Chelsea U19 3-0 Maccabi Tel Aviv U19: Kasey Palmer grabs brace as Blues kick off UEFA Youth League title defence with convincing victory over Israelis

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Chelsea Under 19s began their UEFA Youth League title defence with an emphatic win over Israeli opponents Maccabi Tel Aviv in Cobham on Wednesday afternoon.

Midfielder Kasey Palmer gave the young Blues the lead with just 20 minutes on the clock, before netting again just after half-time; forward Tammy Abraham added a third for manager Adi Viveash's side.

Chelsea won the previous competition following a dramatic 3-2 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk in April but just three of the side that started in that final returned to the side - captain Jake Clarke-Salter, Ola Aina and Jay Dasilva.

Kasey Palmer scored 20th and 47th minute goals to give Chelsea U19s a two-goal lead over Maccabi Tel Aviv

Striker Tammy Abraham then sealed the 3-0 victory with a 78th minute strike against the Israeli outfit

The Blues dominated the early stages of the rainy affair and when Kyle Scott advanced from midfield and laid off to the overlapping Aina, the defender's cross was knocked down by Jay Dasilva into the path of Palmer, who made no mistake with a low, placed effort.

Under 16 Dujon Sterling was introduced after the break and made an immediate impression on the game, crossing low to Palmer, who burst into the box, sliding in from close range.

And in the 78th minute Chelsea extended their lead once again. Abraham latched on to Clarke-Salter’s pass from deep and rounded Maccabi goalkeeper Ohayon Haviv before slotting in from an acute angle.

After the match, Viveash told Chelsea's official website: 'We controlled the game for long periods but I felt Maccabi had a good shape and caused us a couple of problems. 

'They were well-organised but we're really pleased to start with a clean sheet and our back four were strong.

'Our second goal came at a good time and it was a great team goal with a lovely ball in from Dujon. 

'Both Kasey's goals were classy finishes and he could have had five or six today but his confidence is certainly rising and that's what we want. 

'We need goals from other areas this season and Kasey can certainly help us with that.

'We haven't got the physicality of last season so we're going to have to do things a different way and play a bit more expansive football. 

'That worked well at times today and we'll have to continue out-thinking and out-footballing teams if we're going to do well in the competition again this year.'