CHELSEA..2 EVERTON..1
CARABAO CUP ACTION Willian piles on agony for Everton
ANTONIO RUDIGER scored his first goal for Chelsea as Antonio Conte’s men marched into the last eight.
Rudiger headed home unmarked in the 26th minute to leave Everton with a mountain to climb in David Unsworth’s first game in the dugout since Ronald Koeman’s sacking.
And Willian settled it for Chelsea in the third minute of injury time when he drove home after working a delightful one-two with Cesc Fabregas.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin reduced the deficit at the other end just seconds later but it was too late for Everton.
Change was the buzzword at the Bridge. As well as Unsworth taking Koeman’s place in the away dugout, both teams shuffled the pack on the pitch too.
With Chelsea playing their fourth of seven games in 22 days, Conte made a total of nine changes, while Unsworth made five.
Everton’s new boss said he wanted to see a high-tempo pressing game and his side were so eager to please that Wayne Rooney jumped the gun.
England’s record scorer raced away into the opposition half before his team had had time to kick-off, with referee Neil Swarbrick forced to restart the game.
But while they chased and harried to begin with, it didn’t take long for Everton to revert to type and concede the opening goal.
Willian played a short corner to Charly Musonda Jr and he swung in the cross.
But the marking from Everton was non-existent as Rudiger rose at the far post to head the ball into the far corner.
Unsworth, a former defender who was playing in the last Toffees team to win here in 90 minutes way back in 1994, was suddenly looking at Plan B.
The visitors came out fighting in the second half, with Tom Davies and James McCarthy both booked for late fouls.
But after failing to manage a single shot on target in the first half, they found it tough going against a strong-looking Chelsea back three. Conte was fuming as Beni Baningime went crunching into Ethan Ampadu, who was making his full debut for the west Londoners.
But Baningime, a 19-year-old debutant who has been compared to N’Golo Kante, escaped punishment.
After that, Everton came to life, with Jonjoe Kenny shooting wide and Willy Caballero saving at point-blank range from Rooney.
Aaron Lennon was then denied by a saving tackle from Kenedy, who managed to deflect his effort over the crossbar.
Unsworth threw on striker CalvertLewin for midfielder McCarthy and he immediately won a free kick from Rudiger. It almost produced an equaliser when Phil Jagielka forced a save from a wicked Leighton Baines delivery.
Kevin Mirallas forced Caballero into an even better save before Willian raced away at the other end only to waste the chance.
Chelsea, who conceded twice against Watford at the weekend before winning 4-2, looked rattled – and so did Conte.
The Blues boss paced his dugout but Willian’s late goal sealed Chelsea’s place in the next round, despite Calvert-Lewin shooting home for Everton from close range in the dying seconds.