Another unbelievable night of Capital One Cup action saw Chelsea gain revenge for Sunday’s controversial league defeat to Manchester United by beating the Red Devils on Wednesday, on a night when defending champions Liverpool and 2008 winners Tottenham were both knocked out.
Roberto Di Matteo saw everything go against his Chelsea side when they lost to Manchester Unitedat the weekend, with referee Mark Clattenburg subsequently reported for alleged “inappropriate language” after a highly charged encounter.
Wednesday’s match provided more controversy as official Lee Mason awarded Chelsea two penalties – both justified – as the Blues scored a 93rd-minute leveller to force extra-time. They eventually ran out 5-4 winners thanks to goals from David Luiz, Gary Cahill, Eden Hazard, Daniel Sturridge and Ramires.
Di Matteo made six changes from the team that lost in the league, with Cesar Azpilicueta, Ryan Bertrand, Oriol Romeu, Victor Moses, Lucas Piazon and Sturridge all coming into the starting XI. Sir Alex Ferguson also mixed up his team with 10 new faces selected, Rafael the only man to keep his place.
Significantly the two men linked to the Clattenburg case, John Obi Mikel and Juan Mata, both started, and Mikel was booked inside 25 minutes. Chelsea also fell behind in that period and they were contributors to their own downfall, with Petr Cech’s pass to Romeu inviting United pressure that led to Ryan Giggs scoring the opener.
Chelsea were level within eight minutes thanks to a similarly ridiculous piece of defending, with Alexander Buttner recklessly sliding in on Moses inside the area. The resulting penalty was dispatched by Luiz, although Anders Lindegaard did get a hand to it.
The defensive calamities continued as United scored again on the stroke of half-time, with Luiz this time the culprit. Attempting an ambitious mazy run near the halfway line, Luiz was robbed of the ball – allowing United to feed Javier Hernandez who slotted past Cech.
An enthralling cup tie took another twist seven minutes after the break as Cahill produced a trademark header at a corner that crossed the line before Rafael could clear, but United quickly restored their advantage for a third time. Nani exchanged a sharp one-two with Anderson inside the area, before the Portuguese chipped the ball over Cech as the keeper raced from his line.
Moses and Hernandez both wasted glorious chances to affect the scoring again, and Mason drew the wrath of the crowd when he failed to spot Michael Keane’s handball inside the final 20 minutes. However, the ref did point to the spot three minutes into injury-time for a foul by Scott Wootton, rolled calmly home by Hazard to force extra-time.
It was a tough night for Wootton who then gifted Sturridge Chelsea’s fourth as the Blues led for the first time in the evening, sending a powerpuff header to Sturridge who rounded Lindegaard for 4-3. Luiz rattled the bar late on before Hazard created the goal of the night, bamboozling the United defence before slipping in Ramires, and there was still time for Giggs to score from the spot on another incredible night of League Cup action.
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