Blues see red but beat Norwich in FA Cup shootout
CHELSEA needed a penalty shoot-out before finally killing off Norwich after a 1-1 draw in yesterday’s FA Cup third round replay, while Bournemouth slumped to a 30 defeat at Wigan.
Antonio Conte’s side finished extra-time down to nine men after late red cards for Pedro and Alvaro Morata at Stamford Bridge.
They had been forced into the extra period when Jamal Lewis’s last-gasp equaliser cancelled out Michy Batshuayi’s strike.
Chelsea’s reserve goalkeeper Willy Caballero made the crucial save from Nelson Oliveira in the 5-3 shoot-out win to send the Blues through to host Newcastle in the fourth round.
It was a first win in 2018 for Chelsea, who had drawn their four previous matches in all competitions this year.
“It is the FA Cup, it is not easy to win the game. We gave everything, at the end of the game we played 9 vs 11 so we showed great character,” Chelsea star Eden Hazard said.
“We are happy but also sad that we lost two players. Now we can focus on the League.”
Norwich manager Daniel Farke added: “To be honest it’s a big disappointment, some of the lads are sitting with tears in their eyes in the dressing room.”
Conte had made nine changes from the 0-0 draw with Leicester on Saturday, with Hazard, Cesc Fabregas, Thibaut Courtois and N’Golo Kante left out of the starting line-up.
After the kickoff was delayed for 15 minutes due to traffic congestion around the stadium, Chelsea dominated the first half and almost went ahead when Danny Drinkwater’s 25-yard drive hit the crossbar.
But they couldn’t find the breakthrough and Oliveira nearly provided it for Norwich instead when his effort hit the bar.
The Blues finally ended their three-match goal drought in the 55th minute when Belgian striker Batshuayi finished off Kenedy’s cross from close range for his first senior goal since October.
Josh Murphy hit the post as Norwich pushed for an equaliser before the out-ofform Morata came off the bench and missed a chance to wrap up the win.
That blunder from Morata came back to haunt Chelsea in the fourth minute of stoppage-time when Timm Klose whipped in a fine cross and teenage defender Lewis rose to glance his first professional goal in off the far post.
Conte was furious that the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) didn’t intervene when Willian was denied a penalty and booked for diving after a challenge from Klose caught the Brazilian in extra-time.
Chelsea were reduced to 10 men when Pedro earned a second booking for a foul on Wes Hoolahan.
And there was more controversy in the final seconds when Morata was booked for falling in the area and then protested so vehemently that referee Graham Scott sent off the forward for a second yellow card.
In the shootout, Oliveira’s kick was saved by Caballero, while Willian, David Luiz, Cesar Azpilicueta, Kante and Hazard converted for Chelsea.
At the DW Stadium, thirdtier Wigan brushed aside under-strength Bournemouth in their third round replay, with goals coming from Sam Morsy, Dan Burn and Callum Elder.
Wilfried Bony and Jordan Ayew gave Premier League strugglers Swansea a 2-1 win over Championship leaders Wolves in their third round replay. – AFP