New Mikel On Target, Anjorin With Assist As Chelsea Beat Birmingham FAYC

Defending champions Chelsea have one foot in the final of the FA Youth Cup after a goal in the last fifteen minutes from Charlie Brown gave them a 3-0 win over Birmingham City in the first leg of their semifinal tie at St Andrew's on Wednesday evening.

All three players of Nigerian descent expected to be feature got some minutes under their belt, with Nicholas Okoro and Tariq Uwakwe starting for Birmingham City and Chelsea respectively while Faustino Anjorin came off the bench in the second half.

Uwakwe, dubbed the new Obi Mikel, put Chelsea ahead in the 15th minute with an effort from close range, his first goal in the FA Youth Cup this season.

The visitors spurned a couple of chances to increase their lead before Callum Hudson-Odoi doubled their advantage twelve minutes before half-time.

Anjorin, who replaced Uwakwe in the 65h minute, was heavily involved in Chelsea's third goal, Brown tapped into an empty net after he was fed by the Nigerian midfielder in the 75th minute.

Arsenal will host Blackpool in the second leg of their semifinal on April 16, both teams drew 2-2 in the first leg fifteen days ago.

Igho Kingsley

Photo Credit : chelseafc.com