Hall fires Under-21s to opening-day win at Chelsea

Tyrese Hall scored our first goals of the 2024/25 season, his brace ensuring our Under-21s' defence of the Premier League 2 title began with a 2-1 win at Chelsea on Friday night.

Trailing to Ato Ampah's strike inside 11 minutes and with a much-changed team to that which swept to glory last term, we fought back superbly and thoroughly deserved the victory given to us by Hall's goals either side of half-time.

It was a rip-roaring contest to begin the campaign, with both sides creating chances. Indeed, goalkeepers Josh Keeley and Max Merrick made some fine saves as opportunities went begging at both ends. In truth, though, we controlled the game for much of the last 75 minutes and could have won by a bigger margin, substitutes Oli Irow and Jaden Williams having late opportunities to extend our lead.

Keeley stood firm in the opening minutes to repel efforts from Shumaira Mhueka and Tyrique George, but he was powerless to prevent Ampah from firing the hosts in front after the winger broke into space on the right inside 11 minutes. Chelsea had made a strong start but cruciually we restored parity 10 minutes later, Damola Ajayi and Hall working a short corner routine with the latter's shot from the edge of the box deflecting inside the near post. Jude Soonsup-Bell powered a header just wide against his former club and later saw a shot blocked from almost on the line by defender Harrison Murray-Campbell at the end of a flurry of action which saw Hall and Callum Olusesi denied by back-to-back saves from Merrick. In amongst all that, Mhueka latched onto a cross from the right in the centre of the box at the other end, but could only guide his effort straight at Keeley.

We made a great start to the second half and took the lead within two minutes of the resumption. Ajayi's pressure to the right of the goal forced defender Travis Akomeah to try to whack it clear, but Hall was well positioned to divert the ball high inside the near post and make it 2-1. Ajayi produced a flying save from Merrick with a long-range curler seconds later as we continued on the front foot, while Keeley matched that with a superb fingertip save stretching down to his left to keep out substitute Omari Kellyman's effort for the hosts.

Ajayi was denied by Merrick while Maeson King tracked back and did just enough to prevent Mhueka from hitting the target after the Chelsea forward surged in behind our defence as the all-action nature of the contest continued. Irow had two chances, bursting towards goal but being denied by a covering tackle, then dragging a shot across goal and just wide, before Williams had an opportunity to wrap the game up five minutes from time when he broke in behind and tried to lob the advancing keeper, but the ball floated wide. Nevertheless, we'd done enough to claim the London derby spoils on a pulsating night at Kingsmeadow.

Reaction on SPURSPLAY

'We took a while to get to grips with the pace of the game'

Under-21s Coach Wayne Burnett was delighted to begin the season in winning fashion. He told SPURSPLAY: "I'm really pleased, because I thought we played really well. In the first 15 minutes we didn't perform particularly well but once we got into our rhythm, I thought we were very good. For the first 15 minutes, there was only one team in the game - Chelsea dominated, we took a while to get to grips with the pace of the game and they had some chances, but after we conceded I thought we looked much better. It was a good match - both teams were going at it and there were certainly some good players on display from both sides in a highly-competitive game. We're really pleased overall - it's the first game of the season, there's still lots to work on but I'm pleased for the players and pleased for the staff."

Match data

Goals: Chelsea - Ampah 11; Spurs - Hall 21, 47.

Yellow cards: Chelsea - Kellyman 51, Dyer 65, Samuels-Smith 78; Spurs - Abbott 10, Cassanova 50, Irow 76.

Referee: Zac Kennard-Kettle.

Venue: Kingsmeadow, Kingston upon Thames.

Weather: Sunny, light winds, 22 degrees.