It was our first fixture of this season's FA Youth Cup, played at Leicester's training ground, and what an exciting knockout tie it was. The match was intense from the kick-off, with both teams giving their all, knowing that only one side could progress.

Although we had some bright moments early on, it was the hosts who broke the deadlock through their striker, Jake Evans. His first goal came from a rifled shot after connecting with a cross and he extended their advantage by converting a penalty.

However, Chelsea didn’t give up, carrying our fighting spirit from the start. Kiano Dyer, who had recently returned from making his senior debut against Astana the previous day, pulled one back before half-time with a fine low strike that slotted neatly into the bottom corner.

Another of our debutants in Kazakhstan, Shumaira Mheuka, then added his name to the scoresheet after the interval, capitalising on a looped ball from Dyer with a beautifully executed header which left the Leicester keeper helpless.

In the closing stages, the Blues sealed the win through one of Hassan Sulaiman’s crucial substitutions, as Kobe Barbour volleyed into the back of the net, ensuring our journey in this cup has only just begun.

Fiery start

The clash began with intense energy from both teams, reflecting the high stakes of the competition. Chelsea’s first attacking moment came from a midfield surge led by Dyer, who fed Leo Cardoso. However, Leicester's defence held firm, cutting out any significant threat near their box.

Leicester responded with equal determination. Josh King unleashed a venomous low strike, but Landon Emenalo made a superb block to deny the effort. Moments later, Kaleb Dyke launched a long ball to Reiss Khela, and his tight-angle header at the far post forced Hudson Sands into a confident save.

The game began to settle after the frantic opening exchanges, with Chelsea growing in confidence. Sol Gordon showcased his pace on the wing, escaping his marker to deliver a precise cross to Cardoso. Unfortunately, the powerful strike was blocked by a defender, preventing us from taking the lead.

Another opportunity came as we showed great teamwork through controlled possession and a co-ordinated attack. Defender Olutayo Subuloye lofted a looping ball just outside the area, with schoolboy Reggie Walsh timing his leap perfectly for a header, but the attempt cleared the crossbar.

Chelsea continued to pressure Leicester, with attacking right-back Genesis Antwi making a brilliant run down the wing. He cut the ball back to Mheuka, but unfortunately his effort was intercepted by Khela in a crucial piece of defending.

Disappointment strikes

Against the run of play, Leicester opened the scoring when Evans controlled Olaoluwa Omobolaji’s cross and rifled the ball into the roof of the net, leaving Sands with no chance.

Chelsea reacted quickly. Antwi sprinted down the line and fired a stinging shot, but Leicester keeper Jake Donohue smothered it. Moments later, Monga tested our defence with a strike from a tight angle that zipped across the face of goal, too quick for Omobolaji to connect with.

Mheuka came agonisingly close to levelling the score with a brilliant solo run through the Foxes defence, however his powerful shot skimmed wide of the far post.

Instead, as Chelsea pushed for an equaliser, disappointment struck again. Monga broke free to deliver a close-range shot that Sands initially blocked, but Omobolaji seized the rebound. Emenalo’s challenge prompted the referee to award a penalty, which Evans calmly converted into the bottom corner to double Leicester’s lead.

Leicester nearly added a third when Olabade Aluko set up Omobolaji, who slotted the ball into the net, only for the offside flag to deny the hosts another chance to celebrate.

Fightback begins

In stoppage time at the end of the first half, Chelsea found a lifeline. Mheuka made a strong run, flicking the ball to Dyer, who finished with precision into the bottom corner beyond Donohue. The score at half-time stood at 2-1, keeping Chelsea in the game, although we had plenty of work left to do.

The second half began with the Blues showing the same passion and urgency. Dyer, at the heart of the action, used his tricky footwork to break into the area and spotted Mheuka. Our No9 set up captain Ollie Harrison, but his low strike was blocked by Dyke before it could reach the net.

Substitute Ryan Kavuma-McQueen made an immediate impact. He drove upfield, taking on his marker, but his shot was blocked. Another chance came when Cardoso whipped in a curling ball that Subuloye lifted for Mheuka, only for the shot to fly wide. It felt like another Chelsea goal was inevitable.

Our Under-18s head coach turned to his bench again, introducing Kobe Barbour, who nearly scored straight away from Emenalo's cross, but his header lifted over the crossbar. Barbour didn’t have to wait long for another chance. Meeting a Cardoso corner, he smashed the ball with power, however it narrowly missed the target again. Chelsea’s frustration grew as we dominated the game, yet couldn’t find the finishing touch.

A brilliant link-up between Mheuka and Kavuma-McQueen almost paid off. Mheuka’s backheel fed the schoolboy, who sprinted onto it, cut inside and fired from close range, but his shot went wide of the near post.

Our moments arrive

Chelsea’s persistence finally paid off. Dyer floated a perfect cross into the area, where Mheuka rose to meet it with an outstanding header, leaving the Leicester keeper no chance. The Blues were back on level terms with 10 minutes remaining.

The momentum was firmly with Chelsea now, and that would soon give us the lead. In the 87th minute, Cardoso unleashed a powerful shot that Donohue managed to save, but the rebound looped towards Barbour. Without hesitation, the substitute struck an instinctive volley past the keeper, bringing the away fans to their feet in celebration.

As the game entered stoppage time, Chelsea continued to press. Kavuma-McQueen dispossessed the under-pressure goalkeeper and tapped the ball into the open net, but the referee blew his whistle, denying him a deserved goal.

However, the final whistle wasn't far away and brought with it a sigh of relief as Chelsea secured a thrilling comeback victory, progressing to the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup. We will face non-league opposition next in the winner of Merstham's match against Burgess Hill Town, which will be played on Wednesday.

The teams

Chelsea (4-3-2-1): Hudson Sands; Genesis Antwi, Olutayo Subuloye, Landon Emenalo, Calvin Diakite (Joseph Wheeler-Henry 90+1); Ollie Harrison (c), Kiano Dyer, Reggie Walsh (Kobe Barbour 62); Sol Gordon (Ryan Kavuma-McQueen h-t), Leo Cardoso; Shumaira Mheuka
Unused subs: Freddy Bernal, Harry McGlinchey, Chizaram Ezenwata, Charlie Holland
Scorers: Dyer 45+2, Mheuka 80, Barbour 87

Leicester City (4-2-3-1): Jake Donohue, Olabade Aluko (c), Reiss Khela, Louis Page, Alpha Diallo, Kevon Gray, Jake Evans, Kaleb Dyke, Josh King, Jeremy Monga, Olaoluwa Omobolaji (Lorenzo Hutchinson 85)
Unused subs: Maxwell Adedeji, Freddie Marson, Will Daniels, Hugo De Lisle, Bartosz Kosiorek, Bismark Owusu
Scorer: Evans 28, pen 39
Booked: Omobolaji 65, Evans 75