MIGHTY BLUES TAKEN TO WIRE
Chelsea 2 Azpilicueta 41, Alonso 105+1 Plymouth 1 Gillesphey 8 (AET; 1-1 after 90 mins) CRUEL PENALTY PAIN FOR HARDIE AND PLUCKY PLYMOUTH AS CHELSEA SURVIVE SCARE
ONE could only imagine the scene in Thomas Tuchel’s living room. An agitated and expressive man at the best of times, the German would have been in a state of sheer frenzy in this match.
At home having tested positive for Covid, hopes for a relaxed afternoon in front of the television were soon dashed as he watched his side be given a seismic scare by little old Plymouth Argyle.
For 33 minutes the League One side led the European champions and they remained level until the clock ticked into three figures, 106 minutes.
Whether ahead, level or behind, the underdogs never sat back and continued to create genuine chances to spark a monumental upset.
Former Rangers striker Ryan Hardie missed a 115th-minute penalty in front of a packed Shed.
For the 24-year-old Scot, who had loan spells at Raith Rovers, Livingston and St Mirren, this was a cruel sinking feeling to suffer after a heroic effort at the Bridge.
‘It just wasn’t meant to be, it wasn’t our day,’ said manager Steven Schumacher. But what a monumental effort this was from his side.
In Tuchel-like agitated fashion, Schumacher — in just his 10th game as a manager — metaphorically kicked every ball on the touchline. He wasn’t here just to enjoy the day out, he was here to win.
‘Schuey’s at the wheel,’ sang the away crowd, 6,000 of them, of their boss, whose fearless team grew in confidence with every passing minute.
Those away fans were excellent, by the way. A sea of green in the Shed End — some in fancy dress, some shirtless, comedian Josh Widdicombe among them.
They celebrated every block, tackle and clearance like a goal and never stopped singing. ‘Champions of Europe, you’re having a laugh,’ they joked.
But this was no joke and as the second half grew older, thoughts of a shock got stronger, as did anxiety in the Chelsea ranks.
Macaulay Gillesphey, once of Newcastle’s academy, put Argyle ahead after eight minutes, a glancing header to convert the free-kick of Jordan Houghton, a former FA Youth Cup winner at Chelsea.
‘The Youth Cup is like the World Cup for an academy player… the pinnacle,’ he said last week. His story was just one of many fairytale subplots in the Plymouth team, a lot of them cast-offs who couldn’t quite make it at the top level.
So they all had a point to prove and they fought for this match like their lives depended on it. Goalkeeper Michael Cooper, a Devon-born 22year-old, was the pick of the bunch.
‘This is something my players can look back on at the end of their career and say, “That day at Chelsea we took the European champions right to the wire”,’ added Schumacher. ‘They should be so proud.
‘Each and every one of them stuck to the task, gave everything they have got and showed glimpses of quality.’
Yes, they rode their luck in parts, with Chelsea hitting the woodwork three times before Cesar Azpilicueta’s equaliser. But they didn’t let that goal deflate their confidence and the Pilgrims took it in turns to make game-saving interventions.
Captain Joe Edwards denied Kai Havertz with a last-ditch block and then Cooper acrobatically denied Mason Mount’s shot, which was bound for the top corner.
Chelsea continued to bang on Plymouth’s door but it was slammed shut and they were forced into extra time.
Schumacher wisely used his five substitutions to add fresh legs, while Chelsea threw on £150million of talent in Timo Werner, Kai Havertz, Marcos Alonso and Saul Niguez.
‘There has been ongoing communication with Thomas, I was in touch with him all game,’ said stand-in boss Arno Michels. ‘Everything was clear. It was different without Thomas by our side but I enjoyed it. It felt good.’
His substitutes changed little until one of them, Alonso, scored from close range with the last kick of the first period of extra time.
But Plymouth continued to attack and nearly, so very nearly, scored a famous equaliser.
Hardie nicked the ball from Malang Sarr, charged through on goal and was felled by the defender. In front of 6,000 of his fans, Hardie’s penalty was weak and an easy save for Kepa Arrizabalaga. Again, if only one could be a fly on the wall in the living room of the Tuchel household. His team got through but only by the skin of their teeth.
But as Tuchel’s assistant said, the result is all that matters. ‘In the FA Cup, the most important thing is to go through and that is what we did,’ said Michels.
Schumacher added: ‘The emotion I’m feeling most is pride. I asked the players to give us everything and not leave anything in the tank and they did — they should be really proud of themselves.’