After putting 2 past Tottenham in the first leg of the semi-final of the Carabao Cup, Chelsea finished the job and dented Tottenham's hope of a comeback with another defeat at the White Hart Lane. Rudiger did the damage to bring the aggregate to 3-0 as Tottenham's hope of silverware has vanished at least in the Carabao Cup this season.
Thomas Tuchel has continued his impressive season with Chelsea even though they fell off the wagon from the top spot in the league, they would be hoping to use this cup run to launch a title charge against Manchester City who looked like they were running away with the title. Chelsea didn't play their best game but it was enough to see them extend their aggregate on the night.
Chelsea came close with a lovely attempt after a long pass from the back from Rudiger found Lukaku. He managed to hold off his marker after a lovely control but his shot was saved by the goalkeeper. Sanchez almost bundled the spilt ball into his net and he was lucky to have it go wide instead.
After a series of half-chances went begging with Chelsea unable to take advantage of them, the moment finally came after a lovely corner kick was delivered into the box and Rudiger put his body forward as he managed to get the touch with his back. The ball went into the back of the net after going in off the underbar. It was the goal Chelsea needed as a surety to see this tie through and qualify for the final. It took Chelsea 18 minutes to do this and thanks to Rudiger.
Tottenham also had their moments and Doherty managed to pick out Harry Kane inside the box but he was unable to get his shot off as he was blocked. The rebound managed to get to Hojbjerg whose attempted curling effort was deflected for a corner kick.
Tottenham came close yet again after an in-swinging freekick came off the head of Sanchez with the ball heading towards Harry Kane but he wasn't quick enough to get a touch to direct the ball into the net from the near post.
Tottenham thought they had gotten a penalty kick after Lucas Moura started a counterattack as he fed Harry Kane. Harry Kane spotted the runs of Hojbjerg who managed to race towards the goal before being brought down by Rudiger. The referee initially pointed to the spot before VAR intervened and a freekick on the line was given. Le Celso took it and his effort was deflected for a corner kick by Rudiger.
VAR came into play again for Chelsea as another penalty was overturned after the VAR asked the referee to check his side monitor. The referee initially gave the penalty yet again after Harry Kane ran the length of the field before feeding Lucas Moura with a lovely pass. It was heavy for him and Kepa got to the ball first before Lucas Moura tumbled. The referee denied Tottenham another penalty after initially giving it and it was a right call...both times.
Chelsea sat back to withstand the pressure from Tottenham in a way to conserve their energy after going 3-0 up on aggregate with Tottenham asking most of the questions in the game. Ben Davies managed to get a lovely ball into the box for Emerson Royal whose header was brilliantly saved by the goalkeeper; Kepa to deny Tottenham yet again.
The frustration for Tottenham continued on the night after Kepa's bad short pass was intercepted by Lucas Moura who got the ball to Harry Kane. Harry Kane found the back of the net but after another VAR check, Harry Kane was flagged for offside and his goal chalked off.
Tottenham were denied yet again after Harry Kane brilliantly worked an opening at the side of the 18 years box. He picked out Ryan Sessegnon whose shot on goal was denied yet again by the alertness of the goalkeeper. The game ended 1-0 and 3-0 on aggregate as Chelsea progressed to the final.
Congratulations to Chelsea who got through to the final as they await who their opponent would be between Arsenal and Liverpool.
Thank you for your time.
My pen doesn't bleed, it speaks, with speed and ease.
Still me,
My tongue is like the pen of a ready writer.
Olawalium; (Love's chemical content, in human form). Take a dose today: doctor's order.
