Mayhem at the Bridge

Morata and Pedro see red after three Chelsea players are booked for diving

Chelsea spent all evening in search of penalties – and even had two players sent off in demanding them – that it was bitterly ironic that they eventually did prevail, in one of the most extraordinary FA Cup ties of modern times, from the spot, after extra-time and from a shoot-out.

And this was a very modern cuptie. The spotlight will fall heavily on the VAR – Video Assistant Referee – system. It comes into use for “clear and obvious” errors but that was the only thing that was clear and obvious in a raucous, chaotic third round replay that was eventually cruel on Norwich City, 13th in the Championship.

How and when was the VAR system used? No one could accuse referee Graham Scott of not being decisive as he waved away a series of desperate appeals – booking Pedro for a ‘dive’ and then booking substitute Alvaro Morata for also going over too easily and then giving the furious striker a second yellow card for his vehement protests. By then Pedro had also received a second booking and was off, for a foul, chopping down Norwich substitute Wes Hoolahan.

Scott certainly consulted with the VAR – he was often seen with his finger pressed to his ear – but he also stood his ground. In the technical area Chelsea head coach Antonio Conte was apoplectic – he even drew an imaginary ‘TV’ screen in the air, demanding a referral after one incident (something he is not supposed to do). As did Morata out on the pitch.

There were four dramatic appeals in extra-time alone but whether any of them should have been given was debatable. And was debated, intensely. Morata said he was pulled to the ground twice, Chelsea appealed for handball against Timm Klose and also argued, perhaps with the greatest justification, although even that was not conclusive, that Willian had been fouled by the same defender.

For the record this was actually Chelsea’s fifth draw in a row – after the 2-2 in the Premier League against Arsenal, then three goalless draws, including the fixture away at Carrow Road that forced this replay. It is the first time Chelsea have recorded such a sequence since 1969 even if that was forgotten as substitute Eden Hazard – who had come on as a fourth substitute, permitted in extra-time, rolled in the decisive spot-kick to win 5-3.

Norwich missed just one of theirs, with Chelsea’s reserve goal- keeper Willy Caballero, saving well from striker Nelson Oliveira, who had played so well, and while the home side created a host of chances then so to did the visitors who showed huge reserves of belief to come back into this tie.

They even struck the frame of the goal twice – with Oliveira’s smart shot, with the outside of his boot, clipping the top of the crossbar in the first-half and then Josh Murphy hugely unfortunate when his half-volley, from a half-clearance, crashed back off the post.

It had seemed the story would be about Michy Batshuayi who made a rare start, who played poorly, but on his 50th appearance claimed his 17th goal for Chelsea as he sidefooted high into the net from closerange, connecting with Kenedy’s precise cross. It may be his last goal for Chelsea, also, for this season at least as there is an expectation that Batshuayi will leave this month.

One potential destination is West Ham United with Chelsea interested in their striker Andy Carroll and it was interesting to see their manager, David Moyes, among the crowd not least because his side do not play at Stamford Bridge until April. So Moyes was on a scouting mission. It may have been for Batshuayi but he will have been more impressed by a host of Norwich players, especially youngsters James Maddison, who was denied by Caballero with a fine save, Harrison Reed – on loan from Southampton – and Murphy.

There was another, 19-year-old defender Jamal Lewis, who struck Norwich’s late, late equalising goal as he ghosted between David Luiz and Cesar Azpilicueta – who appeared strangely vulnerable – to flick on a header from Klose’s cross and guide the ball past Caballero.

Incredibly it came in the 94th minute. It was Lewis’ first senior goal. Norwich also had a chance with the final action of the 120 minutes but Caballero clutched on to Klose’s header. If Chelsea had lost it then, the scenes would have been dramatic given one fan had already ran on to the pitch to try and remonstrate with Scott when he waved away Morata’s second penalty appeal after the Spaniard went down after Klose had put his hands on him.

Norwich goalkeeper Angus Gunn, on loan from Manchester City, excelled in extra-time with three outstanding saves, although Chelsea will class them as misses. Fortunately for the nine-men they made no mistake in the shoot-out, scoring all five of their kicks.

Chelsea