Chelsea Defeats Leicester City To Clinch FA Cup Semi Final Spot
It was a stormy atmosphere at Stamford Bridge, but Mauricio Pochettino's team was lucky to hold off Championship promotion contenders Leicester in a riveting comeback.
Chelsea defeated 10-man Leicester 4-2 on Sunday in an FA Cup quarterfinal thriller that saw Carney Chukwuemeka save the day with a stoppage-time goal.
It was a stormy atmosphere at Stamford Bridge, but Mauricio Pochettino's team was lucky to hold off Championship promotion-chasing Leicester in a thrilling comeback.
Chelsea's fourth goal was added by Noni Madueke, putting an end to the irate supporters' booing of Pochettino in the second half—at least for the time being.
The Blues have reached the FA Cup last four for the sixth time in the previous eight years.
However, Blues manager Jorge Pochettino's team's inconsistency cost them the two-goal lead that Marc Cucurella and Cole Palmer had given them at halftime. It was far from a glorious afternoon for Pochettino's club.
Between both goals, Axel Disasi gave Leicester hope early in the second half with a ridiculous own goal, and Raheem Sterling missed a penalty.
Chelsea was in disarray once more after Stephy Mavididi's stunning equalizer incited the anger of the home crowd on the unfortunate Sterling.
However, Callum Doyle of Leicester was dismissed for a professional foul on Nicolas Jackson, which allowed the Blues to mount a late comeback.
Six years after their last FA Cup victory, Chelsea had not won a single domestic trophy.
The west London team is stuck in 11th position in the Premier League, and manager Mauricio Pochettino, who formerly oversaw Southampton and Tottenham, has failed to bring home a trophy from England.
Pochettino disclosed last week, under growing pressure following a turbulent first season in command, that a few of Chelsea's younger players had a restless night prior to their February League Cup final loss to Liverpool.
Nicolas Jackson raced past Jannik Vestergaard into the Leicester area in the thirteenth minute to give Chelsea the lead. Cucurella finished the low cross from close range.
The goal marked the Spanish defender's first since August 2022, when he moved from Brighton to Chelsea.
Cole Palmer broke free down the right wing in the 25th minute and made his way to the edge of the box, where Abdul Fatawu knocked Sterling down as he was about to shoot.
Gaining the FA Cup would provide Pochettino the much-needed breathing room he needed to make amends.
This season, Palmer has been absorbing Chelsea's penalties; Sterling made a poor choice in grabbing the ball.
The 29-year-old's miserable season continued as he mispronounced a penalty that Jakub Stolarczyk comfortably saved, and he was left out of the England team once more this week.
To his credit, Sterling came clean and assisted Palmer in scoring just before halftime.
Palmer skillfully tucked in a low cross from close range after Sterling dashed into the area.
In the 51st minute, Leicester was given a lifeline by Disasi, who threw a botched backpass into his own net from 30 yards out after becoming scared under pressure from Daka.
In the 62nd minute, Mavididi weaved into the Chelsea area as the apprehensive Blues defense retreated and curled a scorching finish into the top corner.
Doyle tripped Jackson in the 73rd minute, giving Chelsea the impression that they had been awarded a penalty.
Doyle tripped Jackson in the 73rd minute, giving Chelsea the impression that they had been awarded a penalty.
Doyle still received a red card despite the VAR's ruling that the violation was just beyond the area.
Chelsea supporters jeered Sterling following a poor free-kick, while Pochettino also faced taunts of “you don't know what you're doing” when he replaced Mudryk.
Pochettino's audible sigh of relief at stoppage time made sense, since Sterling had been mocked after his substitution once more.
Palmer's beautiful backheel set up the young midfield midfielder for Chukwuemeka's composed finish.
A deflected drive by Madueke that went under the bar in the last seconds gave the score a nice sheen.
No comments:
Leave comment here