Mauricio Pochettino’s substitutes earn Chelsea wild FA Cup win over Leicester
Chelsea needed stoppage-time goals from substitutes Carney Chukwuemeka and Noni Madueke to edge past 10-man Leicester 4-2 in a wild FA Cup quarter-final at Stamford Bridge.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side led 2-0 before the visitors stormed back to level, but a glorious flick from the excellent Cole Palmer set up Chukwuemeka to slot the ball into the corner to put Chelsea 3-2 up before Madueke gave the score some gloss with a brilliant solo effort.
Chelsea were two up at the break thanks to goals from Marc Cucurella and Palmer, while Raheem Sterling had a first-half penalty saved.
A surreal own-goal from Axel Disasi and a Stephy Mavididi goal improbably hauled Leicester back, before Callum Doyle was red carded late on.
Extra-time beckoned, until Pochettino’s subs won it.
Chelsea took the lead after 12 minutes and the move started with a powerful tackle from Moises Caicedo to win the ball on the edge of his own box. One pass released Palmer down the right, and he looked up to see Nicolas Jackson galloping clear and he crossed for the unmarked Cucurella to tap home.
After a strong Leicester opening the goal settled nerves around Stamford Bridge, but this has become a ground used to existing in a state of apprehension.
Robert Sanchez dithered and was nearly dispossessed by Patson Daka, with only good fortune sparing the goalkeeper’s embarrassment. Abdul Fatawu might have done better when he glanced a header wide at the back post from Daka’s cross.
Whatever frustration the winger felt, he moments later allowed it to get the better of him when he crashed through the back of Sterling inside the box for a penalty.
Sterling had scored only six goals in the league this season and took the ball out of the hands of usual taker Palmer, a move he would quickly regret. The penalty was hit low and centrally, and was saved by Jakub Stolarczyk.
He had the chance to make amends for his penalty blunder when sent clear by a fine through-ball from Caicedo but he placed a shot wide with only Stolarczyk to beat.
Sterling finally put things right in the final minutes of the first half. Receiving the ball in the box he ran it almost to the byline and crossed low from the left for the arriving Palmer to make it 2-0.
Chelsea were in full control, but five minutes after the break things altered in ludicrous circumstances.
Disasi received the ball back from a throw-in in the right-back position and was quickly put under pressure by Daka. Turning to play it to his goalkeeper, the Leicester forward nudged him at the moment of contact, and his pass span up and out of his control, sailing over Sanchez for a comical own-goal.
And the tie was level after 62 minutes.
Mavididi cushioned the ball wide on the left, turned and ran at Gusto. The defender backed off and with a swing of the right boot Mavididi sent a fine, arching shot round the dive of Sanchez and in.
It capped a stunning recovery from the visitors, but within minutes they were down to 10 men.
Jackson was tripped by defender Doyle and Andrew Madley initially gave a penalty and showed a yellow card. VAR showed the contact was outside the box, but as the furthest Leicester player back, Doyle saw red.
Madueke came off the bench and saw a first-time shot saved low to his right by Stolarczyk, before he skied one into the Matthew Harding Stand from 12 yards.
The last hope of avoiding extra-time looked to have slipped away. Then came Palmer’s flick, Chukwuemeka’s finish and Madueke’s crowning touch to send Chelsea to Wembley.
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Gareth Southgate warns Marcus Rashford and Jack Grealish and names players who could take Euro 2024 places
Manchester-based duo have struggled for form throughout 2023/24
Rashford was named in squad for March friendlies but Grealish is still making comeback from injury
Bukayo Saka, Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, Jarrod Bowen and Anthony Gordon are all options in attack
By Jude Summerfield
2:00 PM GMT
Southgate has a lot of options to choose from
Southgate has a lot of options to choose from / Marvin Ibo Guengoer - GES Sportfoto/GettyImages
Gareth Southgate has warned Marcus Rashford and Jack Grealish they must finish the season strongly to be named in the England squad for Euro 2024 this summer.
Southgate announced his Three Lions squad for March's friendlies against Brazil and Belgium on Friday. While there was room for Manchester United forward Rashford, Manchester City's Jack Grealish was left out having just returned from injury.
Both players have struggled for consistency in 2023/24 and, with England boasting an embarrassment of riches in attacking areas, Southgate admitted Rashford and Grealish face a fight to be included in his squad.
He said: "He [Rashford] has a battle on his hands with Gordon, with [Cole] Palmer, with [Phil] Foden - so we've got big competition for places in that area of the field.
"What happens while players are with their clubs is club matters because they know the full story. They know exactly what's going on. We observe everything. I don't say behaviours off the field are irrelevant because clearly they're not.
"But the key thing is we are mainly focusing on the performances on the field. He's got big competition. So has Jack."
Jack Grealish, Marcus Rashford
Rashford and Grealish need strong ends to the season / Catherine Ivill/GettyImages
Southgate handed a maiden call-up to Newcastle star Anthony Gordon, while there were also inclusions for Bukayo Saka, Phil Foden, Cole Palmer and Jarrod Bowen.
He added: "These guys are playing well - Gordon, Bowen, they're scoring regularly, they perform well, defend well, work hard, they compete and we've got really good options in that area of the pitch. I can't guarantee anybody [a place in the squad]. We have to have an environment where we know in certain positions who our best players might be.
"We know what Marcus can bring to us but equally everybody has got to perform well between now and the end of the season."
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