The Blues delivered a brilliant performance from start to finish against West Brom at Cobham on a chilly Saturday afternoon.

Chelsea started strong, immediately putting pressure on our opponents. Shumaira Mheuka was a constant threat to West Brom's defence and opened the scoring in the ninth minute with a powerful penalty after being brought down by Rhys Morrish.

The advantage soon doubled when Leo Cardoso, facing his former club, found the net with an unstoppable strike from a tight angle. Mheuka added his second of the match after finishing off a perfectly-executed cross from schoolboy Ryan Kavuma-McQueen.

West Brom managed to pull one back just before the interval when Divine Onyemachi powered in a thumping header. Despite this setback, Chelsea maintained composure and continued to dominate after the break.

The win was secured comfortably when Ollie Harrison capped off the performance with a stunning Panenka penalty, sealing the first three points of 2025 in style.

Bright start

Chelsea began the game with a lively tempo, dominating possession right from the start. The team showcased smooth build-up play, with Cardoso excelling on the wing, advancing the ball and putting consistent pressure on the West Brom defence.

Just five minutes in, schoolboy Reggie Walsh unleashed a stinging low strike from the edge of the area, forcing a sharp diving save from Louis Brady. It was an early sign of Chelsea’s attacking intent.

The breakthrough came shortly after and it was a moment of brilliance from our striker Mheuka. His tricky footwork inside the penalty area left Morrish struggling, and the defender’s desperate challenge brought him down. The referee wasted no time pointing to the spot. Mheuka stepped up confidently and dispatched the penalty with precision, firing straight down the middle to give Chelsea the lead.

Relentless pressure

After the opening goal, Chelsea maintained our intensity, looking increasingly dangerous with each attack. A near miss followed when Cardoso delivered a curling corner into the box. Calvin Diakite latched onto it and set up Mheuka, but in the resulting scramble, the ball drifted agonisingly wide.

Kavuma-McQueen was a constant menace on the wing, combining pace and power to keep West Brom pinned back. One of his electrifying runs ended with a brilliant strike, only for Noah Dupont to intervene with a crucial deflection to deny what seemed a certain goal.

Inevitable second

The Blues’ dominance made a second goal feel inevitable and it arrived in stunning fashion. Cardoso, who had been instrumental throughout, weaved into the penalty area and unleashed a rocket from a tight angle, sending the ball into the top corner. The West Brom keeper could do nothing but watch as Chelsea extended our lead.

Moments later, we came close to a third when Kavuma-McQueen sprinted down the flank and unleashed a thunderous shot. The effort rattled the crossbar, denying him a deserved place on the scoresheet.

However, the schoolboy didn’t have to wait long for a moment of glory. The third goal came through a brilliant team move, showcasing Chelsea’s team bond. Walsh threaded a precise through ball to Kavuma-McQueen, who surged down the pitch into space. His perfectly timed cut-back found Mheuka, who calmly tapped in for his second goal of the game.

Despite Chelsea’s dominance, West Brom showed resilience. The visitors capitalised on a set-piece to reduce the gap just before half-time. Miller McDonald delivered a pinpoint corner to the back post, where Onyemachi rose highest to head the ball into the net. The score stood at 3-1 as the teams headed into the break.

Battle continues

The second period began with the same intensity, as action flowed end to end. West Brom pushed forward through substitute Abdul Abudu, who tested the Blues early with a fierce low shot. However, Blues keeper Hudson Sands was equal to the task, making a strong save.

Chelsea responded with two consecutive attempts to secure a fourth goal. The first came from Kavuma-McQueen, who once again showcased his brilliance with a surging run before unleashing a powerful strike from distance. Despite the pace and force behind it, the shot sailed just over the crossbar.

The second chance felt even closer. Our attacking right-back Genesis Antwi cut the ball back perfectly for Walsh, who was waiting patiently at the edge of the area. He struck the ball cleanly on target, but Brady reacted sharply, diving down to deny the effort with an impressive save.

Perfect penalty

Substitute Yahya Idrissi wasted no time in making an impact. Using his tricky footwork, he danced his way into the penalty area, where Charlie Blackshields brought him down, earning us a second penalty of the afternoon.

This time, Under-18s captain Harrison stepped up to the spot. With composure, he chipped the ball into the back of the net, extending our lead further.

However, the Blues were dealt an unexpected setback as Cardoso was forced off with an injury, leaving the team down to ten men. West Brom seized the opportunity, pressing forward.

Joseph Wheeler-Henry drew a foul from Adam Letlat, resulting in a penalty for the visitors. Cole Deeming stepped up to take it, but his right-footed strike smashed against the post.

What's next

Chelsea Under-18s are set to play our next match on Wednesday 15 January in the FA Youth Cup fourth round. We will face Merstham with the game kicking off at 7pm at Kingsmeadow.

The teams

Chelsea (4-3-3): Hudson Sands; Genesis Antwi (Joseph Wheeler-Henry 73), Olutayo Subuloye, Landon Emenalo, Calvin Diakite (Harry McGlinchey 73); Ollie Harrison (c), Charlie Holland, Reggie Walsh; Leo Cardoso, Shumaira Mheuka (Chizaram Ezenwata 64), Ryan Kavuma-McQueen (Yahya Idrissi 64)
Unused sub: Toby Bell
Scorers: Mheuka 9 (P), 37, Cardoso 29, Harrison 71 (P)
Booked: Walsh 47

West Bromwich Albion (4-4-2): Louis Brady, Alfie Maughan, Adam Letlat, Matthew Crowther (Charlie Blackshields 65), Noah Dupont, Rhys Morrish (Donte Ranger 77), Divine Onyemachi (Fran Cherchi 76), Cole Deeming (c), Dan Chimeziri (Abdul Abudu 45+4), Rio Parmar (Adam Okorodudu 76), Miller McDonald
Scorer: Onyemachi 40
Booked: Morrish 74