CHELSEA 2 EVERTON 1
Brazil star edges Chelsea into last eight
ANTONIO CONTE said he could do without the League Cup – but he could also do without any more setbacks.
So beating Everton to reach the quarter-finals was the lesser of two evils for the Italian and his Chelsea team.
Goals in either half from Antonio Rudiger and Willian helped edge the Premier League champs past Everton as Chelsea continued to recover from their recent wobble.
However, Conte was also grateful to his back-up keeper Willy Caballero for a string of second-half saves that kept his side ahead, before he was finally beaten late on by Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
The Chelsea keeper was a busy man after the break as Everton produced a muchimproved display following caretaker boss David Unsworth’s half-time team talk.
The Toffees’ response was an encouraging sign for Unsworth as he bids to replace Ronald Koeman, who was axed on Monday, permanently. Sunday’s trip to Leicester will be an even better indication of his credentials.
Unsworth handed first starts of the season to James McCarthy and Aaron Lennon – also his first since being detained under the Mental Health Act in May – plus a senior debut to midfielder Beni Baningime, 19.
Danny Drinkwater finally made his Chelsea bow after being sidelined with a calf injury since his £35million move from Leicester, alongside full debutant teenager Ethan Ampadu. And there was another rare sight when Chelsea grabbed a 25th-minute lead.
Willian played a corner short to Charly Musonda and his deep cross was met by a back-pedalling and unmarked Rudiger who directed a brilliant header back across goal, over Jordan Pickford and into the top corner.
It was the German defender’s first club goal for almost 18 months.
Everton finally came to life just after the break.
Wayne Rooney saw his close-range volley from Kevin Mirallas’s knockdown blocked by Caballero.
The overworked Argentinian then raced off his line to deny the lively Lennon before pushing away goal-bound efforts from Phil Jagielka and Mirallas.
Jagielka then beat Michy Batshuayi to Rooney’s poor back pass to clear off the line, and sub Ademola Lookman hit the bar for Everton before Brazil star Willian put Chelsea 2-0 up after a one-two with Cesc Fabgregas.
Everton went up the other end and Calvert-Lewin pulled a goal back but it was too little, too late.