Oxford United were beaten 2-1 tonight in the Papa John's Trophy as Chelsea struck back to win with two stunning goals at the Kassam Stadium.
Matty Taylor's first-half goal had given the U's the lead in an open, entertaining game, but second-half strikes from Mason Burstow and Lewis Hall saw the Blues come from behind and register their first win in Group G.
As is usual in this competition, United mixed things up; Jodi Jones, James Golding, John Mousinho, Taylor, Billy Bodin, Alex Gorrin and Steve Seddon all returned to the starting XI and Djavan Anderson made his full debut at right-back.
In a game full of chances, highly rated midfielder Ben Elliott struck the left-hand post after eight minutes, but a minute later United had the lead when Mousinho got above his man to head a corner down and Taylor did what Taylor does, sweeping the ball home to give his side an early advantage and score his 60th goal for the club.
Chelsea zipped the ball around nicely and after 27 minutes Omari Hutchinson forced Simon Eastwood into his first superb save of the night when the keeper went full stretch to tip a free kick over the bar.
However, United had looked solid defensively and actually completed more passes than the visitors in the first half. Golding, whose brother is in the Chelsea Academy, looked outstanding, bringing the ball out from the back and following the example of the ageless Mousinho, but the whole side worked hard and Gorrin might have doubled the lead just before the break when he fired into the side netting.
The Spanish midfielder was relishing the more advanced role he was given, almost forcing home a second goal soon after the break, and Taylor soon had a chance to score his second but was denied by Beach in a one-on-one.
Chances continued to arrive at both ends. Sub Marcus Browne saw a goalbound effort flick over the bar via a defender's body and Golding and sub Tyler Goodrham also went close, but the visitors had chances as well and the game was worryingly open against such high-calibre opposition.
Charlie Webster saw one effort bravely blocked, Burstow was denied by a raised flag when he steered the ball home just before the hour, and Elliott was off target in a three-on-one break just after the hour.
Those were warnings and the loudest alarm bells came with a missed penalty. Anderson is rapid and had already chased down two Chelsea wingers as they threatened to break clear, but on the third occasion he slid in to try and halt Hutchinson and this time caught his heels just inside the box. Fortunately, Eastwood was there to not only plunge to his left and save the same player's penalty but also get up and somehow save the rebound.
There was a scare when Lewis Bate thundered into a challenge and came off second best, hobbling off in some distress, but then Chelsea managed to score the goal they had been threatening, and what a goal it was. Burstow was 30 yards from goal but saw Eastwood off his line and launched the ball over the retreating keeper. It was a perfect strike and for once Eastwood had no answer to it. 1-1.
Just as thoughts of a penalty shoot-out for the bonus point began to go through the minds of the sparse crowd, Chelsea won the game when the ball came to their midfielder, named after two United legends*, and Hall blasted high into the net to win it for the visiting side.
Not the end of the world and all things remain possible in the group when United end their fixtures at Sutton next month. But having contributed so much, United will be frustrated not to have seen the job through.
Saturday, at home to Wycombe, would be the ideal time to make amends...
Att: 1,354
Away: 64
Report by Chris Williams, pictures Steve Daniels and Steve Edmunds
*Their captain, Alfie Gilchrist, is also a candidate.