Chelsea vs. Liverpool: Score, Grades, Reaction from Capital One Cup Game
Chelsea advanced to the Capital One Cup final with a 1-0 extra-time victory over Liverpool on Tuesday evening in the second leg of their semi-final at Stamford Bridge.
The first 90 minutes created plenty of controversy but no goals, sending the match to extra time, where Branislav Ivanovic gave Chelsea a 2-1 aggregate victory with a 94th-minute header.
Last week's first leg ended 1-1 at Anfield, meaning Liverpool had to score over 120 minutes to avoid defeat. Per Rule 13.5 of the Capital One Cup, away goals served as a tiebreaker in semi-final ties only after 120 minutes of play.
With the win, Chelsea are now within touching distance of their first trophy of the season. The Blues will face either Tottenham Hotspur or Sheffield United in the final on March 1 at Wembley, where they will be playing for the first silverware of manager Jose Mourinho's second spell with the club.
His first spell produced plenty of glory, including Premier League titles in 2005 and 2006 and League Cup triumphs in 2005 and 2007. Following a trophy-less first season back in London, Mourinho has the Blues in position to challenge for honours on multiple fronts this season. Currently atop the Premier League, Chelsea also remain alive in the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League.
Up next for Mourinho and Chelsea is playing host to Manchester City on Saturday in a match that could prove pivotal in the Premier League title race. Victory on home soil would send Chelsea eight points clear of second-placed City, albeit with 15 matches left in the season.
Liverpool, meanwhile, will likely view Tuesday's defeat as a missed opportunity to win silverware. The Reds are out of the Premier League title race but remain alive in the FA Cup, with a fourth-round replay against Bolton set for Feb. 4.
Up next, Liverpool host West Ham on Saturday in the Premier League.
Following last week's tight draw in the first leg, the opening stages of the second leg featured more in the way of controversy than clear-cut chances. A flash point came in the 11th minute, as Chelsea's Diego Costa appeared to stamp intentionally on Liverpool's Emre Can. Referee Michael Oliver took no action, allowing play to continue.
It was Chelsea's turn to feel aggrieved in the 22nd minute, as Costa went to the ground in Liverpool's box following a challenge by Martin Skrtel. Replays suggested Skrtel had made contact, but again, Oliver took no action, and play continued.
Both teams began to create chances as half-time approached. In the 27th minute, Liverpool's Steven Gerrard split the Chelsea defence with an angled pass to Alberto Moreno on the left. Moreno shot high from a tight angle, but Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois saved.
The Reds had a better chance three minutes later when Raheem Sterling cut through the middle of the pitch before shooting near the edge of Chelsea's box. Courtois initially appeared beaten, but the Belgian shotstopper stuck out his trailing leg to make a fine kick-save.
Oscar had a sight of goal for Chelsea in the 38th minute, bouncing a free-kick wide from a difficult angle on the right. Moments later, Oscar shot off target from open play.
Costa and Skrtel clashed again early in the second half, with Skrtel following through with a high boot to Costa's leg after Skrtel completed a sliding tackle in the box. During the same incident, Costa again appeared guilty of a stamp, this time on Skrtel.
Chelsea came close to breaking the stalemate in the 59th minute, with Eden Hazard dribbling brilliantly through a crowd of defenders along the edge of the box before rifling a shot just wide of the post.
The Blues had another near-miss two minutes later, as Costa's deflected shot from outside the box appeared set to beat Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet. Although Mignolet's dive took him away from the trajectory of the deflection, he stretched a leg to make an important kick-save.
Liverpool countered quickly and produced a chance at the other end one minute later. Holding possession on the right, Sterling laid off for Gerrard, whose first-time shot flew straight into the arms of Courtois.
Mignolet made another key intervention in the 65th minute, sticking out his foot to tackle the ball away from Costa after the Chelsea striker was played in on goal.
More controversy followed in the 66th minute. Liverpool's Jordan Henderson, who had already been booked in the first half, was whistled for a handball as Chelsea tried to attack. The Blues lobbied for a second yellow card—which would mean a red card and a sending off—but Oliver handed Henderson a reprieve.
Neither side was able to break through during the 90 minutes of regular time, sending the match to extra time. As The Associated Press' Rob Harris noted, the away-goals rule only counted if the teams remained level after 120 minutes:
That meant Liverpool had to score a goal in extra time to avoid defeat. It was little surprise, then, that the Reds created the first chance after the restart, with substitute Mario Balotelli blasting well over the bar after being set up by Sterling's lay-off.
But Chelsea found the net first, taking the lead in the 94th minute via a set piece. Willian curled in a free-kick from the right, picking out an unmarked Ivanovic, who headed in powerfully from the edge of the six-yard box.
The breakthrough did not completely change Liverpool's objective, however. The Reds still needed to score, but now, a goal would send the match to a penalty shootout.
Henderson had a big chance to score the equaliser in the 110th minute. Sterling crossed from left, picking out the unmarked Henderson in the box. But with the goal at his mercy, the midfielder flicked his header wide of the post.
The Reds continued to push for a goal throughout extra time, but Chelsea managed to hold on for victory and book their ticket to Wembley.
Grades
| Thibaut Courtois | 7.6 |
| Branislav Ivanovic | 8.0 |
| Kurt Zouma | 7.3 |
| John Terry | 6.7 |
| Filipe Luis | 6.7 |
| Cesc Fabregas | 6.7 |
| Nemanja Matic | 8.2 |
| Willian | 8.9 |
| Oscar | 7.7 |
| Eden Hazard | 8.5 |
| Diego Costa | 6.7 |
| Ramires (for Fabregas, 50') | 7.3 |
| Cesar Azpilicueta (for Luis, 78') | 6.9 |
| Didier Drogba (for Willian, 119') | No rating |
| Simon Mignolet | 7.0 |
| Emre Can | 7.2 |
| Martin Skrtel | 7.3 |
| Mamadou Sakho | 6.9 |
| Lazar Markovic | 6.1 |
| Jordan Henderson | 6.4 |
| Lucas Leiva | 7.1 |
| Alberto Moreno | 6.4 |
| Steven Gerrard | 7.5 |
| Philippe Coutinho | 8.0 |
| Raheem Sterling | 7.1 |
| Glen Johnson (for Sakho, 57') | 6.6 |
| Mario Balotelli (for Markovic, 70') | 6.2 |
| Rickie Lambert (for Moreno, 106') | 5.9 |
Reaction
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho (Sky Sports, via BBC Sport):
"This is a new Liverpool team and a very difficult opponent. So I'm even happier because we beat a very good team over two legs.
The difference was the goal that should have happened before in the 90 minutes. In the second half we had a lot of football.
Also, my Ramires is back, that's the second best news of the day. The first to be in the final but to have our Ramires back after weeks of work and sacrifice.
"
Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic (Sky Sports, via BBC Sport):
"It was a very hard game. We are very happy we are going to Wembley and waiting for tomorrow's game. This is a game where you show the real character of the team and we are very happy.
I'm happy with my goal but I think this game is a real example of how the team has to play and the team wins the game.
"
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers (Sky Sports, via BBC Sport):
"I thought they were outstanding. Over the course of two legs we were the better team. We had good opportunities to score but didn't score. I feel nothing but pride really because the players gave everything.
It was difficult when they scored because the players had worked so hard, pressed the game, we changed the shape to get an opportunity to score but I think the legs had started to go a bit in that period.
"
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