Premier League 2

Leeds United 1 (Roberts 41’ pen)

Chelsea 3 (Mbuyamba 10’, 35’, Baker 89’ pen)

Leeds: Klaesson (GK), Moore, Hjelde, Bate, Kenneh, Mullen, Dean, Gray, Roberts (Gelhardt 45’ (McGurk 76’)), Greenwood (c) (Allen 45’), Miller.

Subs not used: Van Den Heuvel (GK), McKinstry.

Chelsea: Bergstrom (GK), Hughes, Mbuyamba, Gilchrist, Hall (Rankine 80’), Simons (c), Vale, Baker, Bell (Fiabema 70’), McEachran, Uwakwe (Haigh 76’).

Subs not used: Curd, Wareham.

Mark Jackson’s Under 23s side lost to Chelsea at Thorp Arch on Friday afternoon, in Premier League 2 Division One action.

The visitors went into the lead inside 10 minutes, when central-defender Xavier Mbuyamba timed his run well to head home from an in-swinging corner. 

Looking to hit back instantly, Tyler Roberts went close from a corner as he volleyed wide from Sam Greenwood’s set-play. Straight back down the other end, Kristoffer Klaesson was forced to save well from Lewis Hall. 

After finding space once again, Mbuyamba made it two with another header. Lewis Baker provided the assist with a back-post free-kick, allowing the central defender to climb highest again and head home. 

The Whites were continually looking to respond and find a way back into the match. Sam Greenwood fired a free-kick over the bar, before a route back did arrive.

Archie Gray burst forward, was fouled in the area and awarded a penalty for doing so. Roberts stepped up and calmly dispatched the spot-kick to reduce the deficit before the interval. 

HALF TIME: Leeds United 1-2 Chelsea

Roberts and Greenwood were withdrawn during the break, with Joe Gelhardt and Charlie Allen coming on as their replacements. 

It was the visitors who started on the front foot though and Klaesson had to make an early save from Xavier Simons, before the same player shot over the bar from an even better chance moments later. 

Mbuyamba then went close again from another set-play for Chelsea, before Leeds responded with Max Dean stinging the palms of Lucas Bergstrom between the posts for the Blues. 

As time was running down in the game and Jackson’s side were pushing players forward in search of an equaliser, it would be the visitors who extended their lead further.

The goal arrived through another set-piece as Chelsea were awarded a penalty. Up stepped Baker to slot home from 12-yards and secure all three points for his side. 

FULL TIME: Leeds United 1-3 Chelsea

Venue: Thorp Arch

Referee: A. Jackson

Booked: Gelhardt (Leeds)