Chelsea will face Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final after beating Tottenham 4-2 on penalties last night. The Blues won the second leg of their semi-final 2-1 for a 2-2 aggregate score. David Luiz races away after scoring the winning penalty.

CHELSEA 2 TOTTENHAM 1 (AGG 2-2, CHELSEA WIN 4-2 ON PENS)

Chelsea answered Maurizio Sarri’s criticism to advance to the Carabao Cup final with a 4-2 penalty shoot-out victory over Tottenham after a frenetic clash at Stamford Bridge last night.

Spurs, who had been seeking a first trophy since the 2008 League Cup, saw their slender first-leg advantage wiped out by a N’Golo Kante strike which went through the legs of Moussa Sissoko and Paulo Gazzaniga.

And Eden Hazard – labelled an “individual player” and “not a leader” by Sarri on Wednesday – netted following a flowing move to give Chelsea a 2-1 aggregate lead.

Fernando Llorente’s header levelled the tie and penalties followed as neither side could find a winner inside 90 minutes, leaving them locked at 2-2 after two legs.

Eric Dier sent Spurs’ third penalty soaring into the Matthew Harding Stand and, after Jorginho put Chelsea in front, Lucas Moura’s weak spot-kick was saved by Kepa Arrizabalaga.

David Luiz kept his composure to drill low into the net as Chelsea reached the February 24 final with Manchester City, giving Sarri a chance to claim his first managerial silverware.

The wait goes on for Mauricio Pochettino.

Tottenham led 1-0 from the January 8 first leg, courtesy of Harry Kane’s VAR-assisted penalty, but were without their talisman for the return. Dele Alli and Son Heung-min were also absent, while Gonzalo Higuain was ineligible for Chelsea after his arrival on loan on Wednesday.

Blues winger Pedro’s effort, blocked by Toby Alderweireld, was the closest thing to a goal-bound effort until Llorente inadvertently flicked on a Hazard cross for Kante.

The France midfielder, deployed farther forwards by Sarri to accommodate playmaker Jorginho, drilled a shot through a host of bodies.

Gazzaniga, continuing in the cup with Hugo Lloris on the bench, should have done better.

Worse was to follow for Spurs when Ben Davies went off injured, with Danny Rose coming on, before Chelsea scored again. Moments after coming close to creating a goal for Olivier Giroud, Hazard made it 2-0.

Freed from the ‘false nine’ role which nullified his threat, Hazard carried the ball from left to right before running into the area to meet Cesar Azpilicueta’s cross. He tucked in his 13th goal of the season and third of the League Cup campaign.

However, Pochettino’s half-time comments revived the visitors, who were transformed in the second half and levelled the tie within five minutes.

Rose’s pin-point delivery was met by Llorente, who stooped to head in between poor defending from Emerson Palmieri and Luiz.

Both sides pressed for a winner and Giroud headed wide from Emerson’s cross in the fourth minute of stoppage time and spot-kicks followed.

Hazard’s services were not required in the shoot-out as Spurs spurned two of their penalties and Chelsea prevailed.

Picture: Getty.

Eden Hazard scored Chelsea’s second goal of the semi-final clash.