Under-17s beat Chelsea on penalties to reach cup final

Stuart Lewis hailed an “unbelievable team performance” as our Academy reached the final of the Under-17 Premier League Cup for the second year in a row with a penalty shootout win over Chelsea at Hotspur Way on Tuesday afternoon.

In the first of two semi-finals for our scholars this week – we travel to Sheffield United in the equivalent Under-18 competition on Saturday – we let slip a 2-0 lead given to us by Jamie Donley and Damola Ajayi to trail 3-2 in extra time, before Donley’s spot-kick sent the tie to penalties.

Donley, Oliver Irow, Tyrese Hall, Kieran Morgan, Ajayi and Alfie Dorrington all subsequently netted from 12 yards with goalkeeper Luca Gunter also playing a vital role as we triumphed 6-5 in the shootout to book a date with Nottingham Forest in the showpiece final later in the season.

First introduced in 2020/21 as an amalgamation of the Under-18 and Under-16 Premier League Cups during the pandemic, the Under-17 competition – continuing to run alongside the more widely recognised Under-18 version – has again provided an additional platform for the younger members of our Under-18s squad to shine this term, with Tuesday’s London derby the latest example.

“It was an outstanding youth game that had everything and it was an unbelievable team performance,” said coach Stuart as he reflected on a keenly-contested clash with the Blues. “We were 2-0 up, they brought it back to 2-2, then went 3-2 up in extra time but we showed brilliant character throughout the game and then came back into it at 3-3. I thought we grew stronger as the game went on, it went to penalties, we all know how nerve-wracking they can be but the boys were outstanding. Bradley Allen and Jermain Defoe, who both work closely with the players along with myself, were really proud of their character and resilience.

“We actually lost the first game 1-0 to Colchester at their stadium and therefore had to win the next two games – we did that, which epitomises the group. We beat West Ham at home 5-1 and then had a brilliant moment away at Norwich one evening in November where Jahziah Linton scored with the last kick of the game to give us a 2-1 win, so there’s been some brilliant moments and celebrations within this journey. We won 5-2 at Aston Villa last month and today was another example – the players have shown how far they’ve come as individuals but also as a group, because we know how important it is to produce players, but also winners.”

Stuart is now calling on his squad to come up with another good performance when we go to Sheffield United in the higher-profile Under-18 Premier League Cup semi-final on Saturday, having memorably seen off Manchester City 1-0 in the last eight a few weeks ago.

“We want all of our young players to be involved in games of this magnitude, to be able to reach a final,” he added. “Reaching the Under-17 final is an unbelievable feeling for them but now, just like at the top level, you have to go again and we play Sheffield United away on Saturday in another semi-final, which will be another really good challenge. These matches expose the lads to key moments in their development but at the same time, we’ll be going there to win and produce another good performance.”

Spurs Under-17s (v Chelsea): Gunter (c), Abbott, King (Irow 92), Chaplin, Dorrington, Hall, Ajayi, Black (Akhamrich 85), Donley, Olusesi (Willhoft-King 69), Moore (Morgan 112). Substitute (not used): Bloedorn.