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SOUTHAMPTON FC | U21 REPORT: Chelsea 1-3 Southampton
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Sam McQueen scored a first-half brace to put Saints in the ascendency, firstly volleying home Lloyd Isgrove’s cross and then tapping home after Armani Little’s effort had come back off the post.
Jake Hesketh pounced on a defensive mistake to make it 3-0 with 75 minutes on the clock, before Tammy Abraham slotted home a consolation goal in the final minute of the game.
Technical Director Martin Hunter fielded a similar XI to the one that drew against Manchester City earlier on in the week. 17-year-old Ollie Cook and 18-year-old Little were the only two changes, with first-team pair Harrison Reed and Jordy Clasie making way.
The opening minutes saw Saints up against it, but they maintained their shape and coped with the early pressure well. The Blues found a slight opening on eight minutes when Reece Mitchell found space in the box, but Harry Isted comfortably saved his effort.
McQueen was causing problems down the right flank for Saints and, after playing a part in Marcus Barnes opening the scoring, the winger gave Hunter’s side the lead.
With 22 minutes on the clock, Isgrove’s cross came all the way through to McQueen, who beat his man to the ball and tapped beyond Bradley Collins.
Barnes then went close to doubling the visitors’ lead, but could only head over, before John Swift’s free-kick flew over the top of Isted’s goal.
Five minutes later, Chelsea had two golden opportunities to equalise, as Abraham flashed a header wide and Alex Kiwomya’s shot flew just wide of the far post.
A ruthless counter attack from Saints saw them double their lead. Barnes flicked the ball on neatly for Little who saw his effort come back off the post and fall kindly for McQueen, who tapped home for his second of the night.
With seconds remaining in the first half, Chelsea wasted another opportunity to grab a goal. Abraham’s pass played in Charly Musonda, but despite being in a one-on-one situation, he fired wide.
After a double change at half-time, Chelsea almost got one back just after the restart. Kiwomya’s corner found Jay Dasilva, but his speculative strike hit the crossbar and bounced to safety for Saints.
Saints almost found a third just after the hour mark as Hesketh played Dom Gape through on goal, but the Saints captain opted to cross rather than shoot and the danger was cleared.
McQueen, buoyed by his two first-half goals, went for goal from distance in search of his hat-trick but was denied by a good save from Collins.
The third goal for the visitors came soon after as Jason McCarthy’s cross was left by Jake Clarke-Salter and fell kindly for Hesketh to smash home after an excellent first touch.
Abraham let another chance go to waste minutes after the goal. Fankaty Dabo’s great cross found the tall striker but he was unable to direct his header on target.
The Chelsea man did finally get a goal as he finished smartly on the turn with just a minute remaining, but Saints had done enough to pick up their first win of the campaign.
Southampton Under-21s: Harry Isted, Jason McCarthy, Ollie Cook, Will Wood, Josh Debayo, Dominic Gape ©, Armani Little, Jake Hesketh, Lloyd Isgrove, Sam McQueen, Marcus Barnes. Unused substitutes: Jake Hallett (GK), Richard Bakary, Callum Slattery, Josh Sims, Olufela Olomola.
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