Manchester City win FA Youth Cup after edging five-goal thriller against Chelsea – as Cole Palmer dedicates winning goal to late former team-mate Jeremy Wisten in touching celebration
- Cole Palmer scored the winner as Man City beat Chelsea in FA Youth Cup final
- Chelsea took the lead through Marcel Lewis but James Mcatee levelled for City
- Morgan Rogers put City in front after the break but Lewis equalised shortly after
- Palmer scored with seven minutes left and dedicated his goal to Jeremy Wisten
Cole Palmer’s scored a late winner and dedicated his goal to the late Jeremy Wisten Manchester City beat Chelsea 3-2 in Monday night’s FA Youth Cup final.
It was the west Londoners took the lead mid-way through the first-half when Valentino Livramento played through Marcel Lewis who beat goalkeeper Cieran Slicker before finishing cooly, but City responded through James McAtee’s close-range finish on 36 minutes.
Morgan Rogers’ smart finish inside the box completed a turnaround for Manchester City in the second period, but Chelsea pegged back their opponents back soon after as Lewis’ effort took a wicked deflection past Slicker in the City goal.
Cole Palmer did a Jeremy Wisten tribute as Man City beat Chelsea 3-2 in the FA Youth Cup final
Marcel Lewis (L) gave Chelsea the lead after 28 minutes but James McAtee levelled for City
But with seven minutes remaining, Palmer picked up on Liam Delap’s ricocheted effort to net the winning goal, as City put last year’s cup final defeat to Liverpool behind him.
Upon scoring the winner, Palmer – who played in the Champions League for the Citizens at Marseille last week – lifted his shirt to reveal a ‘RIP Jeremy Wisten top’.
Former academy graduate Wisten passed away last month just before City’s Youth Cup semi-final win over Blackburn Rovers.
After the game, Pep Guardiola told the club’s website: ‘I want to congratulate all the players, as well as Carlos and his staff.
Lewis equalised for Chelsea six minutes after Morgan Rogers put City in front after half-time
‘I thought their performance was outstanding. They showed so much courage and personality – not just in the final but throughout the competition.
‘They worked so hard without the ball and when they attacked, they did it with creativity. I was so impressed.
‘It is testament to the strength of our Academy right now. There are a lot of very good players coming through.
‘Hopefully, they enjoy this achievement and continue to develop because some of them have fantastic futures ahead of them.
‘The Academy teaches young players to play the game in the right way and we are seeing the benefit of that at every age group.’
Pep Guardiola paid tribute to the youngsters for their work rate and courage after the final
