FROM GOING nowhere fast to one step from Wembley in the blink of an eye.
Chelsea’s billionaire kids club produced the kind of stunning turnaround and sudden show of strength that has not only kept a large part of the season alive, it may just have awakened the beast in Blue after two years of slumber.
Mykhailo Mudryk scored a last-minute equaliserAP
ReutersKieran Trippier had a night to forget as he missed a penalty in the shoot-out and gifted Chelsea their goal[/caption]
Djordje Petrović saved Matt Ritchie’s penalty to send Chelsea throughEPA
GettyBenoit Badisahile miscontrolled the ball to allow Callum Wilson to score[/caption]
Mauricio Pochettino’s raw team was 90-odd seconds from being knocked out of the Carabao Cup on their own ground after one of the worst shows of defending imaginable.
But then thanks to an equally hopeless lack of control from the opposition, combined with a fat injection of aggression and adrenaline, they are now into the semi-final.
Chelsea’s £62 million Ukrainian enigma Mykhailo Mudryk has raised more questions than he has answered with his performances since joining from Shakhtar Donetsk in January this year.
Even last night, it wasn’t just his equalising goal that will stand out for Chelsea’s equally relieved and jubilant fans this morning.
It was seconds after when he grabbed Newcastle midfielder Bruno Guimaraes firmly round the neck in a heated reaction to a brutal challenge by the Brazilian on his team-mate Ian Maatsen.
It’s the first sign of life from the introverted Eastern European who has been hiding within himself for almost a year at Stamford Bridge.
That instinctive act of camaraderie may just be the trigger needed to revive that dozing Chelsea fighting spirit that once made this team so formidable.
From looking at an undignified exit in a second-rate competition, Mauricio Pochettino’s squad took the occasion by the jugular and made sure they emerged triumphant from a cracking cup tie.
Newcastle were dead on their feet long before Trippier’s late cock up sent a pulsating match to penalties.
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But the hugely experienced full-back had only played one half after coming off the bench.
Even so, he was shaken enough by Chelsea’s overwhelming late show of force to miss from the spot with the Stamford Bridge stands also shaking from the vibrations of a packed house.
With the pressure then firmly on the visitors to score and stay in the tie, Matt Ritchie’s effort was saved by reserve Chelsea keeper Djordje Petrovic, who pushed the ball wide then punched the air in delight right in front of 5,000 shellshocked Geordies who had just seen their own little dreams of history evaporate in seconds.
Wilson’s ungainly goal looked to have put them on course for a first win here since 2012 against relentless pressure after half-time anyway.
A three-way mix-up between 39-year-old Thiago Silva, British-record £115 million midfielder Moises Caicedo and ambitious young France international Benoit Badiashile, a classic comedy caper of how not to defend.
There was no way Wilson should have got anywhere near the Chelsea goal in the 16th minute but he just kept on blundering along and eventually a calamitous touch from Badiashile allowed him the chance to curl home a shot – the finish a stark contrast to the build up.
Blues chief Pochettino did admit his team is its own worst enemy 24 hours before the game but nobody expected his players to take him at his word.
But with so many injuries, suspensions and old codgers on the pitch last night, there was a calamity waiting around every corner.
Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon and Enzo Fernandez of Chelsea have now joined the growing list of casualties from the Carabao Cup crocks derby.
Caicedo was lucky there is no VAR at this stage of the Carabao Cup. Ref Jarred Gillett overlooked his bruising trample on Toon right back Emil Krafth.
Both teams were in it for the fight – and sadly, so were some of the fans. A supporter jumped out of the Matthew Harding Stand to confront Newcastle’s stand-in keeper Martin Dubravka following Mudryk’s leveller one minute and 21 seconds into three of added time.
The Carabao Cup is worth way more to Chelsea this year than Newcastle. Eddie Howe’s team have just been dumped out of the Champions League but have eyes on a top four finish and an instant return next season.
Fledgling Chelsea are nowhere near Europe but appreciate that this tournament offers a way into the Europa League when consistency in the league can’t be relied upon.
It was with that in mind that Pochettino changed things up and sent on Malo Gusto for the second half and the attacking-minded right back was on hand to cross deep into the Newcastle box during one final push for a goal.
Trippier’s lapse in focus saw the ball spin free and misfit Mudryk stopped overthinking and just pounced to lash home a shot that triggered the massive turnaround on the night and maybe for the future too.