U18 PL national final: George bags assist but Chelsea miss out on UYL spot after loss to Man Utd

Chelsea will not be competing in next season's UEFA Youth League via the domestic champions path following a 2-1 loss to Manchester United in the U18 Premier League national final on Tuesday evening. 

Chelsea U18s manager Hassan Sulaiman selected two players of Nigerian descent in his matchday squad for the showpiece at Stamford Bridge, with exciting winger Tyrique George going the distance and Somto Boniface entering the game as a substitute in the closing seconds. 

Habeeb Ogunneye, who has been named in multiple matchday squads for the first team this season, started for the Red Devils at right-back.

Ethan Wheatley gave United the lead in the 21st minute when he set himself up and slotted away with his left foot following a through ball from Ethan Williams. 

In a first half dominated by Manchester United, Tyrique George came closest to scoring an equalizer but saw his powerful shot saved on the line. 

Ogunneye was walking a disciplinary tightrope with a yellow card to his name in the sixth minute and had to make way for James Nolan in a tactical substitution at the interval.

Chelsea's equalizer came within 90 seconds of the restart as Tyrique George's cross was headed into the bottom corner by Josh Acheampong.

Manchester United pushed and pushed to regain the lead and were rewarded in the 54th minute when Ethan Williams applied the finishing touch after the ball ricocheted off a Chelsea player.

Wheatley had three or four opportunities to double the advantage but squandered the chances he had. 

Fullback Somto Boniface replaced Ishé Samuels-Smith in stoppage time.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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