Nigerian coach secures his first victory since confirmation as Chelsea U18s boss

Hassan Sulaiman got his first victory since his confirmation as Chelsea U18s boss as the young Blues thrashed Southampton 5-2 in an U18 Premier League match at Cobham Training Center on Saturday afternoon.

It was a good day for Sulaiman and Louis Flower who scored after coming on as a substitute.

Left-back Somto Boniface, who signed his first professional contract with Chelsea earlier this week, was the only player of Nigerian descent named in the home team's starting lineup.

Donnell McNeilly gave Chelsea  the lead in the 32nd minute with a bullet header from Ato Ampah's corner, but Southampton forward, Josh Pitt equalized on the stroke of half-time through a well-placed header.

Two minutes into the first half additional time, Leo Castledine would ensure Chelsea took the lead going into the break when he scored from the penalty spot.

Sulaiman's boys wasted no time to double their lead when Michael Golding scored from a brilliant effort in the 51st minute.

McNeily would get his second of the game in the 61st minute but Pitts pulled one back for the Saints at minute 86, before Louis Flower, on as a substitute in the 76th minute, wrapped up the scoring in the 88th minute. 

The win helped Chelsea to maintain their place as the fifth best team in the U18 Premier League South with 26 points from 16 games.

Abdulkareem Abdulhamid

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