9:07pm Wednesday 17th February 2010
By James O'Connell
Watford’s Under-18s were dumped out of the FA Youth Cup this evening after losing 4-0 to Chelsea at Vicarage Road.
The Blues were simply too strong for Watford as goals by Aliu Djalo, Marko Mitrovic, Jeffrey Bruma and Joshua McEachran sent the West-Londoners through to the semi-finals.
The Hornets had the first real chance of the game on 12 minutes, but Piero Mingoia’s dangerous free kick was headed just wide by Gavin Massey.
Chelsea front-man Mitrovic was then presented with a golden opportunity at the other end, as wide-man Milan Lalkovic lofted the ball over the onrushing Jonathan Bond. With the goal at his mercy, Mitrovic bundled the ball home but the referee adjudged that he had used his arm in the process.
It wasn’t long, however, before the deadlock was broken as Djalo was sent through one-on-one with Bond and finished emphatically to put the Blues 1-0 up.
Watford were clearly shaken by the goal and nearly fell further behind just moments later, as McEachran floated his effort just over the bar.
Chelsea settled as the half wore on and Hornets’ captain Eddie Oshodi almost put through his own net on the half-hour mark, with some smart reactions from Bond coming to his rescue.
Oshodi’s luck didn’t last long though and as the half-time whistle approached, the Hornets’ skipper pushed the lively Mitrovic to the ground in the area, resulting in a penalty for the visitors. Mitrovic picked himself up and sent Bond the wrong way to send the hosts in at the break 2-0 down.
Set-piece specialist Mingoia came close for Watford shortly after the restart but his well struck free kick sailed over the bar.
The visitors soon added a third as Bruma was allowed far too much space in the penalty area. The centre-half had time to control the ball, before picking his spot and ended any ideas the Hornets had of a comeback.
Watford battled on in an attempt to salvage some pride, but the impressive McEachran rubbed salt in to the wound late on, thumping home a volley at the back post, after some good work down the right hand side by Gokhan Tore.
Chelsea will face either Blackburn or Everton in the semi-final and will be confident of going all the way in the competition after this evening’s truly dominant display.
Watford: Bond; Yiadom, Oshodi, Fenwick (Thompson 61), Angus; Whichelow, Brooks (Warburton 85), Penny (Isaac 59), Mingoia; Murray, Massey. Not Used: Bonham, Smith.
Chelsea: Walker; B Clifford, Mills, Bruma, Conteh; Tore, Djalo, Clifford (c), Lalkovic; Mitrovic, McEachran (Saville 90). Not Used: Blackman, Devyne, Sampyo, Ince.
Bookings: Penny 53 (Professional Foul), Yiadom 62 (Time Wasting), Brooks 71 (Descent).
Attendance: 2270.
Referee: Gavin Ward.
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