MAURICIO POCHETTINO booked Chelsea a dramatic return trip to Wembley exactly three weeks after the last one in a thrilling battle.
But forget the magic of the FA Cup – the smell of bitterness and frustration overpowered any scent of romance.
Pochettino’s team finally overcame a ten man team from the Championship thanks to a stylish winner from sub Carney Chukwuemeka two minutes into added time and a stunner from Noni Madueke in the dying seconds to wrap it up.
But the booing and cries of ‘you don’t know what you’re doing’ during a tortuous tie tainted the feeling of triumph.
Chelsea blew a 2-0 lead which was bad enough. But Rahem Sterling was subjected to jeering and chants of ‘get him off’ as the winger endured a nightmare game which spilled over into resentment aimed at boss Pochettino.
Sterling missed a penalty after relieving regular spot kick taker Cole Palmer in the first half following deep discussions.
He had earlier missed a cracking chance to score. And when he put a free kick on the edge of the box high into the top tier of Stamford Bridge’s Matthew Harding Stand, enough was enough.
The fans turned and booed him and the manager as the last chance of a trophy this season and qualifying for Europe under their own steam seemed to be disappearing fast.
When Sterling was finally taken off to be replaced by goalscorer Madueke, there was even more negativity aimed at one of Chelsea’s most senior players.
Ultimately, Pochettino’s team is now into the FA Cup semi finals and the last Championship team is out in game Leicester.
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They are two wins from silverware and the Europa League next season instead of relying on coefficients through the Premier League’s European teams this term.
Marc Cucurella gave them the perfect start with a goal after 13 minutes. It was his first for the club and it should have been the platform for the Premier League side to settle.
When Sterling was brutally upended in the box by clumsy Leicester winger Abdul Fatawu 12 minutes later the chance was there to put the tie to bed long from the penalty spot before half time.
But Sterling’s determination to prove himself was his undoing and the lame shot at Jakub Stolarczyk gave City and their noisy 5,000 fans belief.
At two up, Disasi struck six minutes into the second half
Under pressure from Patson Daka but seemingly out of harm’s way on Chelsea’s right flank, centre half Axel Disasi turned to hit a pass back to keeper Robert Sanchez.
The chip was overhit and miscued while Sanchez was a long way off his line and watched helplessly as the punt intended for him sailed into his empty net for a cracking own goal.
Neither Chelsea player coated themselves in glory and of course it rattled the nerves. And as Sterling’s day deteriorated, so did Chelsea’s.
At least this time it was a moment of magic that ignited this Cup tie.
Stephy Mavididi shimmied into the box with a double stepover to bamboozle Malo Gusto before curling a delightful curling shot into the far corner to equalise.
Chelsea were on the ropes and flung everything forwards and Nicolas Jackson was tripped running into the box by Callum Doyle.
VAR spotted it outside of the box – just but Doyle’s booking was upgraded to a red card.
City hung on as best they could but eventually the numerical advantage and fresh legs made the difference.
Chukwuemeka’s one two with Palmer put Chelsea ahead two minutes into added time.
And fellow Chelsea sub Noni Madueke chipped a spectacular shot over keeper Stolaczyk with seconds remaining.
Remind yourself how the game went with our live blog below.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
