Tuesday 17 April 2018

Arsenal U18 5 Blackpool U18 0

FA Youth Cup Semi Final Second Leg, Monday 16th April 2018

The Gunners put in a dominant performance to comfortably see of Blackpool at The Emirates and progress through to the FA Youth Cup Final to set up a two legged tie against London rivals Chelsea.

The semi final tie had been locked at 2-2 after the first leg in the North West so the contest was perfectly set up for this second leg, but the hosts soon got into their stride and on five minutes saw a good run from Amaechi end with his cross to the far post turned over by Balogun, and then Balogun again went close on nine minutes, thumping a close range effort against the bar.

On the quarter hour mark the Gunners created more openings, however visiting keeper Thordarson made a superb double save to keep the hosts at bay, however the hosts did find a breakthrough three minutes later when the dangerous Amaechi crossed for Balogan who managed to head home the opener.

That was the start of three goals in a five minute spell as Blackpool's resolve crumbled, and after host full back Daley-Campbell cut inside and saw a shot tipped wide by the keeper, from the resulting corner centre half and skipper Ballard powered home a header to double Arsenal's lead.

And then midway through the half it was three when as an effort from Burton from outside the box deflected on route to goal, wrong footing keeper Thordarson and nestling in the bottom corner of the net, and the hosts had pretty much ended this tie inside twenty five minutes.

Just before the half hour mark Arsenal threatened again and saw Olayinka in on goal, however his effort was brilliantly blocked by defender Williams, but in the 33rd minute it was four as after a brilliant run by Smith Rowe had been ended with a foul inside the area, Smith Rowe picked himself up to convert the spot kick to send the hosts four clear.

Five minutes before the break Gunners winger Amaechi, who had been superb, got in down the left again however his effort across goal went wide.  However the Gunners went in four goals to the good at the break with Blackpool limited to just a couple of half chances in the half.  The visitors were being outclassed in this one so far.

Half Time Arsenal 4 Blackpool 0

It was more of the same second half and six minutes after the restart Amaechi got in for the hosts down the left once again, but keeper Thordarson made a decent stop to thwart him, and then in the 57th minute a wonderful lofted ball into the area saw John-Jules onto it for the hosts, but he somehow put his effort wide of the target.

With just over twenty minutes remaining Balogun jinked his way past a visiting defender, only to then send his effort way off target, and then things got worse for the Tangerines when Newton was dismissed for a second yellow after pulling back an opponent, meaning they would play the final twenty minutes or so with a man less.

With just under fifteen minutes to go Arsenal full back Daley-Campbell drove to the byline but saw his ball across goal miss all, and then with six minutes remaining Blackpool had a very rare attempt on target as Jacobsen tried his luck from distance, however it was straight at Virginia who made a comfortable save.

With three minutes left John-Jules thought he had scored the hosts fifth but saw his effort brilliantly blocked by a desperate visiting defender, but with almost the last kick off the contest substitute Smith poked home a rebound after Thordarson had made a save, and it capped a fine Gunners performance as they progressed through to the FA Youth Cup Final.


Full Time Arsenal 5 Blackpool 0 (Arsenal won 7-2 on aggregate)















No comments:

Post a Comment