LONDON: Carney Chukwuemeka rescued Chelsea with a stoppage-time strike that inspired a 4-2 win over 10-man Leicester City in an FA Cup quarter-final thriller on Sunday.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side were fortunate to survive a stirring fightback from Championship promotion chasers Leicester amid a mutinous atmosphere at Stamford Bridge.
Chukwuemeka netted in the closing minutes to save Chelsea from the embarrassment of being forced into extra-time.
Noni Madueke added Chelsea’s fourth to ensure the angry fans who booed Pochettino in the second half were silenced, at least for now.
For the sixth time in the last eight years, the Blues have advanced to the last four in the FA Cup.
But this was hardly a triumphant afternoon for Blues boss Pochettino, whose inconsistent team blew the two-goal half-time lead given to them by Marc Cucurella and Cole Palmer.
In between those strikes, Raheem Sterling missed a penalty and Axel Disasi gave Leicester hope with a farcical own goal early in the second half.
When Stephy Mavididi scored an eye-catching equaliser, Chelsea were in turmoil once again as the hapless Sterling earned the wrath of the home support.
But Leicester’s Callum Doyle was sent off for a professional foul on Nicolas Jackson, setting the stage for the Blues’ late revival.
Chelsea have failed to win a single domestic trophy since their most recent FA Cup triumph six years ago.
The west Londoners are languishing in 11th place in the Premier League and former Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton boss Pochettino is yet to win silverware in England.
Under mounting pressure amid a troubled first season in charge, Pochettino revealed this week that some of Chelsea’s young players endured a sleepless night before their League Cup final defeat against Liverpool in February.
Making amends by winning the FA Cup would buy Pochettino some much-needed breathing space.
In Saturday’s other quarter-final clash, Holders Manchester City cruised into the semi-finals thanks to two deflected strikes from Bernardo Silva that gave them a 2-0 win over a lacklustre Newcastle United at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
City made five changes from the side that started last weekend’s 1-1 Premier League draw with Liverpool and still managed to make the semi-finals of the competition for the sixth season in a row as Newcastle provided little resistance.
City took the lead in the 13th minute when a Silva shot took a wicked deflection off Newcastle defender Dan Burn, wrong-footing keeper Martin Dubravka and sending the ball looping into the net.
The home side went 2-0 up in the 31st minute and again it was Portuguese playmaker Silva cutting in from the right and shooting, with Sven Botman’s head helping to steer the ball past Dubravka this time.
City join Coventry City, who pulled off a shock 3-2 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers earlier in the day.
WEST HAM LATE GOAL RULED OUT IN DRAW
WITH VILLA
In Sunday’s Premier League fixture, West Ham United had three goals ruled out, including what would have been a dramatic stoppage-time winner, as Aston Villa came from behind to earn a 1-1 draw in a fiery clash.
Michail Antonio’s stooping header, his first goal since August, gave the hosts the lead after 29 minutes.
West Ham had the ball in the net twice through Mohammed Kudus and Antonio either side of halftime, but neither goal stood.
Villa, who felt they should have had a penalty for handball before West Ham’s opener, equalised in the 79th minute when Nicolo Zaniolo poked home fellow substitute Moussa Diaby’s cutback after a period of sustained pressure.
James Ward-Prowse late free kick was bundled in to spark delirious celebrations at the London Stadium.
But a lengthy VAR check found that the ball had hit Tomas Soucek’s arm before it crossed the line to leave the home fans frustrated and both sides with a point.
Villa remain fourth on 56 points while West Ham are seventh on 44, three points behind sixth-placed Manchester United who have a game in hand.
In Saturday’s late action in the Premier League, Tottenham slumped to a shock 3-0 defeat against Fulham and remained on fifth in the standings.
Fifth-placed Tottenham were punished for a sloppy performance as the in-form Rodrigo Muniz netted twice either side of Sasa Lukic’s first goal for Fulham.
By Agencies
