Son of ex-Gombe United star steals the show for Chelsea U18s with goal and assist v West Ham

Chizaram Ezenwata, son of ex-Gombe United player Ndubuisi Ezenwata, stole the show for Chelsea as they were held to a 2-2 draw by West Ham United in an U18 Premier League fixture on Saturday.

Six players of Nigerian descent were on parade at Cobham Training Ground, with Ezenwata joined in the starting lineup by Chelsea teammate Tayo Subuloye, while Rayan Oyebade, Elisha Sowunmi, Majid Balogun and Andre Dike were given minutes by Hammers U18s coach Lauris Coggin.

A wayward pass from Jack Austin in his own half enabled Sowunmi to evade Reggie Watson and dispatch a composed close-range finish, handing West Ham the lead in the 37th minute.

Former Manchester United schoolboy Balogun thought he had doubled the advantage before half-time but was flagged offside.

Ten minutes into the second half, Ezenwata, who has been in terrific form this season, finished off a lovely team move to bring Chelsea level.

And he turned from scorer to provider in the 60th minute when his attempted shot deflected into the path of Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli, who finished expertly into the bottom corner to make it 2-1.

Chelsea were denied three points by a stoppage time equalizer from Josh Landers, who fired past the goalkeeper after he was teed up by Sowunmi.

Ezenwata, who is in his final season as a schoolboy, has tallied seven goals in all competitions for Chelsea U18s in the current season, including six in the U18 Premier League and a goal on his FA Youth Cup debut.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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