CARABAO CUP QUARTER-
Morata’s late show an Ed-ache for Howe
SUBSTITUTE Alvaro Morata’s injury-time strike sent Chelsea through to the semifinals of the Carabao Cup – after Bournemouth looked to have sent the game into extra-time.
Willian’s first-half goal seemed like it would be enough to ensure the Blues a place in the last four, but Dan Gosling struck in the 90th minute to give Eddie Howe’s Cherries hope.
That hope lasted just 75 seconds, though, as Spaniard Morata fired in the winner from Eden Hazard’s pass.
Blues boss Antonio Conte saw his second-string side struggle to overcome Bournemouth.
And the display will only strengthen the manager’s belief that he needs reinforcements in January.
Changes
Conte had promised to ring the changes – and the Chelsea boss was good to his word, with eight new faces from the side that beat Southampton on Saturday.
In came 17-year-old Ethan Ampadu for his second Chelsea start.
And Kenedy was given another chance to rebuild his reputation at the club after being sent home in shame from the summer tour to China and up front Michy Batshuayi was eager to extend his run of five goals in five appearances in this competition. But it was Ampadu who was quickest to make an impression, leaving Cherries striker Jermain Defoe wishing he had made a quieter start to the game.
Defoe was in possession inside his own half after just two minutes when he was floored by a scything challenge from the Chelsea teenager.
He required lengthy treatment to his ankle and was eventually forced out of the game in the 16th minute, while referee Lee Mason had no hesitation in showing Ampadu a yellow card.
An injury to the forward was the last thing Bournemouth boss Howe needed ahead of the weekend trip to Man City.
He admitted his selection – seven changes to the side that lost to Liverpool on Sunday – had been made with the clash with Pep Guardiola’s side in mind.
And things threatened to get even worse for him when midfielder Harry Arter was left reeling after a 15th-minute collision with team-mate Simon Francis.
By then, the already difficult task confronting the visitors had been made even harder following Chelsea’s 12th-minute opening goal.
Prior to that, Conte’s side had struggled to make inroads.
Indeed, the best early chance had fallen to midfielder Gosling, who sliced a shot wide in the fifth minute when he should really have tested keeper Willy Caballero.
But when the hosts clicked in the final third, they opened up the Cherries’ rejigged defence with ease.
Batshuayi laid the ball off for Kenedy, whose clever back-heel picked out Cesc Fabregas’ forward run and the Spain international drilled a low cross towards Willian, who finished from close range.