Fan attack is an ugly stain on Chelsea’s cup victory over Newcastle
Tuesday, December 19, 2023 at 11:11 PM
Chelsea escaped early elimination in the EFL Cup on Tuesday evening. Mauricio Pochettino’s team faced a 0-1 deficit against Newcastle United for a long time, but came alongside in the final phase: 1-1. The penalties that followed were taken better by the Londoners. Kieran Trippier became the big schlemiel with a mistake at 1-1 and a missed penalty. After the equalizer, a Chelsea fan stormed the field to body check goalkeeper Martin Dubravka.
Chelsea is looking for the right form, as it has only won twice in the last six games. Newcastle also lost a number of points in recent weeks. For the visitors, Sven Botman was in the starting line-up for the first time since September 24. The defender was allowed to come on briefly against Fulham on Saturday.
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After a tentative start to the game, Newcastle suddenly took the lead after fifteen minutes of play. Callum Wilson seemed to start an impossible solo against Thiago Silva and Badiashile, but saw the latter make a hopeless mistake and finished nicely with the outside of the shoe: 0-1.
Chelsea pressed and created enough pressure on Newcastle’s goal, but were unable to produce the equalizer. The best chance was for Raheem Sterling, who saw his effort cleared off the line by Bruno Guimarães.
Not much later, Sterling shouted for a penalty, but while the Englishman often manages to score a penalty in the Premier League (25 times, more than any other player), referee Jarred Gillett did not kick it this time.
At the start of the second half, Eddie Howe brought in two heavyweights for Newcastle: Kieran Trippier and Dan Burn. They saw Nicolas Jackson shoot narrowly wide after a promising attack.
Chelsea kept trying and was close to the equalizer through Sterling, but his shot was saved by Dubravka. Twenty minutes before the end, the home crowd was still able to cheer, albeit for a substitution. Nkunku, who came over from RB Leipzig this summer for sixty million euros, made his official debut.
Ian Maatsen was also brought in by Pochettino in the final phase. The game then seemed to be heading for a minimal victory for the visitors, until Trippier made a hopeless mistake.
The defender had a seemingly simple cross to clear, but took the ball and overlooked Mykhaylo Mudryk, who signed for his third of the season. A Chelsea fan then climbed over the boarding to give goalkeeper Dubravka a body check.
Trippier failed in the penalty shootout that followed. The defender saw his effort go well wide of Djordje Petrovic’s goal. Matt Ritchie also failed to convert his penalty. Chelsea thus qualifies for the last four.
2023-12-19 22:11:00
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