Chelsea Under-21s secured their place in the knockout stages of the Premier League Cup with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Derby County at Kingsmeadow on Friday evening.
From the first whistle, both teams knew the importance of the match, and it was Chelsea who set the tone. Ato Ampah was at the heart of the action, applying pressure high up the pitch and forcing a defensive error. His persistence led to Donnell McNeilly opening the scoring with a low strike into the bottom corner.
Ampah wasn’t done there. Just before halftime, he turned on the style with a brilliant solo run, cutting through Derby’s defence before finishing with flair to double Chelsea’s lead.
Derby fought back in the second half, with Adisa Osayande pulling one back from a well-placed corner. However, Chelsea stood firm, maintaining their slender advantage and holding on for the win that secures their progression into the knockout stages of the competition. Ampah’s outstanding performance was the highlight of a crucial victory for the Blues.
