the net. Following that, we had a number of chances to level the scores as Jude Soonsup-Bell, Castledine and Tudor Mendel-Idowu all went close.

It was not until the second half however that we finally levelled the scores as a flowing team move was finished off by Castledine. The midfielder and Youth League debutant Tyrique George both had late chances to win it for us but neither could convert.

Two points from our last two games means we are only three points behind AC Milan, who top the group, so a win against the young Rossoneri next week in Italy will put us level.

Team news

There were a number of changes from the draw against RB Salzburg. There were first starts in the competition for Josh Acheampong, Harrison McMahon and Mendel-Idowu. With Bashir Humphreys and Alfie Gilchrist absent, Jimi Tauriainen captained the side.

Kiano Dyer also returned to the line-up after being involved in the defeat against Dinamo Zagreb.

Early blow

Both sides threatened early on with brief openings on goal which were closed down by defenders on either side. However, the away team did shade the possession as our young Blues were content with frustrating their advancements towards goal and pouncing on their mistakes.

With just over 10 minutes gone though it was AC Milan who took the lead as a free-kick surprised goalkeeper Curd, who scrambled to parry off his line but could not stop Simic coming in to score the rebound. It was an early blow after our promising start.

The chances from both teams following the goal were minimal, if at all, but we did go close when Dyer won the ball back in midfield and fed Soonsup-Bell, who went on a darting run but just as he was about to pull the trigger, he was halted by a combination of the Milan centre-backs.

Easing our way back

Our best chance of the half came 10 minutes before the whistle as good work down the right from Mendel-Idowu and Acheampong allowed Soonsup-Bell to run into the box. As he slalomed his way closer to goal, it seemed as if he had lost possession but a slip from Wilgot Marshage allowed the striker to shoot. It was a big chance but goalkeeper Lapo Nava saved well.

Curd was called into action and had to make a very good stop to prevent Chaka Traore, who beat Zak Sturge on the outside for pace from doubling the away side’s lead.

Total dominance

We started the second period quickly and created the first opportunity as Castledine was slid in by Tauriainen but his powerful shot was parried away routinely by Nava.

We were edging closer to an equaliser and Soonsup-Bell, who had been at the heart of most of our good work, had another chance. A cross from Sturge fell to the young striker and his goal-bound effort was headed away well Dorian Paloschi.

The second period was being played totally in the Milan half and we scored a fantastic team goal to level the score. Soonsup-Bell drove towards goal and slid in Sturge on the left, whose first-time delivery found an unmarked Castledine who swept home for his third goal in this year’s competition.

The goal woke our opponents up after a slow start to the second half from them, but they fashioned their first chance from a corner as second-half substitute Jordan Longhi’s overhead kick came off the crossbar.

Captain Gabriele El Hilali almost placed the ball into the goal but Curd watched the ball all the way and tipped it round the post. It was clear that both sides were looking for a winner and Castledine almost grabbed it as a delightful cross found a head in the centre but the effort just went wide.

With only stoppage time left to play, Castledine and George, a substitute of our own, combined as another one of our debutants in this competition latched onto Castledine’s pass but he fired wide.

That was how the game would end as our young Blues come from behind to secure a point against their Italian opponents. We return to action in this competition next week on Wednesday to face AC Milan away from home.

Chelsea(4-3-3) Ted Curd; Josh Acheampong, Brodi Hughes, Travis Akomeah, Zak Sturge; Kiano Dyer, Jimi Tauriainen (c), Harrison McMahon (Zain Silcott-Duberry 64); Leo Castledine, Tudor Mendel-Idowu (Tyrique George 81), Jude Soonsup-Bell (Frankie Runham 78)
Unused subs Max Merrick, Harrison Murray-Campbell, Somto Boniface, Michael Golding
Scorer Castledine 65

AC Milan(4-3-3) Lapo Nava; Adam Bakoune, Jan-Carlo Simic, Dorian Paloschi, Davide Bartesaghi; Victor Ehuwa-Eletu (Nicholas Pluvio 62), Wilgot Marshage, Kevin Zeroli Dariusz Piotr-Stalmach 70); Chaka Traore (Gabriele Alesi 70), Federico Mangiameli (Jordan Longhi 62), Gabriele El Hilali (c) (Pietro Parmiggiani 90+2)
Unused subs Lorenzo Torriani, Andrea Bozzolan
Scorer Simic 10
Booked Piotr-Stalmach 72; Alesi 73

-Additional picture courtesy of Mark Sandom