Premier League 2 report: Chelsea 1-2 West Bromwich Albion

Filipe Coelho's team put in a strong effort in the Premier League 2 match against West Bromwich, but it was the other side that managed to clinch a last-minute goal, winning the game 2-1.

On Saturday afternoon, we were back in Premier League 2, playing at home against West Bromwich Albion at Kingsmeadow.

Chelsea kicked off the match with great energy, pressing hard from the beginning, which paid off when Reiss Russell-Denny scored a well-placed shot into the far corner.

Even though there were multiple chances to score, West Brom stood firm and successfully defended against any dangerous attempts, stopping Chelsea from increasing the lead.

Once the break was over, we kept applying pressure on our rivals, and it was Harry Whitwell who scored after a swift counter-attack.

Just when it looked like the match would end in a draw, Whitwell scored again after the Blues' goalkeeper was surprised and lost the ball. This allowed the Baggies' forward to calmly slot it into the empty net, snatching the win away from Chelsea.

The Premier League 2 match started with a strong energy and quick tempo, with both teams aggressively competing for control of the ball.

Chelsea quickly put West Brom's defense under pressure, with Russell-Denny getting the first chance to score. Demonstrating great skill, he received the ball near the edge of the penalty area and took a shot, but it just grazed the outside of the post.

We kept up the pressure, with Brodi Hughes advancing the ball down the field and passing it to Donnell McNeilly in the box. McNeilly tried to take a shot in the midst of the chaos, but Joe Wallis was quick to respond and blocked the swift attempt.

The Blues had another opportunity shortly after. Sixteen-year-old Shumaira Mheuka made his mark in the penalty area, grabbing the ball and nearly netting a goal with a shot from close range. Fortunately for West Brom, one of their defenders was able to get in the way, sending the ball off course and away from the goal.

Chelsea maintained their enthusiasm as they attacked together, keeping West Brom on the defensive and applying relentless pressure.

Russell-Denny swung into action again, sending a clever cross over to Harvey Vale, who timed his run perfectly to find space without any defenders nearby. Vale hit a powerful low shot, but Wallis was quick on his feet and managed to respond effectively.

The Blues were clearly gaining momentum, and Ishe Samuels-Smith was the next to take a chance. He delivered a well-placed shot from nearby, but defender Josh Shaw managed to extend his leg and block the attempt.

The other team quickly got into their groove, and Akeel Higgins tested Chelsea’s goalkeeper Max Merrick with two rapid-fire saves. The Baggies' forward fired two nearly identical powerful shots from just inside the box, but Merrick remained calm and handled the pressure well.

The visitors almost took the lead when Devante Cole unleashed a strong shot from just outside the penalty area, but the ball veered just past the far post, giving Chelsea a close call.

At the 30-minute point in the match, the Blues showcased some impressive teamwork as they pushed for a goal. Samuels-Smith sent a well-placed ball into the penalty area, and McNeilly attempted a header, but once again, Shaw was on hand to make the save.

Captain Harrison Murray-Campbell launched a high pass toward Hughes, who handled it with ease. Hughes then passed to Vale, who pulled the ball back for Mheuka, but the young player’s shot was saved by the goalkeeper.

After many cautions, we finally managed to break the stalemate. Russell-Denny took advantage of a clever pass from Samuels-Smith and skillfully placed it into the bottom corner next to the post. It was a remarkable finish.

Coelho's team almost increased their advantage when Vale found Mheuka in a clear chance inside the box. But a cluster of defenders from the Baggies swiftly surrounded him, and Mo Diomande managed to deflect the striker's shot to safety.

Even though the first half was full of excitement and near misses, Chelsea headed into halftime with only a one-goal advantage.

The Blues returned from halftime with the same intensity we displayed earlier, pushing strongly to increase our lead.

McNeilly nearly scored again with a strong shot aimed at the goal, but the goalkeeper for the Baggies somehow managed to stop it, sprinting off his line to block the attempt.

The Blues kept pressing for another goal. Samuels-Smith made a perfectly curved pass to Vale, who then laid it off for Hughes, giving him the chance to take a hard shot at the goal. But Matt Richards stepped in to save the day for the visitors, blocking the shot and stopping Chelsea from increasing their lead.

Substitute Ato Ampah immediately made a difference, almost exciting the audience to the point of cheering.

Teaming up effectively with midfielder Dyer, Ampah showcased his skill by slipping the ball through a Baggies defender's legs and chasing it down. He then fired a low shot that just missed the goal by a few inches.

Ampah wasn't finished. He made another run, breaking down the wing without any defenders around him, and fired off a strong shot from a sharp angle. Unfortunately, the ball hit the post, preventing him from scoring again when he really deserved it.

Even though we were the stronger team, our rivals made a comeback by equalizing the score. Eseosa Sule set up the chance, seizing on a quick counter-attack to deliver the ball to Whitwell, who skillfully finished from a short distance, getting past Merrick and tying the game.

Sadly, we faced a last-minute disappointment when West Brom scored a winning goal during stoppage time.

Feeling the pressure, Merrick ventured out of his goal and ended up losing control of the ball. With no other defenders from the Blues around to help, Whitwell seized the opportunity, snatched the ball away, and sent it into the empty net, securing the three points for his team.

The Chelsea Under-21 team is set to play in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday night, facing off against Bromley, a club from League One. The game is set to start at 7:45 PM at Hayes Lane, and you can purchase tickets here.

Chelsea (4-2-3-1 formation) featured Max Merrick as the goalkeeper, with a defensive line comprising Brodi Hughes, Kaiden Wilson, Harrison Murray-Campbell (who captained the side), and Ishe Samuels-Smith. In midfield, Harrison McMahon was replaced by Jimmy-Jay Morgan in the 84th minute, alongside Kiano Dyer. The attacking trio included Harvey Vale, Shumaira Mheuka, and Reiss Russell-Denny, who was substituted for Ato Ampah after 63 minutes. Donnell McNeilly made way for Alex Matos, also in the 63rd minute. The unused substitutes were Travis Akomeah and Richard Olise. Brodi Hughes received a booking in the 40th minute, while Reiss Russell-Denny scored the only goal of the match in the 36th minute.

West Bromwich Albion's lineup included Joe Wallis, Deago Nelson, Josh Shaw, Iddrisu Dauda (who was substituted for Michael Parker in the 63rd minute), Mo Diomande, Matt Richards, and Fenton Heard (replaced by Eseosa Sule also at 63 minutes). The team also featured Cole Deeming, Devante Cole, Harry Whitwell, and Akeel Higgins. The substitutes who didn't get a chance to play were Liam Wilkes, Evan Humphries, and Adriel Walker. Harry Whitwell was the standout performer, scoring goals in the 77th minute and again in stoppage time at 90+2 minutes.