FA YOUTH CUP: Chelsea 6 Swans 0
28th January
The Under-18s bowed out of the FA Youth Cup at the fifth round stage after defeat against Chelsea.
The home side found themselves with a two-goal advantage in the first half thanks to a brace from Tammy Abraham, while Dan James forced a smart save from Blues goalkeeper Bradley Collins.
Abraham helped himself to a hat-trick in the second period in between further goals from Dominic Solanke and substitute Kasey Palmer.
Solanke then rounded off the scoring late on with another neat finish, while Owain Jones twice forced good stops from Collins at the other end.
CHELSEA U18s: Bradley Collins, Ola Aina, Fikayo Tomori (Ali Suljic, 68), Jake Clarke-Salter, Jay Da Silva, Charlie Colkett (capt), Tammy Abraham (Mukhtar Ali, 73), Charly Musonda, Dominic Solanke, Kyle Scott, Jeremie Boga (Kasey Palmer, 34).
SUBS NOT USED: Jared Thompson, Ruben Sammut.
SWANS U18s: Lewis Thomas, Aaron Lewis, Cai Owens, Keston Davies (capt), Joe Rodon, Adnan Maric, Dylan Thomas, Kyle Copp (Liam Cullen, 60), Stephen Fallon (Jamie Latham, 83), Dan James, Owain Jones.
SUBS NOT USED: Jordan Sherman, Cameron Gilchrist, Liam Cullen.
The Swans edged past Doncaster Rovers in the fourth round, while Chelsea booked their place in the last 16 after thrashing Huddersfield 6-1.
Dominic Solanke - who scored a hat-trick that night for the Blues - was a pivotal figure early on as Chelsea made a bright start.
The striker got up highest to meet Ola Aina's cross from the right, but his effort was comfortably held by Swans goalkeeper Lewis Thomas.
Solanke was involved again shortly after as he was found by a brilliant reverse pass from Charlie Colkett, but his low shot was well saved by Thomas.
However, the Blues were rewarded for their dominance as they broke the deadlock after 13 minutes - Kyle Scott finding Tammy Abraham inside the penalty area and the midfielder swivelled and found the bottom right-hand corner with a neat finish.
After a difficult opening, the Swans began to find their feet as Stephen Fallon sliced a shot wide and Dan James forced a smart stop from Bradley Collins in the Chelsea goal.
Abraham thought he had grabbed his second of the night on 28 minutes as he tapped in from six yards out, but the linesman flagged for an office against the hosts.
However, the winger wasn't to be denied as he doubled Chelsea's lead in first-half stoppage time.
After more good work from Kyle Scott, Abraham found space inside the penalty area and he rifled a shot into the roof of the net to give the Blues breathing space in the tie.
Half-time: Chelsea U18s 2 Swans U18s
Neither side made any changes at the break, but Chelsea made a dream start to the second half as they scored a third after a minute of the restart.
Abraham was involved as he broke into the box, but as the ball broke for Solanke the striker produced a fine finish to chip Thomas into the empty net.
The Swans then rallied and came close to pulling a goal back as Owain Jones was twice denied by fine saves from Bradley Collins, before Stephen Fallon fired a low shot wide of the right-hand post.
Solanke should have scored his second of the night just before the hour mark as he was found by Ola Aina's low cross but the striker could only shoot straight at Thomas.
The Swans then made their first change of the game as Liam Cullen replaced Kyle Copp, but Chelsea increased their advantage further with just under 20 minutes to play.
Jay da Silva did well down the left edge of the box and his pull back found an unmarked Abraham who tapped home to complete his hat-trick.
Abraham departed the action shortly after but another substitute - Kasey Palmer - got his name on the scoresheet on 77 minutes as his right-foot shoot found the bottom corner despite the best efforts of Lewis Thomas.
Owain Jones saw a shot deflected just over the bar late on as the visitors battled on, but it was the Blues who had the final say late on as Solanke grabbed his second of the night with fine finish into the bottom corner.
