Chelsea 4-2 Leicester: Carney Chukwuemeka and Noni Madueke strike late as Blues make semi-finals of FA Cup

Chelsea came out on top 4-2 in a rollercoaster FA Cup quarter-final clash with 10-man Leicester City at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues looked all set to progress with ease to the last four after goals from Marc Cucurella and Cole Palmer put them well in control by half-time, though they ultimately had to rely on stoppage-time efforts from substitutes Carney Chukwuemeka and Noni Madueke to get the job done.

Axel Disasi’s calamitous own goal dragged Leicester back into the contest early in the second half, with Stephy Mavididi subsequently hauling The Foxes level just after the hour.

Yet Leicester’s hopes were dented when Callum Doyle saw red for a desperate foul on Nicolas Jackson, and Chelsea’s numerical advantage eventually told through Chukwuemeka’s 92nd-minute effort.

Madueke, on in place of the out-of-sorts Raheem Sterling - who missed a first-half penalty and endured a miserable day all-round - rounded off the win with a superb solo goal as Chelsea booked their place at Wembley.

It seemed set to be something of a Sunday stroll for Chelsea when Sterling teed up Palmer to make it 2-0 on the stroke of half-time.

Sterling had just missed a great chance when one-on-one with Leicester goalkeeper Jakub Stolarczyk, who had earlier denied the winger from the penalty spot.

That spot-kick came on the back of Cucurella’s 13th-minute opener, with the full-back able to tap into an empty net after fantastic work from Jackson.

Yet Disasi’s own goal - in which the centre-back caught Robert Sanchez cold with a wild attempt at a backpass - gave Leicester hope, and Mavididi soon restored parity with a sensational curling strike.

Chelsea thought they had another penalty when Doyle fouled Jackson, but VAR deemed the foul to have been outside of the Leicester area. But The Foxes’ reprieve was short lived, with referee Andy Madley upgrading Doyle’s yellow card to red.

Mauricio Pochettino was jeered with chants of ‘You don’t know what you’re doing’ from some Chelsea fans when he replaced Mykhailo Mudryk with Chukwuemeka, but the former Aston Villa youngster repaid his manager’s faith with a cool finish to put The Blues back ahead.

Madueke put the result beyond all doubt, and Chelsea joined Manchester City and Coventry City in the semi-finals.

It was a bad day at the office for Sterling, who pulled rank over Palmer for the penalty midway through the first half, only to send a tame effort at Stolarczyk. He then swiped horribly at another gilt-edged opportunity, though did atone with a fine run and pass for Chelsea’s second goal.

However, Sterling - who looks completely out of the picture when it comes to England ahead of Euro 2024 - was booed by his own supporters when he lashed a free-kick high and wide just after Doyle’s red card. Most of the Stamford Bridge faithful applauded the 29-year-old when he was subbed off, but this break from club action has probably come at the right time.

Whereas Sterling flailed, Palmer thrived - again. In this form, he seems sure to head to Euro 2024 with England, as the youngster took his tally of goal contributions to the season to 28 in all competitions with a goal and an assist - 26 of those contributions have come for The Blues, and two for Manchester City.

There is little doubt about it, Palmer is Chelsea’s main man.

Chelsea: Sanchez 5, Gusto 8, Disasi 4, Chalobah 6, Cucurella 7, Caicedo 7, Gallagher 6, Palmer 8*, Mudryk 7, Sterling 3, Jackson 8. Subs: Chilwell N/A, Chukwuemeka 7, Madueke 7.

Leicester: Stolarczyk 7, Choudhury 5, Faes 6, Vestergaard 5, Doyle 5, Winks 6, Ndidi 6, Fatawu 6, Dewsbury-Hall 8, Mavididi 7, Daka 5. Subs: Akgun 6, Coady 5, Justin 5.

13’ – GOAL! Chelsea 1-0 Leicester (Cucurella): That’s too easy for Jackson, and Chelsea take the lead! Leicester boss Enzo Maresca will be far from impressed with his side’s defending, as Cucurella is presented with a simple finish after Jackson easily bursts beyond Vestergaard and plays a neat ball across the face of goal. Choudhury had switched off, and Cucurella could not miss.

26’ – PENALTY MISSED! Chelsea 1-0 Leicester (Sterling): Oh dear oh dear! Sterling is in desperate need of a goal, but he won’t get one by taking penalties like that! The 29-year-old sent a tame effort just to the left of centre, and with Stolarczyk having guessed the right way, the Leicester shot-stopper was able to make the save with his legs. Could that be the slice of luck Leicester needed??

46’ – GOAL! Chelsea 2-0 Leicester (Palmer): Now Chelsea double their lead, and it’s Sterling who sets it up! Atoning for his miss from moments earlier, Sterling races in behind down the left and lays a crisp ball towards the front post where Palmer is on hand to tuck home from point-blank range.

51’ – OWN GOAL! Chelsea 2-1 Leicester (Disasi): Oh. My. Word. What is Disasi doing?! That’s an all-timer! One for the own-goal blooper reel as Disasi, who was heading back towards his own goal, thumps a backpass to where he thinks Sanchez was, but instead, the goalkeeper was on the edge of his own area, and the ball sails beyond him and into the back of the net. From absolutely nowhere, Leicester are right back in this. What a calamity from Chelsea!

62’ – GOAL! Chelsea 2-2 Leicester (Mavididi): The Leicester fans are in raptures now! Chelsea have fallen apart! A great – albeit simple – move saw Leicester pass their way through the middle of the pitch, with Winks moving it to Dewsbury-Hall, who in turn found Mavididi. Having taken it under his spell with a great first touch, the winger cuts onto his stronger right foot and curls a sensational effort into the right-hand corner. Sanchez had no chance, and it’s all square!

73’ – RED CARD! Chelsea 2-2 Leicester (Doyle): Well, we have absolute carnage here! First, the referee is instructed to overturn his original decision to award a penalty, with the foul having been committed outside of the area. That call brings about huge cheers from the Leicester fans at the other end of the ground, but then it is the home supporters who are pleased when referee Madley then cancels his yellow card and instead brandishes a red card in Doyle’s direction, with any element of ‘double jeopardy’ having seemingly been cancelled out. So, Leicester are down to 10, and Chelsea have a free-kick right on the edge of the box.

92’ – GOAL! Chelsea 3-2 Leicester (Chukwuemeka): Surely that’s the winner for the Blues?! It’s substitute Chukwuemeka who has got it, with the youngster slotting home after brilliant interplay with Palmer in a tightly congested penalty area. Six minutes now for Chelsea to hold on, and then they will be heading back to Wembley. What a cruel blow for Leicester, but it had been coming.

98’ – GOAL! Chelsea 4-2 Leicester (Madueke): What a goal to round it off!! Madueke cuts inside from the right, wiggles through a glut of defenders and, from around 20 yards out, bends a brilliant strike into the top-left corner, putting this tie to bed once and for all!

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