James on the spot to break Villa hearts
BLUES NEED PENALTIES TO BOOK PLACE IN NEXT ROUND
REECE JAMES fired Chelsea into the Carabao Cup fourth round after a dramatic penalty shoot-out at Stamford Bridge.
England defender James stepped up to win a thrilling tie with Chelsea’s fifth spot-kick as Aston Villa suffered heartbreak.
Romelu Lukaku, Mason Mount and Ross Barkley were also on target but Ben Chilwell missed his spot kick.
Anwar El Ghazi, Ezri Konsa and Emilano Buendia were on target for Villa but Chelsea’s Kepa Arrizabalaga saved from Marvelous Nakamba, while Ashley Young crashed his shot against the bar.
It was rough luck on
Villa, who more than played their part as they fought back from Timo Werner’s opener with Cameron Archer levelling but it took penalties to separate the teams. Villa had the edge early on as teenager Archer went through but fired over and Chelsea rarely troubled the visitors, Hakim Ziyech’s low shot being comfortably saved by keeper Jed Steer.
Villa had the best chance of the first half in the 45th minute when Bertrand Traore threaded through a brilliant pass, Archer’s shot was saved by Chelsea keeper Kepa and Anwar El Ghazi saw his follow-up shot cleared off the line by James.
Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel had clearly seen enough and did the opposite to his last game, this time bringing on Mason Mount for N’Golo Kante rather than the other way round, which won the game at Tottenham on Sunday.
It was probably a preconceived idea to save Kante for Saturday’s title showdown with Manchester City but Mount did give Chelsea more attacking threat.
Callum Hudson-Odoi went close as he drove forward and saw a low cross shot well saved by Steer. James’ cross
CHELSEA WIN 4-3 ON PENS to the back post was an open invitation for Werner, who rose unchallenged to give Chelsea a 54th-minute lead.
Two minutes later, the Germany forward went through but dragged his shot wide.
They were made to pay dearly. Villa levelled after 64 minutes when Matt Cash’s cross found Archer and the home-grown youngster headed past Kepa.
El Ghazi had a great chance to put Villa ahead but fired at Kepa, who also denied substitute Jaden Philogene-Bidace.
At the other end, Mount missed a sitter as he prodded wide from close range.
CHELSEA (4-2-3-1): Kepa 7; James 7, Chalobah 7, Sarr 7, Chilwell 7; Loftus-Cheek 8, Kante 6 (Mount 46, 6); Saul 5 (Lukaku 76), Hudson-Odoi 7, Ziyech 6 (Barkley 76); Werner 7. Goal: Werner 54. ASTON VILLA (4-2-3-1): Steer 6; Cash 7 (Konsa 76), Tuanzebe 6, Hause 7, Young 6; Nakamba 6, Sanson 5 (Carney Chukwuemeka 43, 6); Traore 7 (Philogene-Bidace 64, 6), Buendia 6, El Ghazi 6; Archer 7. Goal: Archer 64.