MANCHESTER CITY U18 2, CHELSEA U18 0
- Tom Dele-Bashiru scores Manchester City’s goal
- Aro Muric makes several saves to deny Chelsea goals
- Reece James’ penalty saved by Aro Muric
- Lorenzo Gonzalez hits the woodwork from 25 yards out
- Taylor Richards has tap-in to empty net in injury time after Bobby Duncan’s shot was parried by Jared Thompson
Manchester City have Aro Muric to thank for building a solid foundation from which they beat U18 rivals Chelsea thanks to goals by Tom Dele-Bashiru and Taylor Richards.
Lorenzo Gonzalez also hit the woodwork for the home side but Muric saved a penalty by Reece James amongst several saves in the game which could have levelled the scores and made things tricky in a game which became more physical.
City showed early promise down the flanks but it was Chelsea who tested City more thoroughly in the opening stages despite the home side’s probing.
Aro Muric made the first proper save of the game, denying George McEachran from 20 yards out in the 16th minute.
City scored a minute later, however, with Tom Dele-Bashiru creating space and running onto a through ball to stroke a daisy cutter past Jared Thompson.
Chelsea briefly threatened an equaliser, forcing Muric into saving Juan Castillo’s free kick and denying Callum Hudson-Odoi what would have been a fine goal after Chelsea carved out a great chance at the end of a passing move.
City, however, were settling down and looked comfortable holding onto the ball more although they were unable to trouble Thompson’s goal as heavy tackles by both sides disrupted play.
Chelsea U18 tough to play against
The visitor upped the pace in the second half following a tactical switch but the physical side of the encounter continued with Phil Foden on the receiving end of a particularly agricultural Chelsea tackle.
Muric proved himself to be the hero after diving correctly to his left to tip away Reece James’ penalty in the 61st minute.
And Lorenzo Gonzalez’ powerful 25 yard drive came back off the post soon afterwards to rouse the crowd further.
Neither side couldn’t find a decisive opening to score again with chances for Dele-Bashiru and Benjamin Garre easy to save for Thompson.
Phil Foden could have doubled City’s advantage late on but Thompson gratefully gabbed the loose ball after the striker’s initial shot had squirmed out of his grasp.
Late chances for Hudson-Odoi and Martell Taylor-Crossdale were denied by Muric as City frustrated Chelsea before Foden’s sumptuous through ball in added time allowed Bobby Duncan to race clear.
Jared Thompson saved Duncan’s shot but Taylor Richards was at hand to tap into an empty net to add extra gloss to the scoreline.