EFL Cup: Chelsea progress on penalties to beat Newcastle
Chelsea 1 - 1 Newcastle United (Chelsea win 4-2 on penalties)
Kieran Trippier had a nightmarish experience at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea secured a spot in the Carabao Cup semi-finals through a penalty shootout.
Despite Callum Wilson's 16th-minute goal appearing to propel Newcastle into the last four, substitute Mykhailo Mudryk seized on the veteran defender's mistake deep into stoppage time, leading to the match heading to penalties.
Trippier, who has recently struggled with a dip in form, widened Newcastle's second penalty, and with keeper Djordje Petrovic saving Matt Ritchie's spot-kick, Chelsea transitioned from the brink of defeat to the joy of reaching the semi-finals.
It was a harsh outcome for Trippier, a key figure under manager Eddie Howe, whose moment of indecision on a header provided Chelsea with the lifeline Mudryk capitalized on.
Chelsea's Cole Palmer, Conor Gallagher, Christopher Nkunku, and Mudryk all scored in the shootout, while only Callum Wilson and Bruno Guimaraes converted penalties for Newcastle, compounding their disappointment after exiting the Champions League.
The draw for the semi-finals will occur after the Liverpool vs. West Ham match on Wednesday, with the first leg scheduled for the week commencing January 8.
Trippier mistake costs Newcastle
Trippier, a pivotal figure for Newcastle during the resurgence under Howe, is currently enduring a challenging period on and off the pitch. Having been implicated in all three goals conceded in the Everton defeat and struggling in the loss to Tottenham, his hesitation in a header during stoppage time proved costly in this match.
Introduced at halftime for the injured Emil Krafth, Trippier's hesitation led to Mudryk's decisive goal. The defeat, snatching away a heroic victory, left Newcastle players in despair, and Trippier's penalty miss in front of the visiting fans added to the bitter conclusion.
Despite their resilient effort and the added setback of Anthony Gordon joining the injury list, Newcastle had a legitimate grievance that Chelsea should have been reduced to 10 men early on, following Moises Caicedo's reckless challenge on Gordon.
This marks a challenging week for Newcastle and Howe, as their Champions League and EFL Cup aspirations came to an end. Now, Howe must rally his team for the festive period and refocus their efforts on pursuing a top-four spot in the Premier League.
The best reaction from Newcastle
This is how the Newcastle account responded to the defeat. They posted: "With us through the ups and downs, thank you for your terrific support at Stamford Bridge this evening."
With us through the ups and downs, thank you for your terrific support at Stamford Bridge this evening. 🖤🤍
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) December 19, 2023
Safe journey home and we'll see you at the weekend. pic.twitter.com/6zQtRy3vy4
Geoff, a Newcastle fan, messaged European Super Football on Facebook: "I'm really sad to be honest. I thought there was another opportunity to visit Wembley with my beloved Newcaste. Unfortunately, it wasn't to be."
Click here to find and explore more news and reaction from Newcastle United fans.
What are Chelsea fans saying?
Lauren, a Chelsea fan who lives in Greater Manchester, spoke with us. She said: "I know we only won on penalties, but that was a fantastic performance from us. We created a lot of chances and played really well. I really think winning this competition could be a huge turning point for the entire club."
Gary @433Gary replied to the following tweet: "I just love that Broja, Jackson, and Nkunku really shine when you pair two of them at a time."
I just love that Broja, Jackson, and Nkunku really shine when you pair two of them at a time
— Gary (@433Gary) December 20, 2023
