Tue Feb 3 – 20:00 Emirates Stadium Carabao Cup
Kai Havertz netted a dramatic late winner as we reached the Carabao Cup final with a 4-2 aggregate victory over Chelsea.
Goals from Viktor Gyokeres, Ben White and Martin Zubimendi gave us a one-goal lead going into the second leg clash, which saw precious few chances at Emirates Stadium.
But as the visitors looked for a late goal, we broke away, and it was former Chelsea man Havertz who rounded Robert Sanchez to give us a 1-0 win and send us to Wembley for a first Carabao Cup final in eight years.
Cagey half
We came into the game looking to reach a first Carabao Cup final since 2018, ousting the Blues that season in the final four, but chances were few and far between in the opening 15 minutes.
The Blues, meanwhile, had progressed in three of their last four EFL Cup semi-final ties when losing the first leg, and were looking to repeat the trick in N5. Liam Delap’s scuffed shot was the first attempt of note on a rain-soaked Emirates turf.
A string of corners got our supporters on their feet and nearly led to the opening goal. Eberechi Eze found Piero Hincapie in space on the edge of the box, and the Ecuadorian unleashed a rasping left-footed drive which was beaten away dramatically by Sanchez.
We had tested the Chelsea backline with a couple of long balls, and it almost led to the opening goal. Gabriel Martinelli was the recipient of the latest ranging pass, getting clear of Malo Gusto. But as the Brazilian turned to get his shot away, the French defender had recovered the situation to save a goal-bound effort.
The Blues were growing in confidence as the half went on. Moises Caicedo did well to win the ball as Marc Cucurella fed Enzo Fernandez on the edge of the box. The Argentine then attempted to curl the ball into the top corner but found Kepa in his way.
No way through
We saw just two efforts on target in the opening half, but it took under two minutes for the first big chance of the second half. After a melee inside the six-yard box following an inswinging corner, forward Delap poked his effort just wide.
Noni Madueke was looking to make a mark against his former employers. The England international was able to beat both Cucurella and Jorrel Hato on separate occasions, but his crosses did not trouble the Chelsea rearguard.
The Blues then threw on attackers Cole Palmer and Estevao in search of a leveller in the tie. Cucurella was the next to have a go as a corner was cleared into his path. The Spaniard’s effort was curled over the bar as a tense final 25 minutes awaited.
The visitors continued to put more attackers on, with Alejandro Garnacho emerging as we sent on Leandro Trossard and Kai Havertz. A well-worked ball from Declan Rice found Martin Zubimendi, who stood the ball up to the backpost perfectly for Gabriel, who’s header was cleared by Cucurella.
Kai’s Chelsea dagger
As the rain continued to pour, the visitors surged forward. Palmer’s free-kick was well blocked by the wall and Wesley Fofana nudged wide from the resulting corner as the clock ticked into the final 10 minutes.
As a result, we managed to find spaces in the Chelsea defence. Eze slipped through Martinelli, who went down under the challenge of Trevoh Chalobah, but referee Peter Bankes waved away our penalty claims.
As the fourth official’s board went up to show six minutes of added on time, Fernandez had another go from range that sailed over the bar.
Chelsea continued to flood forward and as the clock ticked over the minimum of six minutes, we managed to nick the ball launch a devastating counter.
Trossard fed Rice, who squared to Havertz in acres of space, and the German was able to round Sanchez and give us a 1-0 win on the night and send us to Wembley, where either Manchester City or Newcastle lay in wait on March 22.
What’s next
Following our Carabao Cup semi-final success, we’re back in Premier League action in N5, taking on Sunderland on Saturday, February 7, at 3pm (UK time). On Thursday, February 12, we then head to west London to take on Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium at 8pm (UK time).
