Chelsea defeated Leeds United 3-2 at Stamford Bridge to guarantee their place in the FA Cup quarterfinals, setting off the exciting last moments of Connor Gallagher’s magic.
In Short
Chelsea’s Late Win
As the tense battle seemed headed into extra time, Gallagher found space in the box and set up the clash against Leicester City next month.
The night started off poorly for the Blues as Matteo Kovacic put the visitors ahead, but quick responses from Nicolas Jackson and Mikhail Mudrik turned the tide in Chelsea’s favor.
However, Leeds continued to pose problems for Chelsea’s backline, and when Joseph equalized just before the hour mark, Blues found themselves level.
But with just 30 minutes left, Enzo Fernandez stepped up, found Gallagher in the penalty area, and the academy graduate delivered a stellar performance to send Chelsea into the quarter-finals of FA Cup.
The celebration though pic.twitter.com/jSqdmy4S9y
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Early exchanges
On Sunday, Chelsea made five changes to the team starting the Carabao Cup final, with Robert Sanchez, Alfie Gilchrist, Trevoh Chalobah, Nony Madueke, and Mudrik all coming into the lineup.
Chelsea tried to take control of the match from the outset, but Leeds countered effectively, capitalizing on its defensive third mistake.
Moises Casado’s attempt to pass to Anthony was thwarted, and Joseph struck, which was equalized by Sanchez’s shot from close range.
Drawing level
After a beautiful build-up play on the edge of the penalty area, the Blues equalized. Madueke found Jackson, who slotted the ball between Casado’s legs. The midfielder saw Jackson entering the penalty area and laid the ball off, and Jackson fired home through Meslier’s legs.
The Blues played at a fast pace for the rest of the first half after the goal. And the next crucial save came from Meslier when Mudrik darted into the box and his shot deflected off a defender onto the post.
Chelsea take control
After dominating most of the contest, the Blues took the lead in the 36th minute. A well-worked team move saw Casado find space in midfield with the ball before switching it to Gusto. The right-back then advanced it to Sterling, whose smart cutback was finished by Mudrik for his first goal.
Mykhaylo Mudryk has now scored in every domestic competition for Chelsea, including the Premier League, EFL Cup, and FA Cup
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pic.twitter.com/soT3vLZ8CO
However, Leeds were not to be outdone, and a dangerous set-piece created a clear chance for Dan James, only for Whites’ forward to fire wide from close range.
Anthony also came close to leveling after a powerful run down the channel, but his effort was kept out by the post.
Blues seal it late (watch video)
As the fans searched for the winner, lively Anthony came close again, but thankfully his curling effort went over Sanchez’s crossbar. The Blues took advantage of the turnover when Levi Colwill, a replacement, scored a close-range goal.
And finally, in the 90th minute, the decisive moment arrived. Enzo carried the ball into the midfield and scanned the pitch for a pass. He spotted Gallagher, who was making a run into the penalty area, and played him through. Gallagher gathered on his back foot, shrugged off a covering defender, and showed composure to guide his shot beyond the advancing Meslier.
Turn and finish from Gallagher pic.twitter.com/SCWCjrGvQb
— TweetChelseaUK (@TweetChelseaUK) February 28, 2024
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Before the referee could blow the final whistle, it was time for Pochettino to introduce Jimmy Tauriainen into the Chelsea lineup, securing Chelsea’s place in the quarter-finals and keeping our dreams of silverware alive this season.
What’s next
Chelsea will have less than 72 hours to prepare for their upcoming Premier League fixture, which is a friendly battle against Brentford. The action starts at Jetek Community Stadium on Saturday afternoon at 3 PM.
