Chelsea advanced to the EFL Cup semi-finals with a dramatic last-eight win over Newcastle United on Tuesday, triumphing 4-2 in a penalty shoot-out after Mykhailo Mudryk’s stoppage-time equaliser salvaged a 1-1 draw.
All four takers converted for Mauricio Pochettino’s Blues in the shoot-out, with Newcastle’s Kieran Trippier blasting wide before Djordje Petrovic clinched the win with a stunning save from Matt Ritchie’s kick.
Playing their 100th game under Eddie Howe, the Magpies had earlier given themselves something to defend at Stamford Bridge, with Callum Wilson pouncing on Benoit Badiashile’s mistake to score.
Howe’s injury-hit side were largely restricted to protecting their goal from there, and their resistance was broken in stoppage time when Trippier returned Badiashile’s favour with an error of his own, allowing Mudryk to steer home the equaliser.
Trippier saw his mistake compounded when he missed in the shoot-out, before Petrovic – standing in for the injured Robert Sanchez – denied Ritchie to keep Chelsea’s bid for a first trophy under the Todd Boehly regime alive.
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Chelsea received a let-off within two minutes of kick-off as Moises Caicedo was only shown a yellow card for a dangerous challenge on Anthony Gordon, scraping his studs down the back of the winger’s leg but benefitting from the absence of VAR.
Fellow midfielder Conor Gallagher went desperately close to the opener just five minutes later, curling a 20-yard effort against the crossbar with Martin Dubravka beaten.
A glaring error from Badiashile then gifted Newcastle the lead 16 minutes in, the defender making a mess of an interception and conceding possession to Wilson, who prodded his finish beyond Petrovic.
Scoring his 46th #NUFC goal in his 100th appearance for the club! ????@CallumWilson ???? pic.twitter.com/78ZIuJAW1C
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) December 19, 2023
Sterling twice went close to a quickfire leveller, rolling a finish just beyond the far post before being denied by a heroic block from Bruno Guimaraes on his own goal line.
Chelsea continued to dominate possession without reward after half-time, with Nicolas Jackson shooting wide on the turn 10 minutes after the restart.
Pochettino then sent on debutant Christopher Nkunku in search of a route back into the game, and the Frenchman was immediately let down by an overhit pass from Sterling as the winger looked to play him through on goal.
However, fellow substitute Mudryk sent the tie to spot-kicks as the clock ticked into stoppage time, side-footing into the bottom corner after Trippier failed to deal with a deep cross from the right.
A big moment! ???? pic.twitter.com/MlPnj47iEL
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) December 19, 2023
After three perfect penalties, Trippier put Newcastle’s second kick wide of the bottom-left corner to cap a forgettable outing for the full-back, then Petrovic sprang to his left to push Ritchie’s effort away, sparking wild celebrations at a jubilant Stamford Bridge.
Ritchie misses!!!!!! Yeeeeesssssss!!!!!
????: ✅✅✅✅
⚫️: ✅❌✅❌#CFC | #CarabaoCup— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) December 19, 2023
