In front of over 3,300 supporters at Stamford Bridge, Jody Morris’s side led 3-0 by half-time after a brace from Ike Ugbo and a close-range finish from Trevoh Chalobah. Jared Thompson had also saved a penalty in an eventful first period and the drama continued after the restart as we raced into a 8-1 aggregate lead with goals from Dujon Sterling, Callum Hudson-Odoi and another from Ugbo.
Spurs pulled one back through Jack Roles but it was going to have little impact on the result and Juan Castillo rounded off the scoring as the contest finished 7-1 on the night, 9-2 on aggregate.
Morris made two changes from the first leg win at the Lane as Thompson replaced Jamie Cumming in goal and George McEachran came into the side in place of schoolboy Hudson-Odoi. Thompson was protected by an unchanged back three as Josh Grant, Chalobah and Reece James lined up across the defence, while Castillo and Sterling continued to operate as wing-backs.
Jacob Maddox partnered Tariq Uwakwe in central midfield, with McEachran and skipper Mason Mount supporting striker Ugbo in attack. Tottenham made three changes with Dylan Duncan, Reo Griffiths and Roles coming into the team.
The Blues left north London with mixed feelings earlier in the week, delighted with their dominant display but disappointed to concede late and come away with just a one-goal advantage. Their start in SW6 was impressive, energetic and on the front foot from the referee’s first whistle.
Brandon Austin, the Tottenham goalkeeper, had been key in keeping our goalscoring tally down in the first leg but he was beaten twice in the opening 20 minutes as the hosts established a three-goal aggregate lead. Ugbo struck first with just four minutes on the clock, cleverly getting ahead of his marker in the box to turn in a teasing delivery from James on the right flank.
Thompson had to race quickly off his line to thwart the danger as Griffiths advanced into the box before Austin denied Castillo and Mount in quick succession. The visiting stopper first palmed Castillo’s left-footed drive from the edge of the box away from danger before getting down low to keep out a well-struck drive from the Chelsea captain.
However, he could not keep the holders at bay for much longer as Chalobah made it 4-1 on aggregate after 18 minutes. Mount picked up the ball on the left flank following a cleared corner and his deep cross was kept alive at the back post by McEachran, with Chalobah firing the loose ball into the back of the net.
The Blues were impressive in the first leg but this was an equally faultless performance and Ugbo went close to adding to the lead, stretching to head the ball towards goal as Uwakwe’s deflected shot looped into the air, though failing to sufficiently test Austin.
Tottenham were handed a lifeline midway through the first period as Mount was penalised for a foul in the box on Kazaiah Sterling, albeit a decision that looked harsh on the midfielder. Sterling stepped up but was denied by an excellent save from Thompson, the keeper flinging an outstretched arm into the air as he dived to his right to keep the ball out.
It was a moment in the tie that was always likely to deflate Tottenham as the y. McEachran hit the post just after the half-hour mark, latching on to a lovely move involving Ugbo and Mount, rounding the keeper before striking the near frame of the goal.
Comments
Post a Comment