For the second consecutive round of the FA Cup, the discount saved Chelsea. The ‘Blues’ qualified for the semi-finals with two goals from Carney Chukwemeka and Noni Madueke in stoppage time that closed a crazy match in which Chelsea took a 2-0 lead, allowed themselves to tie with a great own goal from Alex Disasi and a great goal from Stephy Mavididi and in which Leicester could not hold on to the result for the last twenty minutes as they played with one man less.
The ‘Blues’, who had practically won it after a first half in which they scored two goals and missed a penalty, shot themselves in the foot in the second half, where a Disasi own goal spurred a Leicester team that He tied with a great goal from Mavididi and was just minutes away from winning gold at Stamfor Bridge.
Enzo Maresca’s men did not kneel until the 91st minute, when Cole Palmer, who had already scored a goal, left Chukwemeka alone with a backheel and put Chelsea into the semi-finals at Wembley.
Despite having to wait until injury time, Chelsea thought they would have decided the game in the first half. At thirteen minutes, Nico Jackson faced Vestergaard and sat the Dane down with excessive ease. The center back barely put up any resistance and Jackson found only Cucurella at the far post. Low pass and finish without a goalkeeper for the Spaniard, who scored his first goal in the Chelsea shirt. The dedication went to Jackson, deservedly, because he had created the goal alone.
Enzo Maresca’s team was very timid and locked in behind and only looked at Robert Sánchez’s goal in a Patson Daka header that went wide. If their promotion to the Premier is confirmed (they have three points compared to third place), the ‘Foxes’ will have to invest in reinforcements to be able to compete in the highest category.
And the result didn’t start to get bigger faster if it weren’t for Raheem Sterling. The Englishman missed a penalty that Issahaku Fatawu, Bournemouth’s executioner, committed on Sterling himself, he threw it loose and to the center, and minutes later he missed a one-on-one. He adjusted so much in front of Jakub Stolarczyk that he didn’t even find a door.
Luckily for him, he redeemed himself quickly. In the first half’s added time, Sterling caught a loose ball from Gallagher, ran into the area and put in a low cross that Palmer, coming in from behind, converted to make it 2-0.
It was over, many would think, but just five minutes after the restart, Malo Gusto complicated Disasi with an excessively strong throw-in, who was knocked off balance by a Leicester attacker and made the mistake of giving it up to Robert Sánchez. Instead of giving it to the Spaniard he put it in his own goal. A great goal, yes, but in the wrong goal.
The goal left Chelsea confused, who received a second punch in the face when Mavididi, Arsenal’s youth player, made Malo Gusto dizzy with two bicycles and scored a great goal against Sánchez’s long post.
In ten minutes, Chelsea had made their existence complicated and were facing a repeat match at their rival’s home.
To avoid this, Jackson took a Dennis Bergkamp-style dribble in the center of the field and faced the goal alone, until Doyle knocked him down from behind. The referee gave a penalty and gave the Leicester player a yellow card, but the VAR reviewed the play and determined that it had been outside the area, so Doyle went to the street and a foul was awarded in the crescent of the area that Sterling sent to clouds.
Stamford Bridge had had enough with the Englishman and began to boo him. When Mauricio Pochettino decided to change Mudryk and not him, they attacked the Argentine, whom they insulted and also booed. When Sterling finally left in the final minutes, the applause, many of it ironic, merged with the boos.
And as happened against Leeds United a few weeks ago, Chelsea left their homework until the last minute. Already in stoppage time, Chukwuemeka threw a one-two with Palmer and the ’10’ returned it with a backheel to leave him alone so he could finish under the legs of the Leicester goalkeeper.
The victory, now, was guaranteed, and Madueke sealed it with a great goal from outside the area at the last moment. Chelsea join Coventry City and Manchester City in the semi-final draw later.
4 – Chelsea: Sanchez; Taste, Disasi, Chalobah, Cucurella (Chilwell, m.91); Caicedo, Gallagher, Mudryk (Sugarcane, m.78); Palmer, Sterling (Madueke, m.86) and Jackson.
2 – Leicester City: Stolarczyk; Doyle, Westergaard, Faes, Chowdhury; Food (Coady, m.78), Winks, Dewsbury-Hall; Mavididi (Justin, 75 m), Fatawu (Akgun, 64 m) and Daka.
Goals: 1-0 m.13: Cucurella 2-0 m.45 1: Palmer. 2-1 m.51: Shots, p.p. 2-2. m.62: Mavididi 3-2, m.92: Chukwuemeka, y 4-2 M.98: Thank you
Referee: Andy Madley cautioned Mavididi (m.67) and Coady (m.96) and sent off Doyle (m.70) for Leicester. ,
Incidents: Match corresponding to the FA Cup quarterfinals played at Stamford Bridge (London).
