United’s Under-18s put up a valiant fight at Elland Road but were edged out of the FA Youth Cup in a closely-fought 2-0 defeat to current holders Chelsea.

United started brightly and had early sights of goal through Robbie McDaid’s header and Piteu Crouz’s strike from inside the area, while the visitors threatened through Dominic Solanke’s deflected effort.

After a tight opening 20 minutes, it was Chelsea who found themselves in front, Isaiah Brown converting from the penalty spot after Jack Vann was adjudged to have fouled Tammy Abraham as he headed towards the byline.

Crouz fired over from a tight angle before Mulhern almost squeezed the ball under the body of Collins as the Chelsea stopper was relieved to see it squirm behind for a corner. McDaid then glanced a header wide as United went in search of a response.

Collins pulled off the save of the game to thwart Mulhern’s curling effort with a strong right hand on 32 minutes, before Bailey Peacock-Farrell made his first save of the evening to comfortably clutch from Abraham.

Chelsea captain Charlie Colkett struck the base of the post with a low drive from around 20 yards out as the visitors edged into half-time with a slender lead.

The teams returned from the break and United soon found themselves on the front foot as McDaid was hauled down by the onrushing Collins, who was shown a straight red card for his foul on the Northern Irishman.

Mulhern was unable take advantage from the resulting free-kick, firing over the bar, but the hosts were starting to assert some authority on the game and substitute Tyla Bell was just unable to find the desired connection as he scuffed into Chelsea replacement keeper Jared Thompson’s arms.

McDaid was inches away from connecting with an inviting Bell cross with a flying header before the pair looked to combine again moments later.

Chelsea were sitting deep as they soaked up waves of United pressure but they were the ones who grabbed the second goal of the evening on 80 minutes, Solanke squeezing the ball beyond Peacock-Farrell after working his way into space inside the box.

United: Peacock-Farrell, Taylor, Vann, Bennett, Pearce (Wilks 76), Assenso, Berry, Lyman, Crouz (Bell 63), McDaid (Mbanje 86), Mulhern. Subs vs Chelsea: Molloy, Croft.

Attendance: 2,249