Chelsea stage stirring comeback to beat 10-man Leicester

Cesc Fabregas struck an extra-time double as Chelsea came from two down to win 4-2 and knock 10-man Leicester City out of the League Cup.

The Spaniard showed real prowess to thump home two goals in two minutes as the visitors took immediate advantage of their additional man after Marcin Wasilewski saw red for a second bookable offence right at the end of normal time.

Cesar Azpilicueta's wonder goal had earlier dragged Chelsea level after Gary Cahill's timely header in first-half header had given them hope.

Leicester had seemed on the path to victory courtesy of Shinji Okazaki's first-half brace but saw their night go from bad to worse following Cahill's goal.

In truth, Antonio Conte's men were already seizing the initiative before Wasilewski received his marching orders, but there was no doubt his dismissal proved a key turning point in the outcome of this match.

For Leicester it will smart, but it may prove to be a blessing in disguise given their adventures in this season's Champions League while Fabregas will feel he has give Conte a timely reminder of what he can offer by shining on a rare start under the Italian.

The Polish defender was rusty on his first appearance of the season. He could have been penalised for a clumsy handball in the penalty area early in the match and had a number of nervy moments. His two bookings were particularly silly and proved costly as his tired teammates struggled to contend with a visiting side that had been boosted by the appearance of Eden Hazard and Diego Costa from the bench.

Cesc Fabregas (Chelsea). Grew in stature as the game wore on and revelled in the additional space afforded him by the sending off of Wasilewski. Whether he did enough to force his way into Conte's Premier League starting XI remains to be seen, but he'll have done his case no harm with this match-winning contribution.

LEICESTER CITY: Zieler 7, Simpson 6, Wasilewski 6, Morgan 6, Chilwell 6, Drinkwater 6, King 7, Gray 6, Schlupp 7, Musa 6, Okazaki 8. Subs: Ulloa 6, Vardy 6, Amartey n/a.

CHELSEA: Begovic 6, Azpilicueta 7, Cahill 7, David Luiz 6, Alonso 6, Moses 6, Fabregas 8, Matic 6, Pedro 7, Loftus-Cheek 6, Batshuayi 6. Subs: Costa 8, Chalobah 5, Hazard 7.

17' - GOAL! LEICESTER CITY 1-0 CHELSEA. Okazaki nods the ball into the net despite the efforts of defenders on the line. Chelsea are their own worst enemy. Musa's cross bounces off the chest of Azpilicueta and falls for Okazaki to do the rest at the near post.

34' - GOAL! LEICESTER CITY 2-0 CHELSEA. Okazaki at the double! The striker chests down King's wonderfully disguised pass and smashes a volley into the turf that bounces up over Begovic.

45+2' - GOAL! LEICESTER CITY 2-1 CHELSEA. Lifeline for Chelsea. Morgan loses Cahill at the far post to power a header into the net from a right-wing corner.

49' - GOAL! LEICESTER CITY 2-2 CHELSEA. Azpilicueta crashes a sensational 20-yard volley into the corner after Wasilewksi had only half-cleared with his header.

68' - CHELSEA CHANCE! Zieler pulls off a magnificent save as he dives to his left to get his fingertips to a rasping 25-yard drive from Batshuayi.

70' - CHELSEA CHANCE! Luiz's hopeful ball over the top somehow makes it through to Costa who guides his low effort beyond Zieler and inches past the far post.

90' - RED CARD! Wasilewski had already been booked and makes a stupid challenge with a raised arm as Costa nodded it past him.

92' - GOAL! LEICESTER CITY 2-3 CHELSEA. The away side move ahead in the tie. Fabregas races onto Hazard's back heel and smashes it into the corner.

94' - GOAL! LEICESTER CITY 2-4 CHELSEA. Fabregas races to the other end of the pitch to celebrate with the Chelsea fans after thumping high into the net following Zieler's error with a punch clear. It's his second of the night and surely curtains for the Foxes.

There was just two minutes and 29 seconds between Cesc Fabregas' two goals.

Chelsea have kept just one clean sheet in their last 14 games in all competitions.

Chelsea have come back to win from two goals down for the first time in a game since August 17 2002 v Charlton (3-2).