Newcastle United Under-21s 3 Chelsea Under-21s 2 | OneFootball

Ben Parkinson's close-range effort opened the scoring in the early minutes of the league encounter, the teenage striker's tenth goal of the 2024/25 season at under-21 level, before the Durham-born youngster's penalty doubled his and the hosts' goal tally before the half-hour mark.

Botman, continuing his recovery from an anterior cruciate ligament injury sustained nine months ago, played the opening hour as the Dutch defender was supported by a number of his Magpies teammates, including Alexander Isak, Anthony Gordon and Lewis Hall before Charlie McArthur's second-half header extended United's lead further.

A nervy finale was set as Ato Ampah cut the deficit for the visitors in the closing stages and, despite Donnell McNeilly stoppage-time strike, Diarmuid O'Carroll's side ultimately prevailed in a thrilling five-goal encounter.

With Eddie Howe and Jason Tindall also in attendance, Newcastle took the lead in the seventh minute through Parkinson as the Durham-born youngster, who made his Premier League debut for hid boyhood club against AFC Bournemouth in November 2023, latched onto a loose ball inside the box following Jay Turner-Cooke's corner before slamming the ball into the net from close-range.

Magpies goalkeeper Aidan Harris, celebrating his 18th birthday, produced a strong stop to deny Chelsea forward Deivid Washington as the Brazilian controlled Richard Olise's low cross inside the box but, despite evading the challenge of Newcastle captain Charlie McArthur, saw his stinging effort turned around the front post by Harris.

In the 16th minute, Newcastle extended their lead through Parkinson's spot-kick. The 19-year-old, who joined the Magpies' youth set-up as a seven-year-old, darted towards goal and after seeing his shot saved by Chelsea goalkeeper Max Merrick, the former was bundled over by Harrison Murray-Campbell before calmly slotting his attempt from 12 yards into the net.

Parkinson went agonisingly close to grabbing a first-half hat-trick after connecting with Trevan Sanusi's cross inside the penalty area but saw his close-range header cannon off the crossbar.

In the second-half, United's second-string pushed forward for their third goal of the evening as McArthur and Sanusi both completed promising solo runs before the Magpies pair both saw shots blocked.

Harvey Vale went close to halving the deficit for the West London outfit as the Blues skipper latched onto a pass from the right flank but the central midfielder fired his effort over the crossbar to the relief of the home crowd.

In the 70th minute, McArthur scored United's third goal of the evening as the Scottish centre-back, a representative of his country at under-19 level, rose high from Jay Turner-Cooke's in-swinging free-kick before powering a firm header into the bottom left-hand corner.

Newcastle's hopes of a clean sheet were dashed in the 78th minute as Ampah netted for Chelsea, with the left winger guiding the ball from Vale's low cross into the bottom right-hand corner.

With three minutes of stoppage-time awarded, Chelsea netted in the final seconds of the clash through McNeilly. After the United defence failed to clear the ball to safety from their box, the Blues substitute was able to slot the ball into the net from close-range but the goal would only prove a consolation as United's youngsters recorded a third Premier League 2 win in a row, moving into fifth place of the table in the process.

Newcastle United Under-21s: Aidan Harris, Leo Shahar, Sven Botman (Cathal Heffernan 60), Charlie McArthur (c), Alex Murphy, Travis Hernes, Lewis Miley (Alfie Harrison 46), Anthony Munda, Trevan Sanusi (Josh Donaldson 78), Jay Turner-Cooke, Ben Parkinson.

Subs not used: James Taylor, Darren Palmer.