Good evening to football fans around the globe. Welcome to Nigerianeye's live commentary of the League Cup third-round clash between Leicester City and Chelsea.
Leicester will enter this match off the back of a 3-0 victory in the Premier League at the weekend, but Chelsea lost 2-1 at home to Liverpool on Friday night.
Tonight will be the 107th meeting between these two teams in all competitions and it is Chelsea that lead the head-to-head record 51 wins to Leicester's 25.
Leicester recorded a 2-1 victory when the pair last met at the King Power Stadium in the Premier League, before the points were shared in a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge in May of this year.
OFFICIAL LINE-UPS
LEICESTER CITY: Zieler; Simpson, Wasilewski, Morgan, Chilwell; Gray, Drinkwater, King, Schlupp; Musa, Okazaki
CHELSEA: Begovic; Azpilicueta, Cahill, Luiz, Alonso; Moses, Fabregas, Matic, Loftus-Cheek, Pedro; Batshuayi
So there we have it. The referee brings the match to a close with Chelsea running out 4-2 winners over Leicester to book their spot in the next round. Thank you for joining our live coverage of the match!
ET 30 min+1 FULL-TIME: Leicester 2-4 Chelsea
ET 29 min Fabregas makes a clever run as the Spaniard continues to threaten the Leicester defence, but he was offside when the ball from Chalobah was played. We are entering the very final moments here.
ET 27 min Half-chance for Fabregas as Alonso delivers a low cross towards the Spaniard, but his effort was always wide of the post. Has Fabregas does enough to earn a start against Arsenal this weekend?!
ET 25 min The home supporters continue to filter out as we enter the final stages of this third-round match. Chelsea work the ball into the Leicester box, but Moses does not read a Fabregas return.
ET 23 min Am I watching a testimonial? Not much happening here as both teams walk around the pitch. Chelsea are popping it around and in truth, Leicester are not exactly breaking their neck to win it back!
ET 20 min BOOKING! Luiz (Chelsea) is booked for fouling Vardy.
ET 20 min It is very much like a training game at the moment as Chelsea pop the ball around in the final third of the field. I suspect that Jose Mourinho will like the amount of work Leicester are putting in now!
ET 18 min... in fairness to the Leicester supporters, they are doing their best to raise the atmosphere, but Chelsea are very comfortable in this match and appear to be breezing into the fourth round.
ET 16 min RESTART! Leicester restart the action here...
Absolute mountain to climb for Leicester now after that quick-fire double from Fabregas. Chelsea lead 4-2 and Leicester will have to put in some effort to take this one into a penalty shootout.
ET 15 min+1 HALF-TIME EXTRA-TIME: Leicester 2-4 Chelsea
ET 15 min Not too much of an atmosphere inside the stadium as the clock ticks on here.
ET 13 min BOOKING! Chilwell (Leicester) is booked for a late tackle on Azpilicueta.
ET 12 min Just a reminder that Leicester will travel to Manchester United in the Premier League this weekend, while Chelsea will visit Arsenal. In truth, neither manager will have wanted this extra-time period.
ET 10 min The signs were there for Leicester after Chelsea dominated the second period of normal time and their supporters are in fine voice at the moment as we approach the end of the first half of extra-time.
ET 7 min SAVE! All Chelsea here as Zieler is forced to get down and keep out a strike from Matic.
ET 5 min Game, set and match. Fabregas has his second in extra-time as the midfielder smashes the ball home from close range after Leicester failed to deal with a corner. That is Chelsea through.
ET 4 min GOAL! Leicester 2-4 Chelsea (Fabregas)
ET 3 min What a super goal from Chelsea. Hazard produces a brilliant touch into Fabregas and the Spaniard fires his effort into the back of the net. In truth, it had been coming. Chelsea lead 3-2 in this one.
ET 2 min GOAL! Leicester 2-3 Chelsea (Fabregas)
ET 2 min Possession football for Chelsea as they attempt to pass their way into the Leicester box and it does seem that the visitors will dominate the ball against the 10-man hosts, who look tired now.
ET 1 min KICKOFF! Chelsea get the extra-time period underway here...
So there we have it. It is 2-2 at the end of 90 minutes so extra-time and possibly penalties will be needed to decide this match. It has been a brilliant third-round clash between these two rivals.
90 min+5 END OF 90 MINS: Leicester 2-2 Chelsea
90 min+3 CHANCE! Side-netting for Costa after the striker had once again found space inside the Leicester box. The Spaniard could have had four or five after entering in the second period.
90 min+2 Moses sends a volley wide of the post as Chelsea threaten late on here.
90 min+1 LEICESTER SUB! Amartey replaces Gray for the home side.
90 min Leicester are reduced to 10 men as Wasilewski is handed his second yellow card for a rash elbow into the face of Costa. No doubt that the centre-back deserved to be sent from the field here.
89 min RED CARD! WASILEWSKI!
89 min CHELSEA SUB! Hazard replaces Pedro for the away side.
88 min... close from Luiz, but not close enough as it misses the crossbar.
88 min Luiz is standing over the Chelsea free kick...
87 min BOOKING! Drinkwater (Leicester) is booked for a late tackle on Costa.
87 min CHANCE! Gray delivers a super cross into the Chelsea box and it appears that Schlupp is going to turn home, but the midfielder leaves it and there is no-one behind him!
86 min Little under five minutes of normal time remaining and at the moment, we are heading for extra-time and possibly penalties to decide this third-round match, which has been absolutely brilliant.
84 min SAVES! Two brilliant saves from Zieler as the Leicester goalkeeper has to keep out Costa, who had shaken off Leicester's two centre-backs before having another effort!
83 min BOOKING! Matic (Chelsea) is booked for a late challenge on Gray.
83 min SAVE! Zieler drops down to keep out a strike from Costa as Chelsea have an opportunity to score the game's fifth goal. Still around 10 minutes of normal time to play in this match.
82 min Luiz allows another bounce on a long ball and Vardy is straight on the Brazilian, who just about manages to clear at the vital moment. Vardy is giving Luiz an absolutely torrid time at the moment.
80 min CHELSEA SUB! Chalobah replaces Batshuayi for Chelsea.
78 min Neither side settling for normal time at the moment as the intensity continues to rise. Leicester are the team on the front foot as they feed off Vardy, but Chelsea have a serious counter-attacking threat.
76 min LEICESTER SUB! Vardy replaces Musa for the home side.
76 min MISS! Oh my word! Leicester captain King has just headed over the crossbar from about three yards out! Ulloa's header had found King from a corner, but he somehow missed!
75 min LEICESTER SUB! Vardy replaces Ulloa for the home side.
74 min CHANCE! Stunning chance for the home side as Musa breaks clear of the Chelsea defence before attempting to chip his effort over Begovic, but the Chelsea stopper makes a fine save!
74 min Little over 15 minutes of normal time remaining and we are still locked at 2-2 in this League Cup clash at the King Power Stadium. You sense that there is another goal in normal time tonight.
72 min I am not sure what has happened to Jamie Vardy, but he was getting ready to come on about 10 minutes ago! A change is needed for the hosts because they are struggling to contain Chelsea now.
70 min MISS! Stunning chance for Chelsea as Costa breaks through on the Leicester goal, but the striker somehow sends his effort wide of the post. What an incredible miss that is!
68 min SAVE! Batshuayi strikes a wonderful effort towards the top corner and it looks to have beaten the Leicester goalkeeper, but Zieler is on hand to make a brilliant save and keep it at 2-2!
67 min CHELSEA SUB! Costa replaces Batshuayi for the away side.
66 min Alonso strikes wide from distance as Chelsea continue to threaten here.
65 min Drinkwater sends Musa away down the left and it appears that the forward will have a clear run on goal, but Cahill somehow finds the speed in his legs to get back and make a vital challenge.
63 min Jamie Vardy is just getting ready for Leicester and it appears that the England international will be the first player to come off the bench at the King Power Stadium. Not surprising at all!
61 min It is the Chelsea supporters that can be heard at the moment as their team continue to look threatening in the final third. Fabregas again looks to find Batshuayi with a through pass, but Zieler is on hand to claim and immediately looks towards Musa, who has struggled to make an impact tonight.
58 min Penalty shout for the home side as Gray goes down inside the box under pressure from Azpilicueta, but the referee is not interested, much to the frustration of the Leicester fans, who were certain.
56 min You just wonder whether Ranieri will consider freshening his team in the next five or 10 minutes. Just a reminder that Vardy and Mahrez are both on the bench and they could have a field day against this Chelsea defence, which continues to look extremely suspect when put under pressure.
54 min I would be surprised if we had seen the last of the goals in this match as both teams continue to commit players in the final third. Just a reminder that we will have a winner tonight so extra-time and penalties will be played if the two teams cannot be separated. End-to-end football at the moment.
52 min BOOKING! Wasilewski (Leicester) is booked for a late challenge on Batshuayi.
50 min Oh my word what a goal! Chelsea level the scores at 2-2 as Azpilicueta finds the top corner with a stunning effort from outside the box. From two goals down, we are now level in this match.
49 min GOAL! Leicester 2-2 Chelsea (Azpilicueta)
49 min SHOT! Super work from Schlupp as the midfielder finds space inside the Chelsea box before attempting to find the bottom corner, but Cahill manages to block his effort wide of the post.
47 min... no changes from either side at the break, which is not too much of a surprise. However, I suspect that both managers will have alterations in mind as the second period develops. Chelsea have an early shot in this second period as Moses sets up Fabregas, but his effort is straight at Zieler.
46 min RESTART! Leicester resume the action here...
What an end to the first period! Leicester were cruising at 2-0 courtesy of a double from Okazaki, but Chelsea are right back in the match after Luiz turned a Cahill header over the line on the stroke of the interval. It has been a brilliant opening 45 minutes of action at the King Power tonight!
45 min+2 HALF-TIME: Leicester 2-1 Chelsea
45 min+2 Chelsea are right back in this match! Cahill is left with a free header from a corner and the centre-back's effort is turned over the line by Luiz, who went flying in with a defender to make sure!
45 min+2 GOAL! Leicester 2-1 Chelsea (Luiz)
45 min+1 Just the one additional minute at the end of the first period.
44 min Chelsea attempt to work the ball into a wide position following a period of possession, but Moses cannot collect and Leicester break immediately down the other end. Still 2-0 to the Foxes here.
42 min Gray works some space outside the Chelsea box before having a go, but his effort is wide.
41 min Defensively, Chelsea have been very poor tonight and that will be a worry for Conte ahead of this weekend's Premier League match with Chelsea. Manchester United have suffered three straight defeats in all competitions and Chelsea are on their way to a second straight loss at the moment.
39 min Little over five minutes of the first period remaining and you wonder whether Conte is considering making changes at the interval. Indeed, Hazard, Willian and Costa are all on the bench tonight.
37 min Loftus-Cheek has a go for Chelsea after finding space outside the Leicester box, but it is a comfortable save for Zieler, who drops low to collect. Chelsea really need to respond.
35 min Leicester score their second of the night as King chips a lovely pass into Okazaki, who smashes the ball into the ground and it bounces over Begovic for his second of the night. What a turn-up here!
34 min GOAL! Leicester 2-0 Chelsea (Okazaki)
34 min Wasilewski is far from first choice at Leicester, but the centre-back has been very impressive aerially in the opening 34 minutes of this match. Indeed, most of the high balls into the Leicester box have been headed clear by the powerful defender. Still just the one goal to report in this one.
31 min Chelsea are just starting to find space in the final third as Moses and Pedro cut inside, but Leicester are managing the game well at the moment as they continue to concede free kicks to stop threatening situations developing. The visitors are pressing for an equaliser with 31 minutes on the clock.
29 min Little over 15 minutes of the first period remaining at the King Power and Leicester still lead courtesy of that close-range header from Okazaki. Chelsea, however, are looking dangerous.
27 min Chelsea are finding it difficult to get Loftus-Cheek in the game at the moment as the England Under-21 international attempts to make his mark in the number 10 position. The visitors have a half-chance when Pedro finds Batshuayi at the far post, but the striker's header is wide.
24 min Just a reminder that N'Golo Kante, who left Leicester for Chelsea in the summer, is on the bench for the visitors tonight. It will be interesting to see what sort of reaction the midfielder receives if he is introduced at some point tonight. Leicester continue to attack down the left side of the field.
22 min Chelsea really need to settle here as Leicester threaten to score a second. The home side actually started this match quite slowly, but they have been brilliant in the last 10 minutes or so here.
20 min Defensively, Chelsea have been very, very poor in the opening 20 minutes of this match. Not what Conte would have been used to at Juventus or the Italian national team, that is for sure.
18 min Leicester make the breakthrough in the 17th minute of this match as Okazaki heads home from close range after Chelsea had failed to deal with a cross from Gray. The referee needed confirmation that the ball had passed the line and received it as Leicester move ahead!
17 min GOAL! Leicester 1-0 Chelsea (Okazaki)
14 min Leicester now have a penalty shout as Musa goes down inside the box under a challenge from Cahill, but once again, the referee is not interested. A mistake from Chelsea had allowed Musa to break through on goal, but Luiz and Cahill just about did enough to close out the frontman.
13 min Leicester are just struggling to get going at the moment as Chelsea continue to look the team more likely to make the breakthrough. We have not seen too much from Loftus-Cheek in the opening 13 minutes of this match, but Pedro and Batshuayi have both been dangerous for the visitors here.
11 min Chelsea have a clear shout for a penalty as Wasilewski handles inside his own box, but the referee is not interested. My word, that was just about as clear as they come. Definite spot kick there.
10 min Half-chance for the visitors as Pedro drives down the left before delivering a low cross to Batshuayi, but Zieler does enough to claim and set up a quick counter-attack. Leicester need to be careful here.
8 min It is Chelsea that are enjoying the better of this match at the moment as they continue to pass and probe in the Leicester half of the field. Pedro in particular has made a very positive start tonight.
5 min GOAL DISALLOWED! Pedro has the ball in the back of the net for Chelsea after collecting a through pass from Luiz before rounding Zieler and finishing, but the offside flag is raised. Replays have shown that it was a very tight call and the Spaniard was very unfortunate there!
4 min Decent work from Gray in a wide position as the Leicester attacker faces up to Alonso before attempting to deliver, but the Chelsea new boy blocks and the ball bounces into Begovic's hands.
2 min Early attempt from Chelsea, but Moses's strike from distance was always too wide.
2 min... it must be said that there is a wonderful atmosphere inside the stadium tonight. This might 'only' be the League Cup, but both managers want to win, that is for sure. Just a reminder that we must have a winner tonight so extra-time and penalties will occur if the sides cannot be separated.
No comments
Post a Comment
Kindly drop a comment below.
(Comments are moderated. Clean comments will be approved immediately)
Advert Enquires - Reach out to us at NigerianEye@gmail.com