Defending champions Chelsea will take a one-goal lead to Stamford Bridge after beating Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 in the first leg of their FA Youth Cup semifinal at White Hart Lane on Tuesday night.

Two players of Nigerian descent started for Chelsea, England youth internationals Ike Ugbo and Tariq Uwakwe, while Keanan Bennetts and Timothy Eyoma made Spurs’s starting eleven.

Two goals in the first half put the Blues U18s squad in a commanding position and they had the luxury of missing a penalty in the closing minutes of the second half.

On 34 minutes, the visitors took the lead thanks to Reece James, who headed home a corner kick taken by Uwakwe, and Ugbo struck a shot from eight yards to double the advantage six minutes later.

Tottenham Hotspur’s England U18 striker Kazaiah Sterling reduced the deficit in the 87th minute, finding the net with a low shot after he was teed up by Roles.

England U20 international Josh Onomah, a Spurs Academy graduate, was among the spectators at White Hart Lane.

Igho Kingsley

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