UEFA Youth League Results 2015-16: Chelsea vs. Ajax Quarter-Final Score, Recap

Chelsea booked their spot in this season's UEFA Youth League semi-finals on Tuesday after they clinched a 1-0 win over Ajax. American youngster Kyle Scott provided the game's only goal.   

The defending Youth League champions will now host Anderlecht in a semi-final clash on April 14 as they look to seal their second crown in just the third season of the tournament being played.

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Ajax proved a testing opponent at the Cobham Training Ground on Tuesday, but manager Adi Viveash's side proved tough to break down at the back as they claimed their fifth clean sheet of the European campaign.

The official Chelsea Twitter account confirmed they'd be returning to Nyon in Switzerland in the hope of sealing back-to-back titles:

"

The defence of the @UEFAYouthLeague trophy goes on. We will play
Anderlecht in the semi-final in Switzerland on Friday 14 April. #CFCU19

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) March 15, 2016"

Ajax travelled to west London on Tuesday, hoping to follow Anderlecht's lead by becoming the second team to make the semis after qualifying from the domestic champions' path in this year's competition.

The Dutch outfit are revered as one of the most prolific producers of young talent in Europe, and the likes of attacking pair Vince Dekker and Ezra Walian, in particular, were hoping to leave their mark on the Blues.

Chelsea's foes managed to keep things close for the opening 45 minutes and came within seconds of heading in level at the halfway mark before Scott's well-timed breakthrough forced the home side into a slim lead.

The English representatives capitalised on a quick free-kick on the stroke of half-time, and youth football writer J.R. Eskilson praised the cool finish from United States under-18 player Scott after Kasey Palmer's incisive through ball:

This proved to be one of those moments upon which games are decided, and Ajax came to regret succumbing so close to the break as Chelsea held out after the restart, despite the away side's probing.

Bleacher Report's Sam Tighe highlighted the visitors' attempts to find Dekker through full-back Dujon Sterling, but there was no sign of a clean finish coming for them in the final third:

Jacob Maddox had a sublime chance to double Chelsea's lead after breaking free of the Ajax back line with 30 minutes remaining, but the stretched frame of Ajax No. 1 Indy Groothuizen tipped the effort wide off his left boot.

Full-back Jay Dasilva was also a bright spark for the Blues moving up the opposite flank until he was replaced by Trevoh Chalobah with 20 minutes remaining, with Viveash hoping to sure up his defence for the final phases. Scott was also replaced by midfielder Isaac Christie-Davies late on in an attempt to see things out.

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Every Youth League quarter-final prior to this had produced at least two goals, but Tuesday's encounter proved to be a stingier affair between two teams proving their worth as some of Europe's elite youth setups. Chelsea centre-back Jake Clarke-Salter was a particular bane to the visitors forays forward and proved a valuable asset at the back for the home outfit.

Chelsea goalkeeper Bradley Collins made a terrific save from point-blank range before Ajax actually put the ball in the net, only to be flagged for a foul on the stopper. That proved to be as close as they got to scoring, too, as Chelsea held on for the slightest of wins on home turf.

Anderlecht came close to facing Chelsea in last season's final but were beaten 3-1 by Shakhtar Donetsk in their semi-final and prevented from challenging for the top prize.

The Belgians will look to go one better this season, but reigning champions Chelsea are sure to prove a tough obstacle in the search for Youth League glory.