Chelsea’s Under-18s twice fought back from behind to extend their unbeaten start to the season with a 3-3 draw away to Crystal Palace on Saturday morning.
Adi Viveash’s young side found themselves 2-0 down inside the opening twenty minutes before restoring parity by half time, but were forced into another comeback late in the second half to make it nine consecutive games without defeat; the longest such streak for the team since the start of the 2006-07 season.
Things started badly when Jerome Williams gave an in-form Palace side the lead, and they doubled their advantage in sumptuous fashion as defender Mandela Egbo thrashed in a volley at the far post after a fine flowing move.
However, Alex Kiwomya quickly pulled a goal back before Chike Kandi equalised with his first goal of an injury-hit campaign to leave the scores level at half time.
The game was much tighter for much of the second half but Javen Palmer gave the home team the lead again with just under twenty minutes remaining. This Chelsea team doesn’t know how to go down quietly though, and within three minutes George Cole scored his second goal in as many weeks to make it 3-3 at ensure a point would return across London.
The Blues are on the verge of sealing their place in the post-Christmas Elite stage competition, with Liverpool only able to now match their point toal and surpass them on goal difference.
In other news, the Under-18s’ defence of the FA Youth Cup will start against Colchester United after the Essex side beat Camberley Town 13-1 in the First Round and Faversham Town 8-1 in the Second to set up an intriguing tie to be played before December 15th.