Man City EDS 2, Chelsea U23 2
Chelsea captain Marc Guehi scored at both ends as Chelsea managed to take an unlikely point from their Premier League 2 fixture at Manchester City.
Jayden Braaf’s second half strike put the home side into a commanding 2-0 lead after Guehi’s own goal just before half time.
But City’s sloppiness in the final 20 minutes saw Chelsea grab a goal through a Billy Gilmour spot kick before Guehi’s volley levelled it in the final minute.
This season’s Manchester City EDS team had seemed to be better organised in defence, with more physicality in forward areas.
And with captain Tommy Doyle pulling the strings from a deep midfield role they also retained a dangerous weapon from set pieces.
But a lack of concentration still dogs the side after they allowed Chelsea to draw level in a dramatic final 20 minutes.
City started well and had the ball in the back of the net when the skilful Adrian Bernabe found Jayden Braaf who slotted home from an offside position.
City successfully kept Chelsea at bay, retaining the majority of possession and starving the visitors of realistic chances, their defence dealing with hopeful balls.
Joel Latibeaudiere cleared off his own line as Chelsea briefly threatened and Taylor Harwood-Bellis confidently marshalled the City back line.
But it was City who went close again after Morgan Rogers’ 25 yard curling shot struck the post.
The 17-year-old forward, signed from West Brom in the summer, cost the club £4m was also denied a fine shooting chance when cleanly tackled in the box having created his own chance with a 1-2 off Bernabe.
Bernarbe had gone close with a couple of driving runs into the area and saw a fierce shot blocked as he tried to link up midfield and attack.
But after a bright start City had become bogged down as Chelsea defended rigidly.
Manchester City fail to capitalise on good luck
It took a moment of luck for City to take a deserved lead through the most unfortunate of circumstances with Fisayo Dele-Bashiru’s cross diverted in cruelly past Karlo Ziger by captain Marc Guehi in the 40th minute.
City may have deserved the lead but real chances had been few in the first half.
The home side improved after the break as Chelsea lost their discipline, with Bernarbe finding Braaf shortly after the restart.
The 16-year-old Dutch forward was clean through and drilled the ball past Ziger to double City’s lead.
City could have wrapped up the game before the hour mark when Bernarbe fired over after Nabil Touaizi’s touchline cutback found him in plenty of space.
Touaizi volleyed over the bar as City chased a third goal but were painfully wasteful.
And Chelsea got handed a break after City keeper Louie Moulden was penalised for picking up a backpass from a drop ball with 18 minutes to go but the home side escaped after a brave block on the line from Billy Gilmour’s free kick.
Moulden saved from Juan Castillo as Chelsea sensed an opportunity and pressed City hard.
They won a penalty after Tino Anjorin was brought down by Doyle and with 9 minutes to go Gilmour sent Moulden the wrong way to plant the spot kick into the bottom left corner.
Rowan McDonald was brought on for Rogers as City decided to hold on to their lead.
McDonald conceded a free kick 25 yards out and Anjorin’s free kick was collected by Moulden.
And Moulden’s flying save with a minute to go denied Gilmour an equaliser as Chelsea pushed hard.
Guehi’s volley levelled up the scores after Tariq Lamptey’s ball ball in was flicked on to him.
GOALS – Man City EDS 2, Chelsea U23 2
Man City EDS 1, Chelsea U23 0: 40. Fiasyo Dele-Bashiru’s close range cross took a wicked deflection and went in off Marc Guehi with Karlo Ziger taken by surprise.
Man City EDS 2, Chelsea U23 0: 51. Jayden Braaf was much more clinical after he was sent clear by Adrian Bernarbe and he slotted past Karlo Ziger and inside the back post from the edge of the area.
Man City EDS 2, Chelsea U23 1: 83. Billy Gilmour’s well taken penalty sees Chelsea pull one back – sending Louie Moulden the wrong way – after Tommy Doyle brought down Tino Anjorin.
Man City EDS 2, Chelsea U23 2: 90. Manchester City lose concentration and Marc Guehi volleys home the equaliser in the 90th minute after City fail to clear from Tariq Lamptey.
MATCH STATS – Man City EDS 2, Chelsea U23 2
Man City: Moulden, Frimpong, Latibeaudiere, Harwood-Bellis, Wilson, Doyle (C), Braaf, Bernabe (Garre 90+2), Dele-Bashiru, Rogers (McDonald 83), Touaizi
Man City Subs: Ogbeta, Bazunu, Amankwah
Goals: Guehi og 40, Braaf 51
Chelsea U23: Ziger, Lamptey, Guehi (C), Mola, Maatsen, Gilmour, McEacharan (Ballo 59), Lavinier (Anjorin 63), Uwakwe, Castillo, Brown
Chelsea Subs not used: Wakely, Bergstram, Russell
Booked: Gilmour 19 (hauling down Fisayo Dele-Bashiru), Lavinier 32 (trip on Adrian Bernabe), Lamptey 56 (foul)
Goals: Gilmour pen 83, Guehi 90
Referee: James Bell