Match Report
Chelsea 1 v 0 AFCB
19 December 2019
Attendance: 40,432
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| Bournemouth fired up their best effort to attempt to get to their first cup semi-final. |
Bournemouth took Chelsea all the way in this exhilarating Carabao Cup quarter-final, but lost out to the brilliance of Eden Hazard in the 84th minute. The deciding goal was a scrappy and bumbling shot that deflected off Charlie Daniels, and in past Artur Boruc who had been the central pillar against Chelsea's attack. Bournemouth did come close to scoring first when Callum Wilson drove an early shot past the left post on 16 minutes. Bournemouth surrendered possession to hit on the break and Mousset and Wilson were able to stretch Chelsea. The second half meant the introduction of Eden Hazard and Pedro who started to take the game away from Bournemouth, and while Josh King and Ryan Fraser started to offer more moments of excitement, Wilson and Brooks could not find the goal that Eddie Howe's side deserved. With no joy from a late handball shout and a last minute scramble, Bournemouth fell again at the quarter-final stage, but they gave Chelsea a heck of a fright.
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| The game gets underway. |
Bournemouth played a back three of Steve Cook, Simpson and Daniels and Jordan Ibe and Diego Rico fitted in as wing backs, while Ake played in central midfield with Stanislas and Brooks either side of him and Mousset and Wilson up front.
Chelsea had the better of the opening play with an early corner and Boruc forced to save from Willian at his near post.
Rico played a slightly heavy ball up for Wilson who was beaten to it by Kepa in Chelsea's goal. As Chelsea came again it was Willian who cut inside the left and shot from distance making Boruc save low to his right. Emerson then hit a hard shot right at Boruc's mid-rift.
Steve Cook was making the odd misplaced pass, but AFCB were keeping their shape. Ibe was finding ways to block Willian, while Brooks put in a crunching tackle on Chelsea's number 22.
Bournemouth created a great opportunity when Brooks took the ball forward and Wilson and Mousset exchanged passes, before Wilson smashed his shot inches wide of the left post on 16 minutes.
Azpilicueta played a forward ball for Giroud to split the defence, but Giroud was caught on his heels and Boruc got their first.
Aké started to spot the runs of Wilson better, while Rico put in in a cross from the left before Brooks saw his shot saved on 22 minutes.
Mousset was holding his head in his hands when Brooks and Wilson had raced up the pitch and given him the ball on the left. The Frenchman shot firmly, but it was blocked. Stanislas was creating problems just by his dummies on half way.
Boruc was forced into another save when Willian broke free on 31 minutes. As Bournemouth recovered Brooks went down in Chelsea's box, slipping just when he might have scored. Ibe then put in a great run through the middle of the pitch and found Mousset who shot well low to the keeper's right and won a corner.
Giroud was getting frustrated as he was finally flagged offside, and Barkley put a shot high and wide. The half ended with a Bournemouth free kick that came out to Brooks, but his drive was blocked.
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| A great first half from Artur Boruc. |
Second half
Chelsea started well again and Barkley had a deflected shot saved. Steve Cook had to make a full stretch interception to stop Chelsea on the break, while Wilson was simply running into trouble.
Loftus-Cheek then went close with a shot that hit the bottom of the right post on 54 minutes. Pedro was brought on for Willian and Pedro immediately started breaking up play until Brooks put a great tackle in on him.
Loftus-Cheek then went close with a shot that hit the bottom of the right post on 54 minutes. Pedro was brought on for Willian and Pedro immediately started breaking up play until Brooks put a great tackle in on him.
Eden Hazard then came on for Barkley on the hour, while Stanislas was replaced by Ryan Fraser. Fraser sped down the left to get a cross in that Kepa had to do well to hang on to with Wilson closing. Mousset and Wilson were linking well.
Fabregas tried to get on the end of move involving Hazard and Pedro, but he ballooned his shot over. Steve Cook and Simpson were winning headers and making blocks.
Fraser then shot over with 20 minutes to go. Hazard could only shoot wide at the other end.
Fraser then shot over with 20 minutes to go. Hazard could only shoot wide at the other end.
A change was made by Bournemouth with Mousset replaced by Josh King. The pace was increasing as the game headed towards a climax. Wilson claimed for a handball when he could not get a clean shot off, but the referee only awarded a corner.
Brouc saved well again from Hazard on 77 minutes. But when Wilson and a defender competed for a ball in Chelsea's box, the decision went the defender's way.
Chelsea took off Christensen and brought on David Luiz on 81 minutes. In the next three minutes Chelsea would win the game with a break on the left, and Hazard's half-hit shot that flashed past Brouc off Daniels to give Chelsea the lead on 84 minutes.
Bournemouth brought on Defoe for Brooks with just two minutes to go. Steve Cook blasted a shot from a corner that deflected but straight into the arms of Kepa. Four minutes of extra-time had plenty of drama with Boruc having to save well from Hazard and with Ake putting a crunching tackle on Luiz Bournemouth pressed for an equaliser.
Bournemouth brought on Defoe for Brooks with just two minutes to go. Steve Cook blasted a shot from a corner that deflected but straight into the arms of Kepa. Four minutes of extra-time had plenty of drama with Boruc having to save well from Hazard and with Ake putting a crunching tackle on Luiz Bournemouth pressed for an equaliser.
A last minute goal mouth scramble saw Wilson and Fraser have shots blocked but the whistle went before another shot could be struck.
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| Chelsea survive a late salvo of shots from Bournemouth. |
Summary
It was just a pleasure to be there to see Bournemouth compete and at times out play a Chelsea side. It was quite a performance with Boruc making heroic saves, while Mousset and Wilson had us on the edge of our seats awaiting a break through. It was a superb game for the neutral and it hardly stopped for free kicks. Bournemouth still lack that bit of luck in front of goal. The tie had looked destined for penalties until Hazard's late intervention. It was another hard luck story for Eddie Howe's men but they can be really proud of their performance again at Stamford Bridge as it was excellent entertainment and a very close game.
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| AFCB Subs: Travers, Mings, Surman, Pugh, King, Fraser, Defoe |
AFCB Ratings
Boruc 9, S Cook 6, Simpson 7, Daniels 6, Ibe 6, Brooks 8, Aké 7, Stanislas 6, Rico 6, Mousset 8, Wilson 8
Cherry Chimes' MoM: Artur Boruc
Ref Watch - Anthony Taylor: 4/10 Let the game flow but didn't want to make any big decisions.
Chelsea
Arrizabalaga, Azpilicueta, Rüdiger, Christensen (David Luiz 81), Emerson, Kovacic, Fàbregas, Barkley (E Hazard 61), Loftus-Cheek, Giroud, Willian (Pedro 55)Chelsea Subs
Caballero, Zappacosta, Luiz, Kanté, E Hazard, Pedro, Hudson-Odoi
Brooks was the star outfield player, what a performance. Stanislas a bit off the pace. The officials did miss the handball and Wilson was justified in pursuing the ref for the call. Ibe, of whom I have been critical, sir you played very well. You had a huge task and did very well to contain Willian. My only negative was Daniels still not the player he once was, and would like to see one of either Rico (preference) or Daniels. Seems both vying for the same position. On Saturday Lerma could then be accommodated. Simpson deserves to keep his place. Frazer for Stanislas and I believe we should have a better balance. Well done King Eddie for at last moving Ake to midfield; this protected the defence and as he grew into the role allowed play to develop.
ReplyDeleteWell played the Cherries, you made us proud -even if the result went against us this time.
I saw the "handball incident" and it probably wasn't a handball as it hit his thigh first and flicked up to his arm that was by his chest.
ReplyDelete