It was a disappointing start to the new year for Chelsea Under-21s, as we endured a frustrating evening against a strong Benfica side in our Premier League International Cup midweek fixture.
Our matchday began in unusual circumstances following a power cut at Kingsmeadow, which resulted in a delayed kick-off and a late change of venue to Cobham. Academy coach Jack Mesure led the side, with Calum McFarlane joining the men’s team for their fixture against Fulham.
Benfica opened the scoring inside the first 10 minutes through Federico Coletta’s powerful finish and doubled their lead from the penalty spot, with Goncalo Moreira converting after a handball. Further goals from Tiago Parente and Francisco Silva before the break made it a difficult first half for the Blues.
Chelsea showed improved intent after the interval, with Ato Ampah and substitute Jesse Derry finding the net, but further strikes from Francisco Neto and Peter Edokpolor ensured Benfica claimed a 6-2 victory.
Early challenges
Our midweek encounter began at a fast pace despite the bitter conditions, with Ampah providing the first moment of attacking threat. The winger drove a powerful, whipped effort across the face of goal, offering an early indication of our intent.
However, Benfica were the side to open the scoring. A swift counter-attack saw Ivan Lima surge forward before squaring the ball to Coletta, who struck first time from inside the area to beat Max Merrick.
The intensity of the contest remained high and Merrick was called into action again shortly after, reacting sharply to deny Coletta from close range. At the other end, Ampah tested Ricardo Ribeiro with a strike from distance, but the Benfica goalkeeper was equal to it.
Difficult moments
Our opponents doubled their lead when they were awarded a penalty. Kevin Pinto worked his way into the box and his lifted delivery brushed the arm of Kian Best as he attempted to block. Moreira stepped up and sent his effort straight down the middle.
Benfica added a third just before the half-hour mark. After sustained pressure, Moreira picked out Parente on the edge of the area and the defender unleashed a powerful strike that clipped the inside of the post before finding the net.
The Blues continued to search for a way back into the contest as the interval approached, with Samuel Rak-Sakyi linking well with Ampah, but Benfica remained well organised defensively. During first-half stoppage time, the Portuguese side struck again as Coletta lofted a long-ball forward and Silva drilled a low finish past Merrick to send the visitors into the break with a 4-0 lead.
Back out to battle
Chelsea emerged for the second half with renewed intensity and were quickly rewarded. A sharp move inside the area saw Deivid Washington roll the ball across for Ampah, who finished from a tight angle to get the Blues on the score sheet.
Any hopes of a comeback were quickly halted as Benfica responded immediately. Neto received the ball outside the penalty area after being set up by Moreira and smashed a strike into the top corner to make it 5-1.
The game continued to flow from end to end, and Mesure turned to his bench, bringing on Derry for Ryan Kavuma-McQueen. The winger wasted no time, driving into the area, cutting inside and firing a powerful effort past the goalkeeper to reduce the deficit.
However, Benfica had the final say as substitute Edokpolor added their sixth. A long through-ball from Lima sent the forward through on goal, and he slotted into the corner to make it 6-2.
The Blues continued to push until the final whistle, but time was not on our side as we were forced to miss out on the points at Cobham.
What's next
We return to our Premier League International Cup campaign for our final group-stage fixture against Real Sociedad on Wednesday 21 January, with kick-off at 7pm at Kingsmeadow.
Chelsea Under-21s are next in action in the Premier League 2 as we host Crystal Palace on Saturday 10 January, with a 1pm kick-off at Cobham.
The teams
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Max Merrick; Kaiden Wilson, Axel Disasi (c) (Justin Osagie 61), Harrison Murray-Campbell, Kian Best (Landon Emenalo 66); Kiano Dyer (Reggie Walsh 61), Ollie Harrison; Ato Ampah (Dujuan Richards 61), Samuel Rak-Sakyi, Ryan Kavuma-McQueen (Jesse Derry 61); Deivid Washington
Unused subs:Freddy Bernal, Shumaira Mheuka
Scorers: Ampah 50, Derry 65Booked: Murray-Campbell 4
Benfica: Ricardo Ribeiro, Kevin Pinto (Duarte Soares 71), Diogo Rocha, Guilherme Gaspar, Tiago Parente, Joao Cruz (c), Francisco Neto (Leandro Martins 71), Federico Coletta, Francisco Silva (Peter Edokpolor 66), Goncalo Moreira (Stevan Manuel 66), Ivan Lima (Gil Neves 80)Unused subs: Leo Lopes, Olivio TomeScorers: Coletta 9, Moreira 24 (p), Parente 30, Silva 45+1, Neto 58, Edokpolor 69Booked: Parente 82