UEFA Youth League Results 2015-16: Chelsea vs. Anderlecht Semi-Final Score

Chelsea sealed their place in this season’s UEFA Youth League final on Friday with a 3-0 win over Anderlecht.

Kasey Palmer scored the opening goal of the game for the defending champions, and Charlie Colkett added a second before Tammy Abraham secured progression with a well-taken third.

Adi Viveash’s side will now face the winner of the match between Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain in the competition showdown in Nyon, Switzerland on April 18.

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Anderlecht arrived at the contest following a 1-0 victory over Barcelona, while Chelsea saw off Dutch opponents Ajax by the same scoreline.

The English side began the stronger of the two junior teams with some good ball retention in their opponents' third of the pitch and soon began to assert themselves. Star duo Palmer and Abraham created the first chance of note 12 minutes into proceedings, and their link-up proved to be a running theme of the final-four clash.

Jake Clarke-Salter’s deep cross into the area was met by Palmer, whose header was turned goalwards before Abraham struck the post.

With 21 minutes on the clock, the Blues finally made their dominance pay. Palmer was once again involved as the in-form attacker started the move before finishing it off.

Collecting the ball outside of the area, he turned his defender with ease before sliding an accurate ball through to the feet of Abraham on the right of the box. Palmer then collected the return pass from eight yards out, diverting his shot into the bottom corner.

Anderlecht’s main goal threat Jorn Vancamp—who has six goals to his name at this year’s tournament—struggled to get a grip on the tie and dropped increasingly deeper in order to gather possession. Fikayo Tomori’s close marking proved the Belgian attacker’s stumbling block in the opening 45 minutes.

On the stroke of half-time, Abraham had a great opening to double his team’s advantage but was denied by the Anderlecht goalkeeper. This time it was Palmer who turned provider, feeding a through ball to the feet of his attacking partner, however Mile Svilar did well to get down and stop the low effort.

Ten minutes following the interval, Chelsea did build a cushion over their opponents through captain Colkett. The central midfielder picked up a loose ball high up the field before playing the ball wide to Mason Mount. The substitute wide man played a return pass back into the middle of the box for Colkett to finish off well.

Anderlecht came closest to shortening their deficit midway through the second period, as Macedonian forward Emil Abaz got in behind the Chelsea back line before striking an effort towards goal which stopper Bradley Collins parried away and out for a corner.

However, that glimmer of hope for the Belgians was soon diminished as Chelsea sealed their place in the final with a third unanswered goal on 75 minutes. Mount again was the provider, playing a perfectly weighted forward pass to the feet of Abraham who clinically struck his eighth goal in eight games after racing away from the tiring Anderlecht defenders. 

The Blues will now prepare to challenge for their second title in the tournament’s third year of existence.