U21s Report: Chelsea 5 City 1

Tom Hopper got a late consolation for the visitors, as they were beaten by two goals each for Isaiah Brown and Islam Feruz and a John Swift strike in a match that The Blues eventually took control of after an even opening.

George Taft returned to the starting line-up for Steve Beaglehole’s men, who were coming off the back of an unfortunate late defeat at the hands of Sunderland last week, while Hopper was partnered in attack by Hungarian striker Marko Futacs and youngster Harry Panayiotou.

In front of the watching Jose Mourinho, it was City who went closest in the opening stages when Futacs flashed an effort narrowly wide.

However on the seven minute mark Chelsea midfielder Swift picked out Brown with a cutting pass that allowed him to place a shot past City’s Adam Smith to give his team the lead.

City’s Jak McCourt then had a great chance to level after relieving Lewis Baker of the ball in a good position, only to see his effort fly over the top, while Panayiotou headed over from a free kick.

The home side then made City pay for not hitting the target when just before the half hour mark the ball bobbled into the path of Feruz after a good run from Anjur Osmanovic, which he duly dispatched into the net for 2-0.

City showed resilience though as they could have and perhaps should have pulled a goal back on the stroke of half time through a wonderfully struck free kick from Academy Player of the Season Michael Cain, only for it the rattle the crossbar.

Again City were made to rue their missed opportunities as after the break Feruz grabbed his second of the match and Chelsea’s third when he turned on the edge of the box and fired a low drive across Adam Smith and into the corner of the net.

Futacs did go close with a header but it was just wasn’t to be City’s day as shortly after Chelsea put the result beyond any doubt when Brown curled one into the corner with his left foot to make it 4-0.

Swift then added a third on 77 minutes when he met substitute Billy Clifford’s cutback with a fine finish before Hopper raced through and lifted the ball over Chelsea ‘keeper Jamal Blackman in the closing stages to give City a consolation.

Chelsea (4-3-3): Blackman; Ssewankambo (Dabo 83), Christensen, Conroy (Aina 85), Ake (c); Loftus-Cheek, Feruz, Baker; Swift, Brown, Osmanovic (Clifford 46).

Subs not used: Beeney.

Leicester (4-3-3): Adam Smith; Watson, Sesay (c), Urquart (Elder 67), Taft; McCourt, Cain, Nkumu; Panayiotou, Futacs, Hopper.

Subs not used: Paratore, Sharpe, Anton, Dodoo.