Chelsea 2-1 (4-2 on pens) Tottenham Hotspur
Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri had asked for a reaction – and my word he got it!
They will return to Wembley on February 24 to face Manchester City in the final of the EFL Cup. It will be the first time the clubs have met in a showpiece final.
For luckless Spurs, who led 1-0 on the aggregate travelling to Stamford Bridge, this was arguably one game too many in a hectic spell for a now threadbare squad.
Shorn of the likes of Harry Kane – who scored the first leg winner – Dele Alli through injury, and not to mention Son Heung-Min on duty at the Asian Cup, it was the night their recent pile-up of absentees took its toll.
Highlights of the game
I had promised SBOBET fans fireworks before the match and the opening exchanges briefly threatened to provide them.
The ring-rusty Eric Dier was late on David Luiz, then committed two other niggly fouls but referee Martin Atkinson didn’t deem the accumulation worthy of a booking which might have caused Chelsea some frustration.
That is, had they not scored with their first effort on target in the 27th minute.
A corner was worked to N’Golo Kante and, from 20 yards, the French dynamo rifled a shot which went through two players’ legs and then flicked off Moussa Sissoko before going through another set of legs, this time belonging to the perhaps unsighted goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga.
Spurs’ injury list grew even longer a short time later when Ben Davies had to be taken off with a groin injury, to be replaced by Danny Rose.
The Spurs may have been forgiven for thinking it wasn’t their night when Chelsea scored again with their second shot on target seven minutes before the break.
Ross Barkley released Eden Hazard who found Cesar Azpilicueta and the Spanish full-back returned the compliment to pick out Hazard, back in his usual influential position off the frontman, who placed the ball expertly beyond Gazzaniga.
The EFL Cup 2019 betting odds were strongly in favour of the hosts at the break – Chelsea hadn’t lost consecutive home games against Spurs in all competitions since March 1982, while Spurs themselves were looking to win four games in a row against the west Londoners for the first time since a run of five from 1961-63.
Chelsea are not the only side who can score from their first effort on target and, five minutes after the restart, it was game on and there were more EFL Cup 2019 news headlines to be made.
Kane’s deputy, Fernando Llorente – who chose to join Spurs at the expense of Chelsea a year and a half ago – nipped in between his markers and headed Rose’s pinpoint cross down and past Kepa Arrizabalaga.
With the tie all square and no away goals nor extra-time in play in the competition this season, both sides went for the jugular.
Hazard screwed the ball just wide of the post, Llorente did the same after a peach of a pass from Christian Eriksen, Hazard went close again. Substitute Lucas Moura, on for the tiring Llorente, found the side netting and the ever-threatening Hazard hit the outside of the post from distance.
The derby was in the balance and a place in a Wembley final at stake.
When Olivier Giroud headed wide in stoppage time, Sarri held his head in his hands and the tie was to be decided by the lottery of penalties.
Spurs’ luck was out and Chelsea were through to their 15th cup final in 16 years.
Key statistics
In all competitions, Chelsea have lost none of the previous 46 games in which Hazard has scored in at Stamford Bridge.
Since the start of last season, Hazard has been directly involved in seven goals in his eight League Cup appearances (four goals, three assists).
Llorente has scored eight goals in his last five starts for Tottenham in all competitions.
This is only the second time in six occasions that Chelsea have reached the final after losing the first leg of a League Cup semi-final tie.
Spurs have lost their last three cup semi-finals.
What’s next?
Cup combat remains for both sides this weekend.
Spurs have another tough one as they travel to neighbours Crystal Palace, while Chelsea host Championship side Sheffield Wednesday. Both those ties are in the fourth round of the FA Cup.
It’s then back to league action for both next midweek.
Chelsea travel to the south coast to face Bournemouth, while Spurs host Watford.
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