Fabregas gives that little bit extra for Conte
CESC FABREGAS delivered a reminder of his worth to Chelsea boss Antonio Conte as he scored twice in extra time to help his side come from behind to beat Leicester City in the League Cup.
The Spaniard has yet to start a league game since the Italian took charge at Stamford Bridge but proved the hero at the King Power Stadium as the visitors recovered from two goals down to reach the fourth round.
Leicester had taken the lead through a Shinji Okazaki double but Gary Cahill and Cesar Azpilicueta struck to force extra time.
Chelsea looked dead and buried before Fabregas revived their hopes and breathed new life into his club career with a match-winning brace.
Prominent in dragging Chelsea back from 2-0 down to level terms after 90 minutes, the out-of-favour Spaniard scored two goals in two minutes early in extra time to win the tie and break Leicester hearts.
After disastrous defending nearly finished Chelsea, Conte’s back four proved more adept putting the ball in the net than keeping it out. Gary Cahill and Cesar Azpilicueta rescued a tie which was sliding out of sight courtesy of more awful defending from Conte’s team.
The Italian fumed on the touchline as Shinji Okazaki fired Leicester into a two-goal lead.
Claudio Ranieri seemed to be easing past his former team and into the fourth round of the EFL Cup when Chelsea summoned a fightback. Azpilicueta’s equaliser was a spectacular volley.
Leicester were reduced to 10 men in the 90th minute when Marcin Wasilewski received his second yellow card for forcing his forearm into Diego Costa’s neck.
However, two decisions could easily have gone against Leicester early in the match. First, an offside flag against Pedro, then a handball claim against Wasilewski. Less than five minutes had gone when David Luiz released Pedro with a long pass out of defence. Pedro darted away from Danny Simpson, and around Ron-Robert Zieler, but the goalkeeper made no effort as he had seen the assistant referee raise his flag.
Replays showed it was very tight, maybe level; maybe part of Pedro’s foot was offside. Either way, no benefit was offered to the attacking team.
Wasilewski’s escape came soon after when he clumsily mistimed a headed clearance and the ball bounced on to his heavily strapped arm and away.
Leicester then seized control, dominating in midfield where they were a yard sharper and hungrier than the visitors.
Fabregas, starting for Chelsea, initially looked sluggish and lacking match sharpness, but he was not alone. Cahill was caught in possession by Okazaki and rescued by Luiz, who dashed across to delay Ahmed Musa.
Conte’s team were soon behind, guilty of the type of careless defending which defined their defeat at home to Liverpool on Friday night.
Azpilicueta was unable to deal with a cross, allowing it to fly off his chest and into the air where Okazaki pounced, looping a header past Asmir Begovic and just over the line.
Michy Batshuayi missed the target with a free header from six yards, before Okazaki extended Leicester’s lead.
Again, Conte will be furious with the defending through more than one phase of play.
Demarai Gray overhit his cross from the left, but Chelsea could not smother the danger. Andy King took control and stabbed a pass into the path of Okazaki. From a similar angle to his opener, the Japanese striker aimed a side-footer towards goal. It was partially blocked by Luiz, but it spun off the turf and past Begovic, again only just crossing the line.
The trend for goals only just crossing the line continued when the visitors pulled one back.
Cahill met Fabregas’ corner with a firm header. Danny Drinkwater stretched to clear, but the ball had definitely trickled over the line.
Conte’s side started the second half with greater purpose. Fabregas was more influential, supplying Ruben Loftus-Cheek with a chance, before Azpilicueta unleashed a screamer to level.
Fabregas then seized the tie by the scruff of the neck in extra time.
The midfielder clipped home a clever finish after 92 minutes and he completed the turnaround with a venomous drive beyond Zieler.