Filipe Coelho's side put up a strong performance at Kingsmeadow on Friday evening as we welcomed London rivals Tottenham Hotspur to our home turf. Despite creating more chances, the evening didn't go our way, with the match ending 2-1 in Tottenham's favour.
We started strong, with a fine goal from Ato Ampah putting us ahead after some early chances for Shumaira Mhueka. However, Tottenham quickly responded with an equaliser through Tyrese Hall, who slotted in another just after the interval to snatch the lead.
Lively Start
Chelsea began our league opener with high energy, applying immediate pressure and pressing up the pitch. Within minutes of kick-off, Leo Castledine linked up well with Tyrique George, who whipped in a cross which drifted inches wide of the post without anyone getting a touch.
Another opportunity soon followed when Ampah drove up the pitch and picked out first-year scholar Mheuka inside the box. Despite Mheuka's best efforts to get past the Spurs defender, he was unable to find the back of the net from a tight angle.
Josh Acheampong soon got involved, weaving his way up the pitch before sending a looping pass to George on the wing. George forced the Spurs keeper into the first save of the evening, with Josh Keeley doing well to push the ball over the crossbar and out of danger.
With the momentum building, Chelsea didn’t have to wait long for their opener and it was well deserved. Ishe Samuels-Smith delivered an accurate ball to Ampah, who beat his marker and slotted the ball into the bottom corner, leaving the Spurs keeper with no chance to save.
Pinned back
Despite Chelsea's dominance, Spurs continued to put up a fight and eventually were rewarded with an equaliser. The goal stemmed from a short corner taken by Damola Ajayi, who found Hall on the edge of the box. Hall fired at goal and with a deflection off a Chelsea defender, the ball managed to beat Max Merrick in goal, bringing the game back to level terms.
Spurs soon had another chance when Jude Soonsup-Bell connected with a header from Hall’s floating corner, but the attempt skimmed past the post, giving the Blues a lucky escape from falling behind.
Chelsea remained unfazed, though. We saw some excellent Blues link-up play as Kiano Dyer used his speed to dribble upfield and send a ball to Ampah, who then crossed into the area towards 16-year-old Mheuka. Unfortunately, the Spurs keeper did well to protect his net.
Just before half-time, there was some impressive defensive work from Harrison Murray-Campbell. Spurs had a threatening spell, with Soonsup-Bell firing a shot on target that looked like it was heading for the goal, but the Chelsea defender made a crucial goal-line block, sending the two sides into half-time level.
Back out to battle
Tottenham came out with renewed intensity after the break. Ajayi sprinted into the box and laid off a perfect pass to Hall, who took one touch and rifled it into the back of the net from close range, beating the Chelsea keeper.
The Blues reacted, and it was summer signing Omari Kellyman who had the best opportunity. Mheuka drove forward with purpose, delivering an accurate pass to Kellyman just outside the area. The attacking midfielder unleashed a powerful strike, but it lifted just over the crossbar.
Not long after, Kellyman had another chance, firing a shot from distance that narrowly missed the far post. Just after, Merrick was forced into a sharp save, reacting quickly to block Ajayi's stinging effort on target.
Fighting until the end
Chelsea came agonisingly close to levelling the score when Harrison McMahon launched an impressive long ball down the pitch to Mheuka. Despite shrugging off his defender, Mheuka’s shot drifted just wide of the target.
With just five minutes left on the clock, we nearly found the back of the net through Filipe Coelho’s substitutes. Ronnie Stutter used the wing well and delivered a cross near the far post for Jimmy-Jay Morgan, but his effort found the side-netting, denying us the goal. The score remained 2-1 in favour of the visitors at the final whistle.
What's next
Chelsea will be back in Premier League 2 action next Friday evening at Kingsmeadow, when we will welcome Everton for a 7pm kick-off. You can secure your tickets here.
The teams
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Max Merrick; Josh Acheampong (Brodi Hughes 71), Harrison Murray-Campbell, Travis Akomeah, Ishe Samuels-Smith; Harrison McMahon, Kiano Dyer (Ollie Harrison 84); Ato Ampah (Ronnie Stutter 60), Leo Castledine (c), Tyrique George (Jimmy-Jay Morgan 71); Shumaira Mheuka
Scorer: Ampah 11
Booked: Kellyman 50, Dyer 65, Samuels-Smith 78