Chelsea knock Barça out of UEFA Youth League following penalty shootout
Barça twice led before drawing 2-2 and being knocked out on penalties
Barcelona's U19 side have been knocked out of the UEFA Youth League after a penalty shootout defeat against Chelsea on Friday. Barça led twice before eventually drawing 2-2, conceding the second equaliser in the 85th minute before being knocked out in the Final Four. The English side will meet Porto in Monday's final.
FC Barcelona
2 ________________ 2
Chelsea
LINE UP
FC Barcelona
Tenas; Guillem Jaime, Mingueza, Mika, Miranda; Jandro, Monchu (Lucas), Antonio Jesus, Nico; Konrad (Peque), Marqués y Ansu
Chelsea
Ziger; Lamptey, Colley, Guehi, Maatsen, McEachran, Gallagher, Gilmour, Redan (Brown), McCormick (Anjorin) y Familio-Castillo
Goles
1-0, Ansu Fati, min 20. 1-1, MCormick, min 66. 2-1, Ansu Fati, min 69. 2-2, Brown, min 85
Árbitro
Sandro Scharer (SUI). Amarilla para Redan, Gilmour, Guillem Jaime, Miranda
Incidencias
Semifinal de la Youth League que se disputa en el estadio de Colovray (Nyon)
In a repeat of last year's final, Barça were able to field three players who have been regulars for the B team this season in Monchi, Guillem and Miranda. They took the lead in the first half when U.S youth international Konrad got in down the right before pulling back for Ansu to open the scoring. He's had a knack for appearing at the right moment this season.
Barça relaxed after the goal and allowed Chelsea to grow into the game. Gallagher almost levelled but the impressive Tenas saved. The Catalans could have doubled their lead before the break. Monchu and Miranda were both unable to take advantage of good chances, though.
Tenas was involved for good and bad reasons after the break after Konrad had gone close for Barça. He saved from McCormick but then gifted the ball to Regan, who teed up McCormick to roll into the empty net and level the scores.
It didn't take long to Barça react. Ansu again. Who else? The forward was Barça's best player and he quickly restored Barça's lead before making sure he celebrated with Tenas, whose mistake wasn't deserving of an otherwise good performance full of character.
Just when it seemed that Barça would make another final, Chelsea struck through Brown to draw the English side level for a second time. The game went to penalties and after Gallagher had missed for Chelsea, Barça's luck deserted them, with first Nico and then Miranda missing as Barça exited the competition.
