OGUN, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Chelsea was about to lose to Newcastle in the final five minutes of their League Cup match, but they managed to rally late for an equalizer and win the penalty shootout, securing their place in the Semi finals.
Chelsea’s Tuesday got off to a dismal start when Callum Wilson took advantage of several blue-shirted defenders’ comparatively slack play in the 16th minute. Inside his own half, Wilson picked up the ball and held onto it until it struck the back of the net.
The 1-0 scoreline looked like holding to the full-time whistle, until disaster struck inside Newcastle’s penalty area in second-half stoppage time. A high, floated cross found its way to Kieran Trippier, who opted to control the ball and try to clear it himself. Only, he didn’t account for Mykhailo Mudryk racing around him and hammering a first-time finish past Martin Dubravka to make it 1-1 and send the tie straight to penalties.
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Trippier’s day in the week went from bad to worse in the penalty shootout, as he stepped up to take the second penalty for the Magpies and pulled it wide of the goal while Djordje Petrovic dove in the opposite direction. Chelsea went 4-for-4 from the spot. In round four, Petrovic would go on to complete the job by debying Matt Ritchie with Newcastle’s do-or-die attempt.
The Blues will now join Fulham and Middlesbrough, along with the winner of Wednesday’s other quarterfinal tie between Liverpool and West Ham, in the final four next month.
NBC Sport
