Chelsea u-18 2 Manchester City u-18 1 (5-2)

Last updated : 27 April 2015 By Paul Lagan

Chelsea's future is in good hands if just a couple of this young crop venture into the first team dressing room.

Perhaps the watching Roman Abramovich might be tempted to keep his millions in his back pocket and ensure Dominic Solanke or Tammy Abrahams become the strikeforce of the future.

Either way this FA Youth Cup final victory over fellow mega bucks Manchester City demonsgrates the the academy system in place is producing quality young footballers.

Chelsea retained their FA Youth Cup title with a composed 2-1 victory over Manchester City at Stamford Bridge tonight, winning the title 5-2 on aggregate for a fourth time in six appearances in the last eight years.

An early strike by City live wire Kelechi Iheanacho after six minutes suggested that Chelsea's 3-1 first leg lad might be threatened but a classy equaliser from Isaiah Brown and a smooth strike by Tammy Abrahams was enough to quell any potential City comeback and sent the majority of the 13,000 crowd home happy.
The visitors were determined to strike first to set the tempo of the game and they started the brighter, and on six minutes, with their first attack they scored. Aron Neman, on the right, put in a regulation cross into the Chelsea penalty area. Iheanacho nipped in front of Fikayo Tomori and slotted home from close range past goalkeeper Bradley Collins.
Chelsea's greater experience of the big occasions at youth level meant that Joe Edwards's side maintained their composure, retained the ball better and set about creating chances of their own.
Isaiah Brown had a great chance three minutes later, but could not control a high ball from Charlie Colkett and he was dispossessed.
Parity was restored on the night on 19 minutes, in the simplest of fashion. Skipper Colkett whipped in a fine corner and Brown rose to connect with the ball and steer it into the left-hand corner of the City goal.
Iheanacho forced Chelsea goalkeeper Bradley Collins into a fine save four minutes later. He followed that up with a speculative long-range left-footer which Collins dealt with with almost contempt.
Dominic Solanke's right foot strike, that just edged past city's goal was the last action of the half.
Tammy Abraham had the first chance of the restart within a minute, but he shot over the bar. However, the striker, who netted a brace in the first leg scored 30 seconds later. He was on hand with a smart, low right-footed drive from the edge of the City area. The goal came after excellent set-up play by Brown and Solanke.
A fantastic strike by City's Kean Bryan zipped through the air, but was well wide of the Chelsea goal as the visitors were reduced to long-range efforts to get themselves back in the final.
Jake Clarke-Salter saw a fierce header from another Colkett corner almost extend the Chelsea lead but the ball inched wide of goal.
Chelsea boss Joe Edwards made the first change, bringing on Rubén Sammut for goal-scorer Abraham on 68-minutes. Kasey Palmer replaced Boga with 18 minutes left on the clock.
This was followed by Mukhtar Ali for Boga as Edwards skilfully managed the final minutes.
Victory over City was a fitting revenge for the defeat the Manchester side inflicted on the Blues back in. 2008.

Teams: Chelsea, Bradley Collins, Loa Aina, Fikayo Tomori, Jake Clarke-Salter, Jay Dasilva, Charlie Collett, Tammy Abraham, Charly Musonda, Dominic Solanke, Jeremie Boga, Isaiah Brown
Subs, Rubén Sammut, Jared Thompson, Kasey Palmer, Mukhtar Ali, Joshua Grant

Manchester City, Christian Kjetil Haug, Pablo Maffeo, Cameron Humphries Grant, Tosin tasande, Kean Bryan, Aron Nemane, Marcus Wood, Kelchi Iheanacho, Bersant Celina, Brandon Barker
Subs, Sam Tatum, Charlie Albinson, Manuel Garcia Alonso, Javairo Dilrosun, Isaac Buckley-Rickets

Referee Robert Madley