Solanke scores again as Chelsea U21s win

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Kasey Palmer scored a brilliant goal and Dominic Solanke netted in injury time as Chelsea’s youngsters secured a deserved 2-0 win over Southampton in the Under-21 Premier League. 

Chelsea were on top throughout, hitting the bar four times and going close on several other occasions.

Captain Jordan Houghton hit the corner of post and bar with a fine looping header and Palmer clipped the top of the bar with a long-range free-kick.

Solanke also went close with two shots across goal but the only first-half goal came when Palmer’s fierce strike found the corner of the net from outside the box after some brilliant footwork.

Jake Sinclair did have a weak shot easily saved by Chelsea keeper Mitchell Beeney and slipped when when well placed, but the Saints rarely threatened as the Blues dominated.

The pattern continued after the interval, Jeremie Boga striking the bar with a mis-hit cross from the left and fellow substitute Charly Musonda unlucky to see his first-time shot bounce away off the woodwork to safety.

Saints created a couple of openings in the final 10 minutes, notably when Josh Simms ran through on goal but saw his low strike brilliantly saved by Beeney.

But in stoppage time Solanke took advantage of a sloppy back-pass to round the keeper and tap in his 36th goal of the season.

The win sees Chelsea move up to sixth place with games in hand on most of their title rivals.

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