This group-stage fixture started with high intensity, as only one team could secure the final quarter-final spot in this European competition.

Sporting Lisbon broke the deadlock early on this chilly winter evening at Kingsmeadow, when Flavio Goncalves found the bottom corner with a clean strike to give his side the lead.

Chelsea responded swiftly, dealing well with the early setback. Just two minutes later, a powerful shot by Tyrique George took a deflection off a Sporting defender on its way into the net, bringing the teams level.

As the first half drew to a close, Gabriel Silva struck to restore the visitors' lead. Capitalising on the rebound following a Max Merrick save from Rodrigo Marques’s initial effort, he slotted the ball home to make it 2-1.

After the break, Chelsea pushed forward relentlessly, knowing only a win would see us through to the knockout stages. Despite our efforts, time ran out and the crucial breakthrough never came.

Quick start

Chelsea applied early pressure on our Portuguese opponents, with George surging forward and delivering dangerous crosses. However, it was the away team who struck first, just five minutes into the match.

The move began with Gabriel Silva, who used his blistering pace to race away from Blues defender Kaiden Wilson down the wing. Once in position, Silva cut the ball into the area for Goncalves, who calmly tapped it into the bottom corner beyond our goalkeeper’s reach.

The early setback didn’t shake Chelsea. The Blues equalised through George, whose short corner found Kiano Dyer. The midfielder played a quick pass back, setting up George perfectly. The winger, displaying his tricky skill, danced into the area and unleashed a fierce strike. The shot deflected off a Sporting player and into the back of the net, levelling the score.

End-to-end action

The excitement continued as Merrick was called into action moments later. Rayhan Momade fired a powerful shot from inside the box, but the Blues keeper reacted brilliantly to push the effort away.

Chelsea came close to taking the lead with a series of chances. Brodi Hughes delivered a precise square ball into the box, connecting with Donnell McNeilly. Francisco Silva made an excellent save, pushing away McNeilly’s shot. The loose ball fell to Jimmy-Jay Morgan, who struck it with immense power and spin, only to see his effort sail over the crossbar.

As the match approached the half-hour mark, the frantic pace began to settle as both teams found their rhythm on our home ground.

Then 10 minutes before half-time, Chelsea defender Wilson made a crucial block to deny Goncalves, who seemed destined to score his second. Goncalves smashed a low shot, but Wilson’s extended leg diverted the ball, preventing it from troubling Merrick.

Sporting continued to press and created another chance through Rodrigo Marques. The forward weaved his way into the box and unleashed a shot, but it rolled wide past the far post, giving Chelsea another narrow escape.

Falling behind

Despite Chelsea’s promising attacks, Sporting regained the lead just before the break. Marques drove forward and unleashed a powerful shot from distance. Merrick initially made an impressive save, but Gabriel Silva pounced on the rebound and found the bottom corner.

Chelsea had a late chance to equalise before the interval. Richard Olise whipped a dangerous ball into the area, but it skimmed across the face of the goal, leaving the Blues with work to do in the second half.

The second half saw Filipe Coelho turn to his bench, bringing on the quick-paced Ato Ampah to provide fresh energy to the game. He wasted no time making an impact and nearly added his name to the scoresheet with a fierce curling effort. However, the ball drifted wide and none of the Chelsea players in the box could get a touch to guide it into the net.

Ampah remained at the heart of Chelsea’s attacking efforts and was instrumental during a dangerous set-piece. He delivered a perfectly whipped corner that Shumaira Mheuka rose highest to meet with a powerful header, but the effort flew just wide of the target.

Despite enjoying the majority of possession, Chelsea endured a quieter and more frustrating spell, struggling to break through Sporting’s compact and well-organised defence.

As the match entered its closing stages, including six minutes of added time, the Blues continued to fight with resilience. However, a last-minute setback struck when Frankie Runham picked up an injury, forcing the team to finish the game with 10 men.

Even with the reduced numbers, Chelsea pressed forward with determination, adapting quickly to the disadvantage, but despite our best efforts it wasn’t enough to change the scoreline.

What this means

After this result, Chelsea bow out of the Premier League International Cup and will not progress through into the knockout quarter-finals, remaining behind Sporting in third place in our eight-team group after our last game.

The teams

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Max Merrick (c); Richard Olise, Brodi Hughes, Kaiden Wilson, Harrison Murray-Campbell; Harrison McMahon (Samuel Rak-Sakyi 55), Kiano Dyer (Zak Sturge 81); Donnell McNeilly (Frankie Runham 74), Jimmy-Jay Morgan (Travis Akomeah 81), Tyrique George (Ato Ampah h-t); Shumaira Mheuka
Unused subs: Hudson Sands, Ollie Harrison
Scorer: George 8
Booked: Murray-Campbell 49, Olise 50

Sporting Lisbon (5-3-2): Francisco Silva (c), Guilherme Silva, Joao Assuncao, Bruno Ramos, Rayhan Momade (Nilton Cardoso 75), Flavio Goncalves (Amadu Balde 57), Daniel Costa, Denilson Santos (Lucas Anjos 75), Rodrigo Marques (Jose Adan 64), Gabriel Silva (Francisco Canario 64), Lucas Taibo
Unused subs: Guilherme Pires, Guilherme Santos
Scorer: Gabriel Silva 5, 43
Booked: Taibo 28, Gabriel Silva 62, Canario 78, Francisco Silva 87, Assuncao 90+6