Chelsea's youngsters failed to get the win needed to keep their U-21 Premier League title hopes alive after going down 1-0 against relegated West Ham Untied tonight at Stamford Bridge.
A thunderous blast from Joshua Cullen in added time consigned the Blues to defeat.
Cullen had missed a first half penalty as well as a host of chances went begging and from which on another day they would have a hatful of goals.
Despite fielding many of the side that won the youth equivalent of the Champions League and current FA Youth Cup winners, this match was a game too many for the kids.
Manchester United are now favourites to lift the title next week when they face Manchester City.
Ola Aina had the first chance of game for the Blues on three minutes, but his weak left-footed shot from the edge of the West Ham penalty area, from Reece Mitchell's left wing cross was easily held by Hammers goalkeeper Raphael Spiegal.
The East Enders's first effort of note came on 13 minutes when Djair Parfitt-Williams cut inside from the left and tried to curl the ball past Bradley Collins, in the Chelsea goal, but he screwed the ball just wide.
Dominic Solanke was unlucky not to have got a penalty on 19 minutes when it appeared Lewis Page clipped the striker. But referee Carl Fitch ignored the appeal.
Collins was called into action on 24 minutes and kicked away a shot from striker Jordan Brown as the visitors looked to attack sold on the counter-attack.
Further sloppy defending on 26 minutes by Chelsea almost saw them concede the lead three times in 60 seconds. Inexplicably Partfitt-Williams missed a sitter with an empty goal gaping, Collins then foiled Brown before helplessly watching a Nathan Mavila curler inch just wide of his goal.
This loss of control of the game forced manager Adi Vivesh to alter formation, to seal up the gaps which West Ham were exploiting.
On came Jeremie Boga for Kasey Palmer on 38 minutes to beef up the midfield. Charly Musonda's dipping 25-yarded fooled Spiegel but the keeper managers to knee the ball clear.
But with a minute on the clock a reckless challenge by Ola Aina on Moses Makasi gave away a penalty which, in keeping with the poor quality of the game, Joshua Cullen missed after sending Collins the wrong way.
There we no changes at half-time by either side.
Mavila was first up to test Collins on the Chelsea area, but the keeper was equal to the fire engines shot.
Vivesh made his second change of the night for the Blues, on 56 minutes, bringing on Alex Kiwomya for Reece Mitchell.
A beautiful cross by Aina a minute later should have been buried by Solanke but the striker rose for the ball a tad early and could not get the perfect connection and the ball inched over Spiegel's crossbar.
Tammy Abraham was soon following suit as both strikers, who have netted a combined 81 goals this season seemed off their game after a very long season.
Charlie Colkett's night ended on 63 minutes after he failed to recover from a hefty challenge -Mukhtar Ali, a 17-year old debutant replaced him.
West Ham brought on Vashon Neuville for Lewis Page on 67 minutes.
Charly Mussonda, perhaps sensing the strikers were having an off-night, decided to go on a mazy run and cut West Ham apart on 70 minutes. His venomous goal-bound shot deserved better but a late deflection took the ball away for a corner.
West Ham's second sub came on 77 minutes with Jaanai Gordon on for Brown.
Solanke thought he had the decisive goal but he was adjudged to have been offside when he tucked home from close range with six minutes on the clock.
But in added time, West Ham's best player struck with a thunderous right-footer from the edge of the box.
There was to be no late come lac for the Blues.
Teams: Chelsea, Bradly Collins, Ola Aina, Fikayo Tomori, Jordan Houghton, Dion Conroy, Charlie Colkett, Reece Mitchell, Charly Musonda, Dominic Solanke, Kasey Palmer, Tammy Abraham.
Subs, Alex Kiwomya, Mitchell Beeney, Jeremie Boga, Issac Christie Davies, Mukhtar Ali
West Ham Utd, Raphael Spiegal, Alex Pike, Lewis Page, Moses Makasi, JoshuaPask,Emmanuel Onariase, DjairParfitt-Williams, AmosNasha, Jordan Brown, Joshua Cullen, Nathan Mavila.
subs, Grady Diangana, SamHowes,Vashon Neufville, Jaanai Gordon
Referee Carl Fitch