U23 Report: Saints 0-2 Chelsea

Saints had their moments, with Alex Jankewitz twice going close, but second-half goals from Callum Hudson-Odoi and Clinton Mola decided the game in favour of the visitors.

Jaïdi’s side started confidently, with Callum Slattery firing over before Chelsea somehow survived a goalmouth scramble as Dan N’Lundulu slid in to try and force the ball over the line to no avail.

Saints were undoubtedly on top, though their momentum was quelled slightly by a nasty collision between defenders Pascal Kpohomouh and Aaron O’Driscoll as both tried to meet a corner.

Kpohomouh never fully recovered, and minutes later made way for Kameron Ledwidge in an unfortunate end to a big day for the 17-year-old.

Chelsea had shown no attacking threat, despite topping the Premier League 2 table at the start of the weekend and naming senior England international Callum Hudson-Odoi in their ranks.

But the visitors finally came to life in the 28th minute when Reece James crossed from the right for Charlie Brown, but the striker could not connect cleanly and the ball dribbled wide of Harry Lewis’s left-hand post.

Lewis was finally tested ten minutes before the interval, as Brown teed him up for a first-time shot from 20 yards that needed tipping over.

Then the same duo combined again as Brown fed Hudson-Odoi on the outside, who tried to curl one inside the far corner only to steer the chance inches wide.

Saints came even closer in first-half stoppage time, of which there were five minutes due to Kpohomouh’s injury, when Alex Jankewitz drilled a low shot against the base of the post from distance.

The second period began with similar frustration for the midfielder, as this time he was thwarted by the legs of Chelsea keeper Jamie Cumming.

Instead it was Hudson-Odoi who made the breakthrough just shy of the hour mark, racing in behind the defence to score past Lewis, who did get something on the shot but not enough to keep the winger at bay.

Saints responded by coming close to a leveller through Jake Vokins, who cut inside on to his right foot and steered a shot narrowly wide before the hosts found themselves two down.

As an untidy scramble ensued from a Chelsea corner, the ball was chipped up to the far post where Mola was in the right place to score – his header adjudged to have crossed the line before Saints could clear. 

Jaïdi could be pleased with the way his players competed against excellent opponents, but the coach will reflect on key moments that went the way of the Blues at St Mary’s.

Head to Head Stats

• Possession (%)
  36

  64
• Shots
  13

  14
• Shots on target
  4

  6
• Corners
  3

  4
• Passes Complete
  199

  443