Six of cup final eight decided
LONDON: Frank Lampard’s return to Stamford Bridge was ruined by two own goals as his Derby side went down 32 to Chelsea in the English League Cup yesterday.
Chelsea benefited from the goals but the visitors hit back to equalise on each occasion before Cesc Fabregas’ 41stminute strike proved decisive.
It was in the buildup to Fabregas’ first of the season that Derby felt Tom Lawrence was fouled by Davide Zappacosta, only for the Italian to take a quick throwin and referee Jon Moss to dismiss protests.
Lampard said: ‘‘The third goal was a foul. The whole stadium saw that. I turned round thinking we’d got the foul, then looked back and they were in our box.
‘‘VAR should clear up the ones that go slightly wrong. It didn’t tonight.’’
Son Heungmin scored his first two goals of the season to help Tottenham into the quarterfinals and Fernando Llorente added one in a 31 win over West Ham at the Olympic Stadium.
The reward for Tottenham: A meeting with northLondon rival Arsenal at Emirates Stadium.
Spurs are looking to claim a first piece of silverware under Mauricio Pochettino and end what will be an 11year wait for a trophy.
Lampard was trying to take down the club where he is the alltime top scorer with 211 goals after a trophyladen 13year spell.
Derby was ultimately undone by two owngoals in the opening 21 minutes — the first of which was scored in the fifth minute by a player on loan from Chelsea, Mikayo Tomori. The game almost went to penalties; Derby striker David Nugent hit the post in the final minutes.
Lampard spent time on the Stamford Bridge field after the final whistle, applauding Chelsea’s fans and getting plenty of cheers in return.
‘‘There wasn’t a tear in the eye, but it was emotional,’’ Lampard said. ‘‘I did leave here quietly [in 2014], slightly out of the back door, so it’s good to walk through the front door and get that.’’
Arsenal set up the north London derby in the quarterfinals by beating thirdtier
English League Cup
Quarterfinal draw Arsenal v Tottenham Leicester or Southampton v Manchester City or Fulham Middlesbrough v Burton Chelsea v Bournemouth
NB: Ties to be played in the week commencing December 17.
Blackpool 21 in a match both teams finished with 10 men.
Stephan Lichtsteiner, with his first for the club, and 18yearold midfielder Emile Smith Rowe scored Arsenal’s goals at the Emirates before Matteo Guendouzi was sent off for a second yellow card in the 56th minute.
Blackpool reduced the deficit 10 minutes later through Paudie O’Connor, who was later shown a straight red card for a foul on PierreEmerick Aubameyang to end any hope of a comeback.
Tony Pulis got one over his former club when secondtier Middlesbrough beat Crystal Palace 10 in the other fourthround match yesterday.
Frenchman Arsene Wenger says he will be back in management at the start of 2019, but he does not know where yet.
The 69yearold, who ended his 22year reign at English Premier League club Arsenal at the end of last season, is looking forward to returning to the game.
Asked when he would be back in management, the Frenchman told Sky Sports News: ‘‘At the beginning of the year.’’
Real Madrid is seeking a new boss and Wenger is one of the most fancied names, according to bookmakers.
However, he was unable to shed any light about his likely destination, adding: ‘‘It will seem odd to go somewhere else but I can’t tell you [where] because I don’t know where I’ll be. I’ll be somewhere — but I don’t know where.’’ — AP/BPA
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