FA Cup | Chelsea book fourth round place after beating Norwich on penalties
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After Pedro and Alvaro Morata were both sent off in extra time for Chelsea, the Blues maintained their composure in the shootout to see off Norwich City 5-3 and book a place in the 4th round of the Cup. In the other games, Swansea were able to overcome Wolves while Bournemouth were ousted by Wigan.
Chelsea 1 – 1 Norwich City (Chelsea win on penalties)
Chelsea’s torrid run of form continued in the FA Cup as well as they had to go all the way to penalties to oust Norwich from the FA Cup. It was Chelsea who made a quick start to the game with Danny Drinkwater and William going close to open the count on the night early on. However, the best chance of the game fell for Cesar Azpilicueta who found himself free at the far post from a Tiemoue Bakayoko flick on but couldn’t get a touch on the ball. After Drinkwater hit the bar with a long-range effort, Nelson Oliveira matched the same at the other end but both teams entered the break with the scores still level.Â
Ten minutes into the second half, some lax defending by Norwich allowed Michy Batshuayi to put the hosts into the lead with a tap-in from the close range. After the visitors went close with a couple of well-constructed chances, they found their equalizer in injury time when Jamal Lewis flicked in a Timm Klose cross to force the game into extra time. No team was able to grab the initiative in the added 30 minutes but before the penalty shootout could begin Chelsea saw both Pedro and Alvaro Morata, who had come in as a second-half substitute, sent off. But Chelsea held their nerve in the shootout and with Nelson Oliveira missing his spot-kick, it was the Blues who booked their place in the next round of the FA Cup.
Swansea City 2 - 1 Wolverhampton Wanderers
Premier League strugglers, Swansea City, took on Championship toppers Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Liberty Stadium to decide who went ahead into the fourth round of the FA Cup. It was the Premier League side that grabbed the early initiative as Jordan Ayew picked up the ball 25 yards from goal, danced all across the Wolves backline, and came up with a consummate finish to put his side in the lead. The Swans had a great chance to double their lead in the first half but Connor Roberts, who was put through on goal, hit his shot straight at the keeper.Â
After the interval, it was all Wolves. After creating a couple of openings that went begging, the visitors found their leveller in the 66th minute, through substitute Diogo Jota, who beat Federico Fernandez with a fake before beating Kristoffer Nordfeldt at the near post. However, that wasn’t the end of the scoring on the night as three minutes later a cross from the left wing fell to the feet of Wilfried Bony in the penalty box and the Ivorian made no mistake in finishing it off.Â
In the third match of the night, Wigan Athletic stunned Premier league side Bournemouth 3-0 at the DW Stadium.
