Antonio Rudiger scored during the Carabao Cup semi-finals against Tottenham as he eased the Blues into the Cup’s final.
The Blues managed to book their spot in the Carabao Cup final as they eased past Tottenham 3-0 on aggregate on Wednesday night.
Chelsea center-back headed the only goal of the match early in the first half at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as they sealed their spot into Wembley.
The Blues look forward to facing either Liverpool or Arsenal in the Carabao final, with their delayed second leg getting underway on Thursday night. For Tottenham, it is an opportunity gone this term to end their 14-year trophy drought since they won this cup way back in 2008. They are now likely left with just the FA Cup.
German defender Rudiger gave the Blues the lead in the 18th minute in the League Cup semi-final when he headed a Mason Mount corner. That was the perfect start for the Blues.
Tottenham’s Hotspur Harry Kane in a past match. Photo courtesy: Getty Images
Spurs were left with an uphill battle, and they briefly hoped to have a come-back into the match as German defender Rudiger brought down Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg on the 40th minute and referee Andre Marriner pointed to the spot. Then a VAR check correctly concluded the foul took place outside the box, and the home side made nothing good from the resulting free-kick.
Immediately before the hour mark, VAR came to Marriner’s rescue again, and he pointed to the spot for another Tottenham’s penalty, hoping that Kepa Arrizabalaga had fouled Lucas Moura, but it was clear that the Blues goalkeeper had cleanly taken the ball.
By the end of the 64th minute, the North London club thought they had found a way back into the tie as Moura fed Harry Kane who found the back of the net, but the England captain was correctly adjudged by VAR to be on the offside. Antonio Conte had to bring in Ryan Sessegnon and then Bryan Gil, but it was not to be for Tottenham even as the long wait goes on.
Spurs had a penalty decision canceled by the VAR after Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg was brought down by the Blues’ defender Antonio Rudiger in the Carabao Cup semi-final clash at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Wednesday night.
Spurs had a second penalty decision canceled by the VAR in their Cup semi-final clash with Chelsea at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium.
Hotspurs were denied a route back into the Carabao Cup semi-final clash with Chelsea after Harry Kane was ruled to be offside in the build-up to his strike at the home to Tottenham.
Spurs’ boss narrated how the first half was full of struggle, especially the way they tried to bring down the pressure without the ball, thinking the second half the performance would be better, even as the intensity remained high.
Conte further claimed that Chelsea and Tottenham are on ‘two different levels in every aspect’ following the 1-0 defeat in the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg.
Blues’ Thomas Tuchel narrated that they started good and had big chances but they did not play with fire.
They lost chances from easy and sloppy mistakes,in that they were lucky and almost gave a penalty away for absolutely no reason, maybe a bit of the lack of confidence. Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel seemed unhappy with his side’s performance against Tottenham, despite reaching the Carabao Cup Final with a 1-0 victory at the Tottenham’s ground.
The Blues dominated the entire match, certainly, in the first half, they were so relaxed. Hotspurs were off it and Chelsea is a team you have to perfectly play against. Tottenham had a good chance in the second half but Chelsea were in control.
Blues’ defender Antonio Rudiger cited that he is currently enjoying the best spell of his football career. Following Spurs penalty, it was another impressive display from the Blues’ defender.
Liverpool players during a past match event. Photo courtesy: Getty Images
Arsenal and Liverpool begin their delayed Carabao Cup semi-final tie on Thursday night. Chelsea will have to face Liverpool or Arsenal at Wembley in the final on Sunday, February 27.
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