Chelsea beat Tottenham on penalties to advance to Carabao Cup final after overturning first leg defeat
Chelsea answered Maurizio Sarri's criticism to advance to the Carabao Cup final with a 4-2 penalty shootout victory over Tottenham after a frenetic clash at Stamford Bridge.
Spurs, who had been seeking a first trophy since the 2008 League Cup, saw their slender first-leg advantage wiped out by a N'Golo Kante strike which went through the legs of Moussa Sissoko and Paulo Gazzaniga.
And Eden Hazard - labelled an "individual player" and "not a leader" by Sarri on Wednesday - netted following a flowing move to give Chelsea a 2-1 aggregate lead.
Fernando Llorente's header levelled the tie and penalties followed as neither side could find a winner inside 90 minutes, leaving them locked at 2-2 after two legs.
Eric Dier sent Spurs' third penalty soaring into the Matthew Harding Stand and, after Jorginho put Chelsea in front, Lucas Moura's weak spot kick was saved by Kepa Arrizabalaga.
David Luiz kept his composure to drill low into the net as Chelsea reached the February 24 final with Manchester City, giving Sarri a chance to claim his first managerial silverware. The wait goes on for Mauricio Pochettino. Re-live the action below:
Chelsea's form of late has been, well, disappointing to put it lightly. After losing the first leg against Tottenham then being beaten by Arsenal, Maurizio Sarri has called for a reaction from his players.
"I think we need to react on the pitch," he said. "All the rest is nothing. We discussed with the players how to try to improve their approach, the motivation, the determination. We are trying to change some things in training. We all have to react on the pitch."
Mauricio Pochettino says it will be tough for Tottenham to hold onto their 1-0 first leg advantage.
"We are close to achieving the final. Then it's the FA Cup, Champions League and Premier League. Of course always our priority is the next game and tomorrow is our priority for sure."
"It's going to be a different game," he added. "Different competition and different circumstances. Until last season it was a very bad record, I think it was 27 years since Tottenham won there. Of course why not win again? Always I am positive. After the game maybe I will tell you too much positive. But I am always positive and optimistic, I trust in my players and squad and for sure we are going to fight and try to give our best to try to be in the final at Wembley."
"He's a wonderful player and it's important you play him in the right position," Jamie Redknapp.
"He's the best player I've played with. I feel he's got another level still and his best years are in front of him. Plating off the left gives him the freedom to get the ball. For me I'm playing him off the left." Joe Cole.
3 mins: While Sarri has given in to playing a striker, Giroud, there is no rest in asking Kante to press. The French midfielder is on of the players furthest up the pitch as Tottenham get a feel for possession early in the game.
5 mins: Spurs stand off Pedro and the winger takes the invitation to run towards the box from the left. With close control he finds space to shoot but his low effort is blocked by Alderweireld.
7 mins: Dier goes in with a trademark Eric Dier tackle, think of that challenge on Sergio Ramos when England played Spain. A foul is given but that's all, it seems from Martin Atkinson.
13 mins: Hazard receives the ball on the left and draws a foul after running at Alderweireld in what seems a massive justification in playing him out wide.
Anyway, Hazard's clipped cross from the free kick is acrobatically met by Giroud. The effort sends the ball back into the mix and Rudiger can't seem to convert. Meanwhile, there's players falling to the floor all over the place, could we see a penalty for shoving in the area at some point? Don't count it out.
31 mins: Davies is struggling with an injury and Tottenham have a problem here. A physio assessment is that he can't continue and Rose is brought on in his place.
Chelsea vs Tottenham gets underway at Stamford Bridge at 19:45 GMT on Thursday 24 January.
Where to watch?
Sky Sports will be showing live coverage on Sky Sports Football from 19:00 and on Sky Sports Main Event from 19:40.
Sky Sports customers can stream the match online via the Sky Go app.
Do away goals count?
The tie will not be decided by the number of away goals scored if the tie is level at the end of the game. The match will go straight to penalties if the score is level after 90 minutes.
