Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham scored an impressive double as Chelsea beat Manchester City 3-1 in the first leg of the FA Youth Cup at the Etihad Campus, to place one hand firmly on the trophy they won last season.
Abraham notched his 35th and 36th goals of the season to help Chelsea take a two-goal lead into the second leg at Stamford Bridge next week.
The current Youth Cup holders made an impressive start to the match following up from their 3-2 UEFA Youth League Final victory over Shakhtar Donetsk.
Abraham silenced the home crowd after seven minutes when he latched on to Charlie Colkett’s pass, after a smart flick by Izzy Brown, to rifle home an unstoppable volley into the top corner, past City keeper Kjetil Haug.
However the lead lasted just two minutes as City bounced back immediately. Brandon Barker turned on the ball and burst through the Chelsea midfield with a commanding run, before slipping Isaac Buckley in behind the Blues defence, and the number nine finished coolly, calmly slotting the ball past Bradley Collins in the Chelsea goal.
And City nearly took the lead moments later, but a brilliant reaction save from Collins kept the scores level, after a cruel ricochet off Jake Clarke-Salter’s shin looked destined for his own net as he tried to block Nemane’s cross.
But Collins had little to deal with thereafter, as the Blues took control. Pressing high up the pitch and not allowing the City defenders to play out from the back, Chelsea forced Haug into attempting ambitious passes from his area, which ultimately put the home side under even more pressure.
City survived a barrage of corners until midway through the first half when Abraham grabbed an acrobatic second to restore Chelsea’s lead from six yards out, after Clarke-Salter’s nod down.
The home side responded well towards the end of the first half, but Manuel Garcia’s attempted lob and Barker’s deflected shot were both comfortably saved by Collins before half time.
Both sides came out strongly in an evenly contested start to the second half. Clarke-Salter’s brilliantly timed sliding tackle denied City’s Garcia, whilst Chelsea substitute Kasey Palmer’s strong surge through the City’s defence resulted in his shot whistling over the bar.
City started to create chances as playmaker Barker began stringing the home side’s attacks together. A clever run into the Chelsea area allowed him to cut the ball back to Garcia who fired just wide under the challenge of Colkett.
Nemane had one of City’s best chances to equalise after he nutmegged Clarke-Salter on the edge of the area, but his finish lacked composure and accuracy as he fired wide of the near post.
Kean Bryan then wasted another great opportunity for the hosts as he caught Colkett in possession just inside the Chelsea half and drove at the Blues defence, but his curling effort drifted wide of the post.
And City’s lack of conviction proved to be costly in the final few minutes. Smart work from Charly Musonda allowed him to feed Solanke in down the right side of City’s area, and the striker finished clinically, taking his tally to 35 goals this season and giving Chelsea the 3-1 victory.
The Blues now head into the second leg at Stamford Bridge with a two goal advantage. The match will take place on Monday 27th April.
