A rare goal from Fikayo Tomori and this composed Kasey Palmer winner saw Chelsea retain their UEFA Youth League title on Monday night.
Tomori and Palmer found the net either side of a Meite Yakou screamer as Chelsea secured a 2-1 win over Paris Saint-Germain in the Under-19 competition’s final in Nyon.
Chelsea won this event last season too. It was just a 32-team tournament back then.
The Blues overcame a field of 64 to be crowned champions this term, defeating Dynamo Kyiv, Porto, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Valencia, Ajax and Anderlecht along the way.
In the final, Chelsea looked the better side straight away.
And their opening goal, Tomori firing home from close range after PSG had failed to clear a corner – although scrappy – was much deserved.
However, a lapse in concentration and a foul in the penalty area from goalscorer Tomori gave PSG an immediate opportunity to level. Jean-Kevin Augustin stepped up confidently, but sent a tame spot kick into the arms of Blues goalkeeper Bradley Collins.
PSG – who beat Real Madrid 4-1 earlier in the competition – worried Chelsea on a handful of other occasions.
Collins may feel like he should have stopped Meite’s equaliser, but the Ivorian midfielder still deserves plenty of credit for a fine run and shot.
Chelsea’s response to being pegged back was first class.
Within two minutes of the net bulging at one end, the game’s winning goal was scored at the other.
PSG’s defence was split way too easily, but Palmer’s finish showed great maturity.
Will Palmer, or any of his young teammates, get a chance to show their worth in Chelsea’s senior side next season?
Only time will tell, but my bet would be that it is highly unlikely, with most of them probably going to be sent out on loan instead.
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