Filipe Coelho's Chelsea Under-21s gave their all against League One side Cambridge United in our final group-stage match of the EFL Trophy.

Despite creating a few good chances and putting the home side under pressure, we couldn’t break through their compact defence and the game remained goalless at half-time.

Cambridge came back out with intensity but our goalkeeper Lucas Bergstrom made crucial saves to keep us in the game.

However, after Bergstrom tripped Brandon Njoku, Cambridge were awarded a penalty. Although our stopper saved Danny Andrew's spot-kick, the home team scored moments later when Amaru Kaunda converted a rebound following a clearance off the line from Brodi Hughes.

We continued to press for an equaliser right to the end, but it wasn’t enough, and the 1-0 defeat meant and end to our involvement in the competition for this season.

Slow start

The fixture began evenly as Chelsea Under-21s entered this EFL Trophy tie with determination, quickly realising that our Tuesday night opposition - a senior side full of League One experience - would be a tough physical test.

Our defence stood strong early, led by Kaiden Wilson, who intercepted Elias Kachunga’s weaving run into the area. Kachunga looked dangerous, but Wilson’s timely intervention pushed the threat away, setting the tone for the Blues.

We soon found our rhythm, building play from the back with solid teamwork. Wilson connected well with Reiss Denny, who in turn combined smoothly with Jimmy-Jay Morgan upfield, but the Cambridge defence managed to cut out any real danger before we could approach their penalty box.

As the contest progressed, both teams remained locked in a tense, cagey spell, each fighting to seize the first real chance. The pressure was building and it felt like something was about to break.

Chelsea came close first, launching a well-worked move down the wing. Hughes sent a ball up for Morgan, who skillfully dribbled into the box and spotted Donnell McNeilly. The striker hammered a shot on goal, but U's defender Liam Bennett stretched out a leg to deflect it at the last second.

That close call seemed to spark the energy in the Cledara Abbey Stadium. Soon after, it was the U’s turn to threaten. Glenn McConnell took control outside the box and whipped in a sharp cross from the far side. The ball flashed dangerously across goal but drifted just wide.

Chelsea responded well with another chance, when Morgan received the ball just outside the area, quickly firing a shot which sailed over the crossbar. As we approached the half-hour mark, the match remained a tight contest. Both sides fought hard for possession, but finding a way through either defence proved challenging.

McNeilly worked well against his marker, pushing upfield and spotting Harvey Vale open in the box. Vale tried a scooping shot, but Cambridge’s Andrew leapt to block the attempt.

Not long after, Kachunga burst into life for Cambridge, weaving his way into our area with pace and quick footwork before unleashing a powerful low shot. Bergstrom reacted perfectly as he dived to push the chance out and keep the score level. Moments later, Bergstrom was called into action again, when Cambridge earned a set-piece and Kachunga tried another right-footed strike. Once again, our keeper responded with a superb dive, keeping us level in the game.

As half-time approached, the intensity only grew, with both teams pushing hard for an opener. Our opponents matched our every move, continuing to make it difficult to find a breakthrough.

In the closing moments of the first half, Denny made a bold defensive block to put Amaru Kaunda under pressure as Cambridge advanced into our box. Denny calmly gained control, cleanly taking the ball and ensuring that the sides went into the break goalless.

Heating up

As we came out after the break still searching for a goal, the clash naturally turned more aggressive with intensity building from both sides. Within the first minute, Kaunda charged toward goal for the home side and unleashed a curling shot that looked destined for the top corner, but Bergstrom was there with a crucial fingertip save.

The senior side, fueled by that momentum, earned a penalty almost immediately. Njoku had dribbled his way into the area and, in an attempt to block him, our keeper accidentally tripped him. U's captain Andrew stepped up to take it, but was up against Bergstrom in stunning form, reading the shot perfectly and diving the right way to deny Cambridge the lead at full stretch.

Our Finnish keeper continued to be at the centre of the action, making some brilliant saves as the home side pushed hard for an opener. Paul Digby’s initial shot was blocked and on the rebound Njoku struck again, only for his effort to find Bergstrom’s gloves.

Coelho turned to his bench in hopes of bringing fresh energy and substitute Shumaira Mheuka wasted no time making an impact on the game. The 17-year-old striker sprinted up the pitch, supported by Vale, but Mheuka’s low shot was blocked by a defender.

Falling behind

We eventually found the back of the net, but Morgan's goal was ruled out for offisde and it was our opponents who got the opener. With the pace the hosts had built up, Kaunda initially had a shot blocked on the goal-line by Hughes. However, the Cambridge man was quick to pounce on the rebound and smashed it past our keeper.

Andrew continued to make things difficult for our defenders, sending in a whipped cross which Dan Nlundulu just managed to make contact with, but the pace and spin of the ball meant it fell wide, giving the Blues a let-off.

Midfielder Kiano Dyer almost found the back of the net as we entered the closing stages of the fixture probing for a goal. Receiving the ball outside the area, he unleashed a venomous shot that had the supporters believing it was going to equalise. Unfortunately, the effort rose just over the crossbar, it was agonisingly close.

We kept fighting until the end, through nine added minutes. As stoppage time ticked on, the Blues pushed hard for a goal. Dyer had the final glimmer of hope for Chelsea with a drilled low strike, but it was no problem for Jack Stevens to smother.

Despite giving everything and battling until the final whistle, Chelsea were unable to break through the League One side’s defence, bringing our EFL Trophy campaign to an end.

What's next

Our Under-21s are back on the road for another away cup tie on Friday evening, this time travelling to Derby County in our third group game of the Premier League Cup. Kick-off is at 7pm and the match will be streamed live on the official Chelsea website and app.

The teams

Chelsea (3-4-2-1): Lucas Bergstrom; Brodi Hughes, Kaiden Wilson (Zak Sturge 81), Harrison Murray-Campbell; Richard Olise, Reiss Denny (Ato Ampah 68), Kiano Dyer, Ishe Samuels-Smith; Donnell McNeilly (Shumaira Mheuka 60), Harvey Vale (c); Jimmy-Jay Morgan (Deivid Washington 81)
Unused subs: Max Merrick, Zain Silcott-Duberry, Travis Akomeah
Booked: Dyer 51

Cambridge United (3-5-2): Jack Stevens, Liam Bennett, Danny Andrew (c), Kelland Watts, Elias Kachunga (James Brophy h-t), Zeno Ibsen Rossi, Jordan Cousins (Dan Nlundulu 75), Connor O'Riordan, Glenn McConnell (Paul Digby h-t) (Korey Smith 62), Brandon Njoku (Randy Bulakio 76), Amaru Kaunda
Unused subs: Louis Chadwick, Michael Morrison
Scorer: Kaunda 74
Booked: Bennett 90+3