- Chelsea dispatched Leicester City 4-2 on Sunday evening to progress to the FA Cup semi-final
- The Blues are returning to Wembley Stadium for a second time this year and will face FA Cup defending champions Manchester City in the semi-finals
Chelsea dispatched Leicester City 4-2 on Sunday evening during the Chelsea vs Leicester tie to progress to the FA Cup semi-final. Two stoppage time goals from substitutes Carney Chukwuemeka and Noni Madueke helped the Blues win the dramatic thriller at Stamford Bridge.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side led 2-0 in the first half but Leicester found their way back into the match in the second half, thanks to a Axel Disasi own goal and Stephy Mavididi’s brilliant strike in the 62nd minute to equalize. The odds quickly changed to favour Leicester but a red card for defender Callum Doyle with 17 minutes left changed everything and the Blues eventually won the tie in the dying minutes after applying constant pressure.
Chelsea vs Leicester City. Photo/ We Ain’t Got No History – SB Nation.
Chelsea fans were not impressed by the performance of their team in the second period and booed Raheem Sterling, who missed a penalty in the first half, and Mauricio Pochettino as nerves frayed. Section of the Stamford Bridge crowd chanted “you don’t know what you’re doing” after Pochettino made the decision to substitute Mykhailo Mudryk instead of Sterling.
Speaking after the Chelsea vs Leicester match, Pochettino said Chelsea fans need to trust the club while defending his decision to substitute Mudryk.
“I am not asking them to trust me. They need to trust the club. If I am here it is because of the decision of the club. I made the decision [to substitute Mudryk]. I am not here to do what people want. Also, I am not stupid. I saw Mudryk and he was tired. We thought he would not finish the game. We are professionals and we want to win.” Pochettino is quoted by The Guardian.
Chelsea are returning to Wembley Stadium for a second time this year to play the FA Cup semi-finals against defending champions Manchester City. If the Blues win, they’ll face either Manchester United or Coventry City in the final.
How Chelsea Vs Leicester Unfolded On Sunday
Sunday’s FA Cup quarter-final clash was a rematch of the 2021 final, where Chelsea were the losers. But with Chelsea 11th in the Premier League standings and having already suffered defeat in the Carabao Cup final against Liverpool a few weeks ago, Pochettino could not afford to lose the match against a Championship club.
The Blues started the game against Chelsea on a high note and their efforts paid off after 13 minutes when Marc Cucurella tapped home at the back post. Nicolas Jackson made a superb run into the box before squaring the ball to Cucurella who was just at the right place to score his first goal for Chelsea.
With time running out, Chelsea were awarded a penalty after Raheem Sterling was fouled in the box by Abdul Fatawu. Sterling took the penalty himself instead of Cole Palmer and failed to score as Jakub Stolarczyk jumped to the right direction and made the save.
The Foxes goalkeeper was again called into action shortly afterwards to stop a fierce strike from Mudryk. Sterling had a golden opportunity to make amends for his penalty miss but somehow squandered a one-on-one as his shot went wide. He would then provide the assist for Palmer’s goal in stoppage time of the first half.
Chelsea’s downfall began in the second half when Frenchman Axel Disasi misdirected a back-pass that went straight into the back of the net in the 51st minute. Eleven minutes later, Leicester were level after a brilliant strike from Mavididi.
Stephy Mavididi scored Leicester City’s equalizer shortly after the hour mark. Photo/ Eurosport.
Chelsea were initially awarded a penalty in the 71st minute and defender Doyle shown a yellow card for clipping Jackson. However, the VAR intervened and correctly instructed the referee to award a free-kick instead of penalty as Jackson had been fouled outside the box. Doyle’s yellow card was also upgraded to red card.
Chelsea failed to capitalize on the free-kick but took control of the match as Leicester were reduced to ten men. However, the Blues had to wait until stoppage time before quick goals from substitute Chukwuemeka and Madueke won the match and ensured they progressed toe FA Cup semi-finals.
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