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The Blues are through to the semifinals of the FA Cup after a nerve-racking win over Leicester City at Stamford Bridge
Chelsea survived blowing a two-goal lead against Leicester City to qualify for the semifinals of the FA Cup after two late goals from substitutes Carney Chukwuemeka and Noni Madueke.
The Blues took a 2-0 lead into halftime despite a penalty miss from Raheem Sterling thanks to goals from Marc Cucurella and Cole Palmer. However, they lost that lead in the second half after a disastrous own goal from Axel Disasi and a brilliant finish from Stephy Mavididi before being rescued by the two late goals to earn a semifinal place.
How it happened
In a thrilling encounter at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea emerged victorious over Leicester City in their quarter-final clash, securing a 4-2 win after extra time. Mauricio Pochettino's side entered the match as heavy favorites, knowing that this was their last opportunity for silverware this campaign. However, Leicester City proved to be formidable opponents, pushing the Blues to their limits in a fiercely contested battle.
The match kicked off with both teams evenly matched, but it was Chelsea who made the early breakthrough. Thirteen minutes into the game, Nicolas Jackson set up Marc Cucurella for an easy tap-in from close range, giving Chelsea the early lead. Despite dominating possession, Chelsea failed to capitalize on their opportunities, with Raheem Sterling missing a penalty shortly after.
Leicester City struggled to create clear-cut chances but remained resilient in defense. However, just before halftime, Sterling redeemed himself by assisting Cole Palmer, who capitalized on a Sterling cross to double Chelsea's lead heading into the break.
The second half saw a dramatic turn of events as Leicester City clawed their way back into the game. An unfortunate own goal by Axel Disasi gifted Leicester a lifeline, breathing new life into the match. Stephy Mavididi then leveled the score with a stunning curling effort, leaving Chelsea stunned and the tie wide open.
With the game hanging in the balance, Chelsea regained control when Leicester were reduced to 10 men after Doyle received a red card. Despite Sterling's struggles from set-pieces, Chelsea managed to break the deadlock in extra time. Substitute Carney Chukwuemeka scored a brilliant goal to put Chelsea back in front before Noni Madueke sealed the victory with a sensational strike from outside the box, securing a 4-2 win for the hosts.
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