Football
Jonathan Smith, Manchester City correspondent 8y

Manchester City, Chelsea draw in first leg of FA Youth Cup final

MANCHESTER -- Manuel Pellegrini and his first team squad were at the Etihad Academy as Manchester City's under-18s drew 1-1 with Chelsea in the FA Youth Cup final first leg.

Jason Wilcox's team included three players that already have experience in Pellegrini's side in Manu Garcia, Tosin Adarabioyo and Cameron Humphreys, who played in the club's FA Cup match at Stamford Bridge.

And despite having a huge Premier League game against Stoke City on Saturday lunchtime, Sergio Aguero and his teammates still took time to watch the young talent emerging at the Etihad Campus on Friday night.

Pellegrini said ahead of kick-off that some of the City players have a big chance of breaking into the first team.

The Chilean said at a news conference: "The final means the club is working well with young players. Maybe you must be patient for some players to arrive because this team is always buying important players. The demand for this team is very high but I'm sure three or four of these players will be in the squad in a few years."

And both sides were brimming with talent. While Spaniards Garcia and 16-year-old starlet Brahim have taken the eye for City this season, the game started with 19 English players on show in total.

However, Chelsea's exciting young striker Tammy Abraham, who scored twice at the Etihad Academy in last season's final, was forced to miss out with a knock.

Ike Ugbo started instead and was soon in action forcing a save from Daniel Grimshaw with a low shot in the second minute.

The City keeper then misjudged a Jay Dasilva cross that clipped the inside of the post as Chelsea made an assured start.

But it was City striker Lukas Nmecha who had the best chance of the first half when he sprung the offside trap, but his low shot was brilliantly saved by Nathan Baxter.

The home side were ahead five minutes after the break, though, when Chelsea full-back Trevoh Chalobah overlapped winger Dujon Sterling before pulling the ball back for Mason Mount to sweep home.

Aaron Nemane curled City level in the 68th minute with a sweet right-footed strike from the corner of the box and substitute Isaac Buckley went close to snatching a late winner but his shot flashed inches off-target.

While away's goals don't count, Chelsea will return to Stamford Bridge for Wednesday's second leg as slight favourites as they try to claim a third successive FA Youth Cup triumph on the back of securing back-to-back UEFA Youth League titles.

Man City: Grimshaw, Oliver, Humphreys, Adarabioyo, Latibeaudiere (Wood 89), Davenport, Garcia (Buckley 60), Kongolo, Nemane (Sancho 90), Nmecha, Brahim. Subs not used: Haug, Dele-Bashiru.

Chelsea: Baxter; Chalobah (Grant 78), Tomori, Clarke-Salter, Dasilva, Sammut, Ali (Scott 62), Sterling, Mount, Christie-Davies; Ugbo (Maddox 71). Subs not used: Thompson, Wakefield.

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