http://www.chelseafc.com/news/latest-news/2015/09/ under-21-report--chelsea-4-liverpool-2.html Under-21 report: Chelsea 4 Liverpool 2 Fri 11 Sep 2015 Chelsea Under-21s opened their Premier League International Cup campaign with victory over Liverpool this evening (Friday). The European Under-21 competition is in its second season and sees 16 teams split into four groups, with teams facing each other once before the top two progress to the quarter-finals. The young Blues went in front after six minutes as John Swift's brilliant strike found the back of the net, before a brace from Jerome Sinclair sent Liverpool in ahead at the interval. However, a second-half hat-trick in less than a quarter of an hour from Kasey Palmer sealed the points for the hosts as they kicked off Group A with a win. There were five changes from the side that started for the Under-21s in their last outing, a 2-2 draw against Norwich City at Carrow Road a fortnight previously. James Russell came into the team in goal, protected by a back four of Fankaty Dabo, Ola Aina, Dion Conroy and Kevin Wright. Alex Kiwomya led the line up front, with Reece Mitchell, Palmer and captain Charly Musonda lining up to support in attack. Mukhtar Ali partnered Swift in central midfield. Liverpool made four changes from the side that were beaten by the Blues in last month's Under-21 Premier League opener, when Abraham's 92nd-minute goal broke the deadlock and earned the Blues all three points. Yet the net was rippling a lot earlier in Aldershot as the hosts grabbed a lead inside 10 minutes. Mitchell had forced a routine save from Andy Firth in the Reds goal moments earlier, however the visiting goalkeeper was comfortably beaten as Swift took aim from 30 yards and sent a swerving, dipping strike flying over his head and into the roof of the net. A crisp move then resulted in an opportunity for the Blues to double their lead as Aina's pass released Wright on the left and his perfect cross found Kiwomya in the six-yard box. The striker's header, however, lacked the contact needed to trouble Firth. Liverpool grew stronger and Dabo needed to produce some good defending to hook clear Cameron Brannagan's dangerous centre, before the visitors did manage to restore parity in the game. It was a poor defensive goal to concede as a lofted clearance wasn't dealt with in the air by either centre-back and Sinclair snuck in behind before finishing confidently into the bottom corner of the goal. Kiwomya's pace carved out a chance for Musonda before the Belgian was quickly crowded out and Mitchell fired over before Russell did well to push Connor Randall's effort away to safety. However, the danger was not averted for long as the Reds went ahead after 36 minutes, Sinclair nodding Alex O'Hanlon's excellent first-time cross in for his second goal of the evening. Tom Brewitt bravely put his head in the way to block Palmer's powerful strike and Swift's attempted lob landed unluckily on the roof of the net as the home side went in a goal down at the break. Chelsea restarted brightly, with Swift heading narrowly wide from a right-sided corner, before they found an equaliser after 51 minutes. Palmer received a pass and spun neatly beyond his nearest man-marker before firing low into the bottom corner with an expert finish. The game remained open and both sides sensed they would have opportunities to score further goals, though it was the hosts who took charge of the contest just after the hour-mark. Their two-goal lead was established in no small part courtesy of Palmer, who completed a 14-minute hat-trick. The Blues third goal was created by Swift, whose brilliant clipped cross was delivered invitingly into the box and required Palmer to plant a simple header into the corner of the net. Two minutes later, the midfielder's treble was complete and Chelsea had a two-goal advantage as his low free-kick from distance took a hefty deflection off Pedro Chirivella and flew beyond Firth. Confidence seeped through the home side as a result and Tammy Abraham was close to scoring with his first touch, an exquisite flick from Aina's cross that was gathered comfortably in the end by the goalkeeper. Musonda was then thwarted by Firth as the Blues attacked in numbers on the break, before Reds sub Matthew Virtue thumped the woodwork as a reminder of the Merseysiders' threat. Abraham and Swift were both denied in quick succession as Chelsea looked to add further goals, although the emphasis had switched to working hard and remaining tight at the back as they looked to secure the points. That was achieved competently in the final exchanges as the hosts held on to possession and kept the Reds at bay. We will now face Benfica and Celtic in the remaining group games. == Reaction == Andy Myers spoke after the game and reflected on a pleasing night all round for his side. Speaking to the official Chelsea website, he said: 'It was a very tough game. I thought we started well but Liverpool's shape caused us some problems and they probably had the better of the first half. We addressed a few things at half-time and I thought we improved a lot. 'Liverpool are a good side and tough opposition so it's a very pleasing result. Their team wasn't too different from the one we played in the league a few weeks ago so it was great for our older boys to come in today and produce like they did. 'Ola hasn't had a lot of game time recently so that was a big 90 minutes for him to get under his belt and Kasey's performance both on and off the ball was great to see tonight. We know he can produce that magic on the ball but a big part of his development is keeping the team shape and his discipline off the ball, which was very good.' The Under-21s return to action on Friday 25 September as Reading visit Stamford Bridge in the Under-21 Premier League. Tickets are currently available to purchase online. Before then, Joe Edwards's youth team travel to Leicester City tomorrow (Saturday) in the Under-18 Premier League. Chelsea James Russell Fankaty Dabo Ola Aina Dion Conroy Kevin Wright John Swift Mukhtar Ali Reece Mitchell Kasey Palmer Charly Musonda (c) (Josimar Quintero 83) Alex Kiwomya (Tammy Abraham 66) Unused subs - Jay Dasilva, Nathan Baxter, Joseph Colley, Miro Muheim, Fikayo Tomori Scorers - Swift 6; Palmer 51, 63, 65 Booked - Conroy Liverpool Andy Firth, Connor Randall, Corey Whelan, Dan Cleary, Tom Brewitt, Pedro Chirivella (Will Marsh 83), Madger Gomez, Cameron Brannagan, Jerome Sinclair, Alex O'Hanlon, Jack Dunn (Matthew Virtue 45) Unused subs - Owen Wheeler, Will Marsh, Kristof Polgar Scorer - Sinclair 18, 36 Attendance - 994 -- http://jamescaesar.pixnet.net/album/photo/110781933 永遠以摸過它為榮 -- ※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc), 來自: 36.231.239.17 ※ 文章網址: https://www.ptt.cc/bbs/Chelsea/M.1441994519.A.759.html ※ 編輯: JamesCaesar (111.250.149.234), 12/23/2015 02:18:49

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