Gordon scores hat-trick as Chelsea 16 y/o wonderkid features in U18s enthralling draw with Sheffield | OneFootball

Wonderkid Ibrahim Rabbaj featured for Chelsea U18s as they secured a hard-fought 3-3 draw with Sheffield United in their opening Premier League Cup clash at Cobham on Tuesday.Midfielder Sol Gordon stole the show as he rescued the Blues from the jaws of defeat.Sheffield took the lead inside seven minutes when Aaron Reid swung a cross into the area, which was misjudged by goalkeeper Isaac Collinson, allowing Arlo Coubrough to volley home.Rabbaj almost set up the equaliser when he crossed to Kobe Barbour, whose effort was saved by goalkeeper Ben Grainger.Gordon drew level on 18 minutes, pressing high before pouncing on the goalkeeper’s loose pass and calmly slotted the ball into the net.Siem Eyob-Abraha scored for the visitors before the half-hour mark, scoring from a rebound after Collinson saved his initial effort. Rabbaj almost came close to restoring parity for Chelsea with an ambitious effort after intercepting a pass from the goalkeeper, but his effort drifted wide of the post.Sheffield extended their lead three minutes after the restart as Eyob-Abraha found the net from Sam Colechin’s pass.Chelsea almost responded when Rabbaj’s cross was met by captain Olutayo Subuloye, whose header was cleared off the line by a defender. Gordon drew level on 78 minutes, rising highest to power the header past the reach of the goalkeeper, following a delivery by substitute Calvin Diakite.Collinson produced a superb save to deny Eyob-Abraha from getting a hat-trick in a one-on-one. Deep into stoppage time, Chelsea were awarded a penalty for a foul on Richards, and Gordon stepped up to convert it.Chelsea’s next fixture in the competition is away at Manchester City on October 4; they will host Aston Villa on Saturday in the league.