Lewis Baker was the hero as Chelsea came from behind to beat Manchester United and win an absorbing Under-21 Premier League final at Old Trafford.

The midfield master seized his opportunity in the 79th minute, capitalising on loose United defensive play to cut across the edge of the area and curl an immaculate shot past Ben Amos.

It was the third of three wonderful goals in a final that lived up to pre-match expectations and left a 13,000-strong crowd richly entertained.

United, the defending champions, had taken an early lead when Tom Lawrence, who bore more than a slight resemblance to Ryan Giggs as he tore down the wing in his No 11 shirt, bent in a well-taken goal.

Giggs, watching on in the stands after a busy day in which he had met prospective new manager Louis van Gaal in Holland, would have been impressed by the young winger’s composure when James Wilson teed him up following Saidy Janko’s low cross.

Chelsea equalised 10 minutes later when Belgian whizzkid Charly Musonda drove at the United defence, left three red-shirted defenders trailing and fired a low shot into the bottom corner.

The visitors were the superior team after that, showing the greater threat going forward and looking resolute at the back on the occasions when United troubled them.

The win caps a double for the London club’s Academy after they beat Fulham to claim the FA Youth Cup last week.

With Giggs and fellow Class of ’92 members Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt and Phil Neville present, United fielded striker James Wilson, who had scored twice on his senior debut against Hull City last week.

Chelsea had John Swift in midfield, days after he made his senior debut as a substitute in the final day 2-1 win over Cardiff City on Sunday.

Baker had the game’s first opening, running at the heart of the United defence and letting fly from 25 yards, only to see his effort repelled by an athletic Ben Amos save.

After the two sides had traded goals, Swift curled a shot narrowly off target after Musonda’s low ball across was dummied by Islam Feruz.

United had a strong penalty appeal waved away five minutes before half-time when Paddy McNair was bundled over by Ola Aina but the referee was unmoved.

Chelsea pushed for the winner right from the off in the second-half, with baker squandering a great opportunity when he blazed over from 10 yards out after Ruben Loftus-Cheek played him in.

Moments later, Loftus-Cheek saw his angled shot blocked by the legs of Amos following good work by feruz out wide.

United’s cutting edge was dulled when Wilson limped off with what appeared to be a hamstring problem midway through the second-half.

It could create a headache for England Under-19 coach John Peacock, who has picked Wilson in his squad for the upcoming European Championship qualifiers.

After Baker had struck, United finally awaoke from their slumber but it took until stoppage time to create a meaningful opening when substitute Tyler Blackett’s audacious long-range shot forced Jamal Blackman into his first real save of the night.

But it was too little, too late for United as Chelsea ran out worthy winners.

—Daily Mail