Chelsea needed stoppage-time goals from substitutes Carney Chukwuemeka and Noni Madueke to edge past 10-man Leicester 4-2 in a wild FA Cup quarter-final at Stamford Bridge.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side led 2-0 before the visitors stormed back to level, but a glorious flick from the excellent Cole Palmer set up Chukwuemeka to slot the ball into the corner to put Chelsea 3-2 up before Madueke gave the score some gloss with a brilliant solo effort.
Chelsea were two up at the break thanks to goals from Marc Cucurella and Palmer, while Raheem Sterling had a first-half penalty saved.
A surreal own-goal from Axel Disasi and a Stephy Mavididi goal improbably hauled Leicester back, before Callum Doyle was red carded late on.
Extra-time beckoned, until Pochettino’s subs won it.
Chelsea took the lead after 12 minutes and the move started with a powerful tackle from Moises Caicedo to win the ball on the edge of his own box. One pass released Palmer down the right, and he looked up to see Nicolas Jackson galloping clear and he crossed for the unmarked Cucurella to tap home.
After a strong Leicester opening the goal settled nerves around Stamford Bridge, but this has become a ground used to existing in a state of apprehension.
Robert Sanchez dithered and was nearly dispossessed by Patson Daka, with only good fortune sparing the goalkeeper’s embarrassment. Abdul Fatawu might have done better when he glanced a header wide at the back post from Daka’s cross.
Whatever frustration the winger felt, he moments later allowed it to get the better of him when he crashed through the back of Sterling inside the box for a penalty.
Sterling had scored only six goals in the league this season and took the ball out of the hands of usual taker Palmer, a move he would quickly regret. The penalty was hit low and centrally, and was saved by Jakub Stolarczyk.
He had the chance to make amends for his penalty blunder when sent clear by a fine through-ball from Caicedo but he placed a shot wide with only Stolarczyk to beat.
Sterling finally put things right in the final minutes of the first half. Receiving the ball in the box he ran it almost to the byline and crossed low from the left for the arriving Palmer to make it 2-0.
Chelsea were in full control, but five minutes after the break things altered in ludicrous circumstances.
Disasi received the ball back from a throw-in in the right-back position and was quickly put under pressure by Daka. Turning to play it to his goalkeeper, the Leicester forward nudged him at the moment of contact, and his pass span up and out of his control, sailing over Sanchez for a comical own-goal.
A freak of an own goal from Axel Disasi 😬#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/prLCzrPlV7
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) March 17, 2024
And the tie was level after 62 minutes.
Mavididi cushioned the ball wide on the left, turned and ran at Gusto. The defender backed off and with a swing of the right boot Mavididi sent a fine, arching shot round the dive of Sanchez and in.
It capped a stunning recovery from the visitors, but within minutes they were down to 10 men.
Jackson was tripped by defender Doyle and Andrew Madley initially gave a penalty and showed a yellow card. VAR showed the contact was outside the box, but as the furthest Leicester player back, Doyle saw red.
Madueke came off the bench and saw a first-time shot saved low to his right by Stolarczyk, before he skied one into the Matthew Harding Stand from 12 yards.
The last hope of avoiding extra-time looked to have slipped away. Then came Palmer’s flick, Chukwuemeka’s finish and Madueke’s crowning touch to send Chelsea to Wembley.
Jack Grealish Man CityPep Guardiola has left Jack Grealish out of Man City's squad for their final day tilt against Fulham, fuelling speculation over the winger's future. Manchester United FC v Manchester City FC - Premier LeagueWHAT HAPPENED?Grealish is scheduled for talks with the club this summer, but his omission from their crucial trip to Craven Cottage is the latest sign his future likely li...
Manchester United v Fulham - Emirates FA Cup Fifth RoundVictor Lindelof's time at Manchester United is drawing to a close as the Swedish international will leave once his contract expires.WHAT HAPPENED?Fabrizio Romano has reported that a final decision was made following a meeting this week between the club’s hierarchy and the player, marking the end of an eight-year stint at Old Trafford. D...
🔊 Can Aston Villa qualify for the Champions League for the second consecutive season? Their chances look promising, especially with Manchester United unfortunately becoming one of the main point donors in the Premier League. However, a win at Old Trafford won't be enough. They need one of the top three to drop points. Regardless, the visitors will be playing solely for the win, making the favorite...
🔊 Can Newcastle secure a top-five finish in the English Premier League? Currently sitting fourth, they are only ahead of Chelsea and Aston Villa on goal difference. This makes a win at St. James' Park crucial for the Magpies. Everton might not be in contention for anything significant, but they remain a tricky opponent. We'll explore various scenarios to make an insightful prediction. Head-to-Head...
🔊 Will Manchester City secure a spot in the Champions League by the end of the Premier League season? A victory would guarantee it. However, under certain scenarios, a draw or even a loss might suffice. Fulham, stuck in mid-table, aren't contending for anything significant. With a lack of motivation, they appear as the underdogs in this clash at London's Craven Cottage. Nonetheless, we will explor...
🔊 Can Ipswich Town wrap up their stay in the English Premier League with a victory? They're up against West Ham, a team with a decent squad but plenty of on-field issues. This gives the "Tractor Boys" a chance to delight the crowd at Portman Road, even though they aren't the favorites. We'll explore various scenarios to make a well-founded prediction.Head-to-Head📊 The only head-to-head encounter b...
🔊 Will the final round of the English Premier League serve as a dress rehearsal for the Community Shield? These very teams will compete for the trophy in August. It's a familiar scenario for Liverpool, but not so for Crystal Palace, who will make their debut in such a match. However, both teams are unlikely to be looking that far ahead, as their lineups are bound to change. More likely, players fr...
🔊 How will Leicester look without their legend, Jamie Vardy? The team is likely to undergo some restructuring, but that's a challenge for next season when the Foxes will be competing in the Championship. Bournemouth, on the other hand, will remain in the Premier League, though their squad could see significant changes due to increased demand for their players. In this upcoming clash, neither team ...
Let's start our Daily Laugh today. Enzo Maresca now The Arsenal of Italy When you see it… Arteta really thinks this. The difference The last time Man United won a European Trophy was when they played against… Andre Onana! James Maddison had a big night Please stay tuned on Daily Laugh. There will be more fun tomorrow!(Credit: Justtoonit, originaltrollfootball, FootballLaughss, PL__OOC...
Kyle Walker's decline led to him being cast aside by Pep Guardiola, before he joined AC Milan in January. Since then, it has been Matheus Nunes and Rico Lewis that have operated at right-back, but Man City are keen for a specialist to be brought in during the summer. And they have now set their sights on one of the Premier League's brightest talents.Man City identify Tino Livramento as leading rig...
- 1 Mikel Arteta ready to give his life to deliver silverware for Arsenal
- 2 Man City withdraw and Liverpool could steal
- 3 Mikel Arteta apologises for failing to deliver Arsenal a Premier League title
- 4 Transfer news & rumours LIVE
- 5 Man City target right-back Tino Livramento
- 6 Liverpool vs Crystal Palace Prediction 25 May 2025
- 7 Man United man makes stunning claim
- 8 Tottenham vs Manchester United Prediction 22 May 2025
- 9 Goodbye Jack Grealish?! Pep Guardiola axes Man City star from squad for crucial Fulham clash as transfer talk continues to swirl
- 10 Eberechi Eze is at it again as he helps Crystal Palace to victory against Wolves