U23聯賽第15輪 https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/2022/01/08/pl2-report--chelsea-leicester-city PL2 Report: Chelsea 5 Leicester City 0 08 Jan 2022 Our development squad kicked off their start to the new year with an emphatic 5-0 victory over Leicester City in Premier League 2. https://i.imgur.com/DmklyTk.jpg A game played in terrible conditions saw us win convincingly at Cobham on Saturday afternoon. Jayden Wareham, Joe Haigh, George McEachran and Ben Elliott were all on the scoresheet as Andy Myers's boys recorded their first league win at home since mid-October. The team returned for PL2 action following the Christmas break with an impressive display on a cold and rainy afternoon in Surrey, our boys managing to not allow the weather to affect their game too much. It was a confident display with Alfie Gilchrist and Haigh really impressing on the day. Wareham scored the first of the game as he combined well with Jude Soonsup-Bell in the box to neatly tuck away before Haigh doubled the lead as he pounced on a parried effort from the keeper following a Soonsup-Bell shot. Haigh secured a brace with the assistance of the post, as his shot deflected back off the woodwork and keeper into the back of the net. https://i.imgur.com/SbU5UcT.jpg Wareham holds off a Foxes challenge McEachran added a fourth with the pick of the bunch as he delicately lobbed the keeper with a first-time effort after a corner from Elliot and there was enough time for Elliott to add a fifth in the 90th minute as he drilled home an effort which skidded off the surface to beat the keeper. Even with all the great attacking bits of play, what was even more impressive was our defensive solidity as we kept a clean sheet for the first time in seven matches. The win takes us ninth with 17 points, one point ahead of the Foxes. == Team news == The youngsters were missing the likes of Teddy Sharman-Lowe, Harvey Vale, Lewis Hall and Charlie Webster, who have been training this week with Thomas Tuchel ahead of our FA Cup tie against Chesterfield, so the likes of Silko Thomas and Leo Castledine were drafted in to fill out the team. With this in mind, Ethan Wady made his third appearance of the season between the posts for our young Blues. Wareham was also given a starting berth as well as Elliott, who came on for a short cameo against Derby County in the last game before the Christmas break. == Slow start to the new year == It was a cagey start to the game as the rain poured down on the pitch and both sides struggled to keep hold of the ball in the opening moments. We did have an early penalty shout as Haigh was nudged in the back, however the referee believed the challenge to be a fair one as he waved away our claims. With the game lacking in any clear-cut chances, it did not lack in challenges as both sides put pressure on each other in an attempt to gain some sort of supremacy over the game. == Fluid football == It took 20 minutes for our young Blues to gain more control over the game, and it began to show as we moved the ball quicker. Myers would have been happy with this and we were rewarded with our efforts. Great work from Soonsup-Bell led to him feeding Wareham who expertly converted to give us the lead midway through the first-half. The increased tempo led to that goal and allowed our young Blues to control the game. Gilchrist was setting the tempo from the back with clean challenges that were visibly motivating the team. Haigh showed a nice burst of pace to get away from his man but despite the great piece of skill he dragged his effort wide. https://i.imgur.com/fwTFTec.jpg Wareham broke the deadlock for us just after 20 minutes However, the hosts were very impressive with their approach play as we enjoyed fluid possession, showcasing neat touches, with Leicester not only struggling to get and retain the ball but also create chances for themselves. Wareham had another opening but he drilled a left-footed effort straight at the keeper. After a short break in play, we created another great opportunity as Rankine went on a surging run through the middle of the pitch. With an overlapping run from Soonsup-Bell, he slipped him in and the striker fired an effort which the keeper saved well with an outstretched leg. Haigh was showing a lot of confidence throughout the first half and, after winning possession, a counter-attack ensued. With options left and right, Haigh attempted a lofted effort from the halfway line, which drew an incredible stop from the opposing keeper as he tipped it over for a corner. With no pressure on us, we almost undid all our hard work. A clearance from Wady on the stroke of half-time got caught in the wind. With Leicester winning the header, an attempt on goal was cleared off the line from the impressive Gilchrist. https://i.imgur.com/luzcpH8.jpg Gilchrist was one of many impressive performers today == Back with a bang == We raced out of the blocks in the second half as a fast break led by the impressive Haigh led to a perfectly weighted through-ball for Soonsup-Bell. His effort was parried by the keeper but the onrushing Haigh was on hand to prod home. https://i.imgur.com/BuBr6az.jpg Joe Haigh was causing trrouble for Leicester's defence all afternoon We almost made it three as Soonsup-Bell fired an effort goalwards under pressure but the busy Foxes' shot-stopper managed to tip over. Yet this was an impressive first performance of the year from this age group and that was underlined as Haigh was influentially involved again with a powerful effort that ricocheted off the post and then the keeper before it ended up in the back of the net. Myers used this comfortable cushion as a chance to make a number of changes as we saw Brodie Hughes, Bryan Fiabema and Silko Thomas all come on. Despite this, it was two starters who combined to give us our fourth of the game which added gloss to the scoreline. A delightful corner from Elliott found McEachran, who was playing in a deeper position, and the midfielder caressed a left-footed looping effort beyond the reaches of the keeper. https://i.imgur.com/hP1s2O7.jpg George McEachran arguably scored the pick of the bunch Finally, in his first start following a long lay-off, Elliott scored our fifth of the game with a low effort fired hard, fizzing off the surface before beating the keeper to his right. The game ended 5-0 and was a great way to start the new year for Myers and his boys. This was an assured performance from our Under-23s and was an indication of the work and effort the coaches are putting into the boys and their development. The next fixture for our development squad will be the round of 16 clash against Arsenal's Under-21s in the Papa Johns Trophy next Tuesday 11 January. Chelsea (3-4-2-1): Ethan Wady Josh Brooking (c) Xavier Mbuyamba Alfie Gilchrist (Brodie Hughes 76) Dion Rankine Ben Elliot George McEachran George Nunn (Silko Thomas 65) Joe Haigh Jude Soonsup-Bell Jayden Wareham (Bryan Fiabema 83) Unused subs - Prince Adegoke, Leo Castledine Scorers - Wareham 22; Haigh 49; Young (OG) 62; McEachran 85; Elliott 90+3 Leicester City (3-1-4-2): Brad Young Ronny Nelson Bayli Spencer-Adams James Justin (Shane Flynn 45) Oliver Ewing (c) Iestyn Hughes Tawanda Maswanhise Henry Cartwright Thanawat Swengchitthawon (Terell Pennant 65) Ethan Fitzhugh Jake Wakeling (Will Russ 76) Unused subs - Chituru Odunze, Joe Wormleighton -- Hoddle: 'Matthew will be sitting up there looking down now and loving Chelsea being winners. He'll just love Chelsea winning.' --

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