Chelsea prevail over Lampard’s Derby
LONDON: Chelsea reached the League Cup quarter-finals thanks to two own goals in a 3-2 win over second-tier Derby County on Wednesday as Frank Lampard’s return to his former club ended in disappointment.
Tottenham Hotspur will join them after Son Heung-min scored twice in a 3-1 win over West Ham United and Arsenal reached the last eight after an uncomfortable 2-1 home victory over third-tier Blackpool in which both teams ended with 10 men. Second tier Middlesbrough also reached the next round with a 1-0 win over Premier League Crystal Palace as manager Tony Pulis got one over his former club thanks to a thunderbolt finish from Lewis Wing.
Derby manager Lampard, who enjoyed 13 hugely successful years as a Chelsea player, watched his side put up a brave fight against their Premier League opponents, twice levelling the match after calamitous own goals.
On-loan Chelsea defender Fikayo Tomori missed his attempted clearance and watched in Halloween night horror as the ball ricocheted off his standing leg and deflected into the net to put the hosts ahead after five minutes.
Derby equalised when Jack Marriott made the most of a slip-up from Chelsea defender Gary Cahill to finish calmly into the far corner, but fell behind again as Richard Keogh poked a Davide Zappacosta cross from the right into his own net.
Derby refused to lie down and Martyn Waghorn’s close-range finish gave them renewed hope but Cesc Fabregas stroked home at the near post four minutes before half-time to make it 3-2 and seal the win. Keogh had a late chance to make amends for his earlier howler but Willy Caballero saved at close range