Chelsea's youth team went through to the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup on Thursday evening with a superb display away at Manchester United.

Paul Clement's young side fell behind inside 10 minutes at Old Trafford but fought back strongly, and went in at half-time in front thanks to two late goals courtesy of Gael Kakuta and Frank Nouble.

United threatened to bring back parity in the second half but could not find a way past the superb Niclas Heimann in the Chelsea goal, and when Fabio Borini struck eight minutes from time, the win was Chelsea's.

Chelsea headed north with expectations understandably high following last season's progression all the way to the Final, but United offered something of a daunting prospect, particularly at Old Trafford.

One thing was almost guaranteed - excitement. The Blues went into the game with more goals scored, and conceded, than any other side in the land, and five games unbeaten, while the hosts were undefeated in six.

The first chance fell to United's Danny Welbeck, already with first team experience and a goal against Stoke in the Premier League under his belt.

Through on goal, the 18-year-old bore down on Heimann but the goalkeeper stood tall, delayed the forward and eventually went down to save. It was an early warning as to the forward's potency.

The next time United got into the Chelsea box it was 1-0, as in the seventh minute Ravel Morrison took advantage of hesitance in the Blues defence to break through and finish past Heimann, who did manage a touch.

Chelsea had not started badly, putting together a series of passing moves but things were tending to break down in the final third.

Just after the half-hour mark Morrison should have double the lead and his tally, dancing around the entire defence and goalkeeper before delaying his shot. He laid off and Nikki Ahamed managed to block on the line, before the goalscorer fired the rebound over. It was a real-let off for the Blues who still hadn't tested Gary Woods in the United goal.

When Kakuta did find the target, there was nothing Woods could do to prevent Chelsea from drawing level. Daniel Philliskirk, the captain, spotted the young Frenchman's run into the area and picked him out with an inch-perfect pass. Kakuta, 17, just managed to get his toe to the ball and direct it into the corner.

Just before the break Bruma was harshly booked for a foul on United sub Cameron Stewart. From the resultant free-kick, the dangerous Olly Norwood curled over. That looked like the final act of an intriguing first half, but before the referee could blow for the break, Chelsea were in front.

Philliskirk won the ball in midfield, played a simple ball inside to Nouble, who did one stepover and fired an unstoppable drive into the top corner, his 11th goal in 10 games and the perfect way to bring an end to first-half stoppage time.

The second half began with an opportunity for Italian Fabio Borini to add to the lead, but he fired over after Ahamed had got forward from right-back to cross.

Three minutes later Heimann was called into action at the other end, his palms stung by Stewart who had shot too straight.

Jacopo Sala joined Bruma in referee Paul Marsden's book, yellow carded after denying United the opportunity to take an early free-kick.

Jacob Mellis, putting in an energetic shift from the middle of the park burst forward shortly afterwards, squaring for Nouble, whose decision making was poor, opting to pass instead of shoot, allowing United to clear.

Kakuta gave further indication of his quality, beating four United men within 10 yards before racing through on goal, but finding his shot blocked by a defender. That incident interspersed two home chances, first a long-range drive from Matt James and then some tentative goalkeeping from Heimann allowed United an opening, but he grasped the ball at the second attempt.

The young German quickly made amends, making a superb double save from James, parrying twice at his near post before the United man finally shot wide a third time. It was superb football.

Five minutes later Welbeck had another opportunity, finding space between sub Conor Clifford and Bruma. He even managed to beat Heimann, but chipped wide when he looked like scoring.

It was just beginning to look as though Chelsea may have done enough to earn a win and progression into the fourth round, and Borini made sure of the win with eight minutes left.

Mellis sent in a low cross that United failed to clear, and Borini pounced on the loose ball with a well-placed drive into the bottom corner, leaving Woods no chance.

Welbeck pulled one back on 90 minutes as he took advantage of an uncharacteristic swing from Bruma, firing in from close range just to give the Blues a few nerves.

Chelsea team (4-3-3): Niclas Heimann, Nikki Ahamed, Rohan Ince, Jeffrey Bruma, Ben Gordon; Daniel Philliskirk, Gael Kakuta (Billy Knott 79), Jacob Mellis (Josh McEachran 85); Jacopo Sala (Conor Clifford 73), Fabio Borini, Frank Nouble.