Chelsea lifted the FA Youth Cup for a third successive season after goals from Dujon Sterling, Tammy Abraham and Fikayo Tomori helped seal a 4-2 aggregate victory over Manchester City.
Sterling capitalised on an error by visiting goalkeeper Daniel Grimshaw to give Chelsea the lead in first-half stoppage time at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea 3-1 Manchester City (4-2 on aggregate)
The FA Youth Cup Final
Second leg
7.45pm, Wednesday 27 April 2016
Stamford Bridge
Abraham added a second just nine minutes into the second period, while Tomori made it worse for City with his looping header with just 17 minutes remaining.
Brahim Diaz slotted in a late consolation, but it was not enough to stop Chelsea winning their fifth FA Youth Cup in seven seasons.
The sides had played out a closely-fought 1-1 draw in Manchester the previous Wednesday, and a bright start from City sustained hopes that they could avenge their loss in last year's final.
Despite City’s early control, the hosts boasted the first meaningful chance when Trevoh Chalobah headed over from a corner, before Abraham prodded beyond the crossbar when the ball was allowed to bounce in the area.
City, who last won the tournament in 2008, remained in control though, forcing a series of set-pieces without threatening Nathan Baxter in the Chelsea goal.
The lack of clear-cut opportunities allowed Joe Edwards’ side to regain composure, with Mason Mount dragging two efforts wide when put through in good positions in the visitors’ box.
But disaster struck for City on the stroke of half-time. Mukhtar Ali’s hopeful ball looked set to be shepherded to his area by Grimshaw, only for Sterling to nip in and slot into an empty net to give Chelsea the half-time lead.
The holders started the second half on the front foot too, with substitute Marcus Wood needing to make a desperate intervention to stop Abraham doubling the advantage with a simple tap in.
Then came a game-changing minute-and-a-half: after City thought they had equalised, Chelsea grabbed the vital second goal.
First City’s Lukas Nmecha tucked in following a smart Baxter save only for the assistant’s flag to go up, before Abraham leapt the highest at the other end to loop home Isaac Christie-Davies’ cross with just 90 seconds separating the incidents.
Leading 3-1 on aggregate, Chelsea had a cushion to work with, and still looked the likelier to score heading into the closing 25 minutes.
Jay Dasilva stung the palms of Grimshaw from a narrow angle, but then Tomori ended the contest, meeting Mount’s right-wing cross to head past the keeper and send Stamford Bridge into pandemonium.
Brahim was rewarded for his endeavour with a late consolation, but it did not prevent Jason Wilcox’s team succumbing to Chelsea for a second consecutive year.
The Blues have now won the FA Youth Cup five times in seven years and are now second only to Manchester United as the most decorated side in the competition's history.
Chelsea (4-3-1-2): 1 Nathan Baxter; 2 Trevoh Chalobah, 3 Fikayo Tomori, 4 Jake Clarke-Salter, 5 Jay Dasilva; 6 Ruben Sammut, 8 Mukhtar Ali, 11 Isaac Christie-Davis; 10 Mason Mount; 9 Tammy Abraham, 7 Dujon Sterling
Substitutions: 15 Jacob Maddox (for Christie-Davis 64), 12 Joshua Grant (for Trevoh Chalabah 77) Ike Ugbo (for Sterling 83)
Goals: Sterling (45+2), Abraham (53), Tomori (73)
Unused subs: 13 Jared Thompson, 16 Charlie Wakefield
Coach: Joe Edwards
Manchester City (4-2-3-1): 1 Daniel Grimshaw; 2 Charlie Oliver, 4 Tosin Adarabioyo, 5 Joel Latibeaudiere, 3 Cameron Humphreys-Grant; 6 Jacob Davenport, 8 Rodney Kongolo; 10 Brahim Diaz, 7 Isaac Buckley-Ricketts, 11 Aaron Nemane; 9 Lukas Nmecha.
Substitutions: 12 Marcus Wood (for Latibeaudiere 26), 16 Jadon Sancho (for Nemane 64), 14 Tomiwa Dele-Bashiru (for Adarabioyo 75)
Goal: Diaz (87)
Unused subs: 13 Christian Kjetil Haug, 15 Manuel Garcia Alonson,
Coach: Jason Wilcox
