UEFA Youth League report: Chelsea 2 Maribor 0

Our Under-19 side maintained their 100 per cent winning record in the UEFA Youth League with a 2-0 victory over Maribor at a blustery Cobham this afternoon.

A brace from Jeremie Boga in the first half proved the difference, with the young Frenchman only denied a hat-trick in the second period by the crossbar.
 

TEAM NEWS  

Viveash made four changes from the side that won 5-0 against Sporting in Lisbon in the Under-19s’ last outing three weeks ago, with first-year scholars Ruben Sammut and Jake Clarke-Salter coming into the back four to make their first starts in the competition. Under-16 Jared Thompson continued in goal, with Andreas Christensen and Ola Aina comprising the remainder of the defence.

Charlie Colkett and Ruben Loftus-Cheek continued in central midfield, with Jeremie Boga and Alex Kiwomya returning to the team in attack. Izzy Brown captained the side and led the line up front, with Charly Musonda completing the young Blues’ starting eleven.
 

FIRST HALF

Viveash spoke before the game of starting quickly and on the attacking front foot, a characteristic that defined opening victories against Schalke and Sporting Lisbon, and his side began proceedings in that manner. Musonda tested Damjan Prineg in the Maribor goal with a fierce low cross inside the first couple of minutes while Boga was unable to get his shot away inside the box after Kiwomya’s delivery from the right.

However, the young Frenchman didn’t need a second invitation and fired the hosts into a 13th-minute lead, netting his seventh goal of the campaign in the process. A typical mazy burst forward pierced the heart of the Slovenians’ defence and a neat exchange with Brown fashioned some space on the edge of the box, from where he beat Prineg with a powerful low drive into the corner.

The advantage ought to have been doubled a minute later as the Blues restarted confidently and Loftus-Cheek made advances down the right flank before cutting back intelligently to the supporting Colkett, however his midfield partner’s effort on his weaker right foot missed the target from close range.

Despite Chelsea’s relative control of the game, Thompson had to remain focused and alert. The goalkeeper was quick off his line to spot a moment of danger and clear from the edge of his penalty area, while down the other end substitute Charlie Wakefield’s enterprising run from right-back resulted in the 16-year-old’s shot being palmed away from danger by the busy Prineg.

The visiting goalkeeper pushed behind free-kicks from Colkett and then Musonda as the interval loomed, but he was unable to stop a second Chelsea goal arriving before the break. Brown and Boga combined again, with the striker teeing up the latter with a back-heel layoff, and Boga drilled the ball into the back of the net from 25 yards to give the Blues a two-goal half-time lead.

SECOND HALF

The second period started scrappily, with both sides conceding possession cheaply, though the visitors demonstrated a little more attacking intent after the restart. A deep free-kick from the left caused problems for the home defence in the swirling wind and Anel Hajric connected with a header at the far post, although his effort flew harmlessly over Thompson’s bar.

The Chelsea goalkeeper was called upon again to punch away a dangerous cross midway through the half, while Nejc Rober sliced a shot wide following a Maribor corner that found its way through a crowded penalty box. Loftus-Cheek almost had the wind to thank for a third goal as his lofted pass forward changed direction abruptly and nearly embarrassed Prineg, however the ball flew narrowly wide.

The Blues came close to adding a third goal as Boga sought his hat-trick. Cutting inside from the right, he fired narrowly over before rattling the bar with a thumping shot following an excellent solo foray forward. Yet the home side had to settle at 2-0, a result that means victory in Slovenia in a fortnight will secure their safe passage through to the last 16.