Premier League Cup Quarter Final

Leeds United U21s 2 (Cresswell 26’, Snowdon 29’)

Chelsea U21s 3 (Morgan 19’, McNeilly 21’, Sturge 52’)

Leeds United: Christy (GK), Cresswell, Toulson, Coleman, Debayo (Moore 46’), Lopata-White (Monteiro 63’), Richards, Chadwick (Spencer 86’), Thomas, Chambers (Allen 46’), Snowdon. Subs not used: van den Heuvel (GK).

Chelsea: Sharman-Lowe (GK), Hughes, Gee (C), Williams, Sturge (Samuels-Smith 82’), Dyer, Silcott-Duberry (Runham 73’), Golding (Denny 73’), Morgan, Castledine, McNeilly (George 73’). Subs not used: Merrick (GK).

Referee: Dale Baines

Booked: Chadwick (Leeds)

Venue: LNER Community Stadium

Leeds United Under-21s bowed out of the Premier League Cup at the quarter-finals stage, after being edged out 3-2 on home soil by Chelsea Under-21s, despite a positive display in York.

Scott Gardner’s side started brightly on the ball, linking up nicely in midfield as they looked to create an opening in the early stages.

Blues forward Jimmy Jay Morgan had the first sight of goal of the afternoon on the break, forcing Harry Christy into smart save down low, with the offside flag going up against the striker.

Moments later, Luca Thomas' dangerous set piece from the left caused problems for the visitors’ defence, with United defender Reuben Lopata-White close to bundling the ball home at the near post before it ran agonisingly across the face of goal and away from danger.

Leeds had looked dangerous from the off down the flanks and Dan Toulson and Joe Snowdon were keen to continue the trend as they linked up well on the left. The winger did superbly to retain possession, laying it off to Cian Coleman who curled an effort over from the edge of the area.

Despite the mounting Leeds pressure, it would be visitors who opened the scoring when Morgan finished from close range after Chelsea broke down the right.

The Blues then grabbed a quick-fire second shortly after the restart, as the breaking Leo Castledine found Donnell McNeilly who slotted calmly past Christy into the corner.

The Whites weren’t to be deterred by the scoreline however, with Teddy Sharman-Lowe producing a fine save down to his left to deny Snowdon, before Alfie Cresswell put United back within touching distance, as he powered Thomas’ in-swinging corner from the right into the back of the net.

As quickly as Chelsea had raced into a two-goal lead Gardner’s side were level, as Snowdon showed great composure to grab an equaliser.

Brilliant build up play from Coleman handed possession back to the Whites, much to the dismay of the visitors, before he cut it back to the winger who fired beyond Sharman-Lowe!

If not for the Blues goalkeeper, Leeds would have deservedly gone into the break in the lead, with the youngster first equal to Sam Chambers' rasping left-footed strike, before parrying Thomas' goal-bound effort from the edge of the area wide.

HALF TIME: Leeds United U21 2-2 Chelsea U21

Shortly after the restart, Chelsea wing-back Zak Sturge put the Blues back into the lead, racing away down the left flank and slotting past Christy into the far corner.

The Whites almost fired back immediately once more, with substitute Charlie Allen first lashing over after brilliantly latching onto a long ball inside the area, before great work down the right saw Snowdon pull the ball back for Rhys Chadwick on the penalty spot.

The onrushing midfielder struck his first-time effort well and looked to have brought his side level, only to be denied by a superb last-ditch block as Chelsea somehow survived.

Morgan, keen to grab his second of the afternoon, was then played through on goal for Mark Robinson's side. With just Christy to beat, the forward tried the audacious, lifting the ball over the Leeds goalkeeper but, luckily for the Whites, wide of the post.

Northern Irish forward Allen, on his return to the side, looked lively after being introduced from the bench, forcing Sharman-Lowe into another good save after being picked out on the edge of the area by Thomas.

After Castledine had spurned a glorious chance to put the game to bed when he chose to shoot with options either side of him, United had a final opportunity to take the tie into extra-time.

Sharman-Lowe initially made another fine save down low to his right to deny Snowdon from distance, before somehow blocking Thomas’ close-range follow up moments before the full-time whistle sounded.

FULL TIME: Leeds United U21 2-3 Chelsea U21