Chelsea's U21 side lost on Friday, but the U18 side fared far better against Middlesbrough on Saturday. They'd register a 4-2 victory with a pair of late goals, making them the only U18 side in England to win their first five fixtures.
Chelsea started out Saturday's fixture on the front foot, and it wouldn't take them long to be ahead on the scoresheet. Dion Conroy would find the back of the net from a corner kick, putting the young blues up a goal inside of ten minutes.
Despite Chelsea controlling the majority of possession, Middlesbrough would be the next one to find the back of the net. They'd strike on a rare counterattack, but the goal would be correctly waved off as Boro were offside.
Chelsea would continue to press as the first half was played out, creating chances frequently but struggling to finish. When they did put the ball on target, Boro keeper Luke Coddington was continually up to the challenge. He was excellent all day on Saturday, keeping Chelsea to just four goals in a game in which they could have doubled that total. Halftime would come with the Blues leading 1-0.
Chelsea would double the lead shortly after the half, as Ambrose Gnahore netted his first for the U18 side. Jordan Houghton played a lovely ball to set him free on the break, and Gnahore would calmly finish to make it 2-0 Chelsea.
Boro would begin to gain a foothold in the game, and over the next several minutes they'd get both goals back. Bradley Fewster grabbed the first after some excellent movement off the ball, and they'd again find the back of the net a minute later to make it 2-2.
Chelsea would continue to press forward though, and George Cole would put them back on top. Cole flicked the ball over his marker and then headed past the keeper as stoppage time approached. Boro would have to go into all out attack, and Chelsea would add a fourth as Conor Hunte took advantage when Boro were caught out. Full time came, and Chelsea were 4-2 winners.
Chelsea's youngsters will next be in action on Wednesday, as they are set for a trip to Moscow in the NextGen Series. This will be Chelsea's second game of the group stage, having lost the first to CSKA 2-1 at home. NextGen is a U18 competition that will allow teams to play as many as 3 19 year olds in the side.