U21s Report: Leicester City 3 Chelsea 0

- The Foxes will play in the Barclays U21 Premier League’s top tier next season thanks to the win 

- Layton Ndukwu scored an excellent solo goal, before Admiral Muskwe’s second-half brace wrapped up the victory 

A 3-0 victory over Chelsea at King Power Stadium on Thursday afternoon helped Leicester City’s Development Squad secure their Barclays U21 Premier League top tier status. 

The Foxes knew a win would ensure they’d be competing in the U21 Premier League against the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool, Manchester City, Arsenal and Chelsea next term. 

It was Chelsea – looking to secure a top four finish – who would stand in the way of Steve Beaglehole’s outfit on Thursday, but after impressing early on, the hosts took the lead.

Talented England youth international Layton Ndukwu was the man who put City in front with a stunning solo goal. The winger burst through the centre, nutmegged one defender and beat two others before lifting the ball over stopper Bradley Collins to make it 1-0. 

An inspiring substitution from Beaglehole saw frontman Admiral Muskwe, who won Academy Player of the Season at the Club’s 2015/16 Season Awards on Tuesday evening, make it 2-0 with just over 15 minutes to play. 

And just three minutes later, the striker made it 3-0, this time chipping the ball over Collins to wrap up what proved to be a superb performance from the Club’s youngsters. 

The Foxes started well and would have been in front after just nine minutes if it were not for Collins’ excellent save to deny Jacob Blyth from range. 

Skipper Ryan Watson sent an effort over from the edge of the box shortly after, before Elliott Moore first did well to turn Ola Aina’s drive behind, while nodding onto the roof of the net at the other end just moments later. 

City had a huge opportunity to open the scoring just after the half-hour mark, as Ndukwu struck the bottom of the post after intercepting shot-stopper Collins’ loose pass. 

It was an even opening period and both defences were on top, meaning it would take a moment of magic to break the deadlock. 

That moment arrived on 36 minutes, as Ndukwu went on a darting run to beat three defenders before chipping the ball over Collins in emphatic fashion. 

City stopper Jonny Maddison did brilliantly to prevent Chelsea from netting an immediate equaliser, as he tipped over Charlie Colkett’s powerful header. 

Charlie Wakefield then curled an effort just wide from the right wing early in the second period, while a perfectly-timed challenge from captain Watson prevented Dion Conroy from getting a shot off on the hour mark. 

Maddison got down well to collect Joshua Grant’s tame strike shortly after, before Joe Dodoo saw his powerful free kick from 20 yards blocked on 68 minutes. 

The introduction of Muskwe in the second period proved pivotal, as the striker scored twice in three minutes to put his side 3-0 up. 

Muskwe’s pace shone through for his first strike as the Academy Player of the Season raced through and slotted past Collins to make it 2-0 on 74 minutes. 

It was a well-taken goal, but his second was even better. The striker peeled off his marker to the left of the Chelsea box and delicately lifted the ball over the onrushing Collins with 77 minutes on the clock. 

Substitute Danny Rowe impressed late on and forced Collins into a neat stop at the near post in what proved to be the last major action of the game. 

CITY: Maddison, Miles, Chilwell (Elder 81), Choudhury, E. Moore, L. Moore, Watson, Cain (Rowe 85), Blyth, Dodoo, Ndukwu (Muskwe 65) 

SUBS NOT USED: Bramley, Barnes 

GOALS: Ndukwu 36, Muskwe 74, 77 

CHELSEA: Collins, Wakefield, Grant, Conroy, Nartey, Colkett (c) (Christie Davies 54), Quintero, Sammut (J. Dasilva 60), Ugbo, Maddox (Ali 28), Aina 

SUBS NOT USED: Baxter, C. Dasilva 

REFEREE: Robert Massey-Ellis