Chelsea Beat Villa 3-2 to Reach FA Youth Cup Final
By Since 66
March 20 2008
There was no contest last night as I followed the fortunes of the Academy in their attempt to reach the FA Youth Cup for the 1st time in 47 years. I thought no worries as the first team are at 'Three Point Lane.' How wrong I was!! Anyway I'm not writing about the first team I'm writing about the Youth who travelled to Villa Park & in front of nearly 10,000 fans, won the game 3-2 on the night.
The Academy conceded an unwanted early goal. A high punt and a flick-on saw Villa's Forrester run on and try his luck. He won the lottery as his shot outside the area beat a scrambling Rhys Taylor, who I thought was hopelessly out of position, low down to his right. The Academy 1-0 down after four minutes. The boys who were beaten at home the previous Saturday by Watford were not in the mood to give in quite so easily. Gael Kakuta who IS a star in the making was instrumental in Chelsea's recovery, his pace caused Villa problems all night, but Chelsea's equaliser came from Sergio Tejera with a side volley from a slide rule Kakuta pass on 18 minutes. On 24 minutes Kakuta scored the goal of the game. He picked up a Chelsea clearance just inside the Villa half, turned the defender and raced on towards goal. His final shot found the back of the Villa net and Chelsea were ahead for the first time in the tie. Once Kakuta had scored Villa were Gael forced out of the game. This boy is causing stirrings at the Bridge and down at Cobham and has been a sensation since signing from Lens in the Summer. Remember he scored a hat-trick against Port Vale. Both teams were determined to give a show and show they did. The game flowed from end to end, but it was Forrester who scored his second on 60 minutes as he equalised for Villa with a curling shot that gave Taylor no chance and the home crowd were back onside with the home team. Adam Phillip who scored Chelsea's late late equaliser at the Bridge in the first leg, came on and within minutes he raced through Villa's defence and finished with aplomb as he slid the ball past the diving Elliot Parish. In the space of the last ten minutes each team had a player sent off. First to go was Chelsea's Lee Sawyer who with Michael Woods were solid in Chelsea's midfield. I felt sorry for Sawyer, although his tackle was rash he apologised immediately but got battered by two Villa players who weren't punished themselves and then almost right on time Villa's Matthew Roome went for a tackle on winning goalscorer Adam Phillip - again I thought the decision was harsh. Coach Paul Clement said after the game, "It was a hard game - a real roller coaster of emotions but I am proud of the players. We played some good football and showed great character. Villa are a good team and it's been a fantastic night for the club and all these young players. They have worked extremely hard to get this far and deserve it." Chelsea will now play Man City in a two-legged final and Chelsea's home game WILL be played at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea Team: Taylor, Ofori-Twumasi (c), Mellis (Gordon 48), Bruma, van Aanholt, Sawyer, Woods (Phillip 67), Tejera, Stoch, Nielsen (Taiwo 80), Kakuta . 
Brilliant achievement to reach the final.
Hearing some VERY good things about this Kakuta. How far off a first team debut do you reckon he is?
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"It is born out of hypocrisy and fundamental insecurity. There have been two kids on the block for the past 12 years. Suddenly, there is a third and that one is threatening to be more successful than the others and they don’t like it." P Kenyon.
It is Roman's demands
Don't Gamble, Bet Risk Free
Highlights and Interviews of the second leg:
">Villa 2 Chelsea 3 HERE
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"It is born out of hypocrisy and fundamental insecurity. There have been two kids on the block for the past 12 years. Suddenly, there is a third and that one is threatening to be more successful than the others and they don’t like it." P Kenyon.
">CHELSEA 1 VILLA 1
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"It is born out of hypocrisy and fundamental insecurity. There have been two kids on the block for the past 12 years. Suddenly, there is a third and that one is threatening to be more successful than the others and they don’t like it." P Kenyon.