On Wednesday, March 2nd, 2022 as Chelsea is dealing with a serious issue off of the pitch, the Chelsea football club got themselves in hot water multiple times on the field as they fell behind a much lesser team not only once but two – times during a close match in the FA Cup.
Eventually the highest – paid football player of the Roman Abramovich era just so happened to bail Chelsea out of some trouble in this contest.
Romelu Lukaku finalized Chelsea’s comeback as he scored the game winning goal during the 78th – minute as the European champs defeated the second – tier home team, Luton, with a final tally of 3 to 2 in order for Chelsea to advance to the quarterfinals of the FA Cup.
Other clubs moving on in the tournament from the 5th – round were Liverpool, who defeated Norwich 2 to 1, as well as Southampton, a 3 to 1 victor versus West Ham, in an entirely English Premier League (EPL) match – ups.
Chelsea’s players took the field at Kenilworth Road Stadium, located in Luton, England, approximately only 1 – hour following Abramovich making his shocking announcement that he was looking to sell the Chelsea football club following a total of 19 – years in control of the team, as he faces the imminent danger of financial sanctions targeting wealthy Russians as Ukraine was just recently invaded by Russia.
“You’re getting sold in the morning,” the home side fans of Luton were loudly chanting.
Saul Niguez scored the equalizing goal during the 27th – minute, but Luton ultimately regained the lead back during the 40th – minute of game action as Harry Cornick methodically ran through Chelsea’s defense in order to side – foot home a smooth goal score for Luton.
Timo Werner followed that up by gaining Chelsea’s 2nd – equalizer during the 68th – minute of the match prior to the crossing for Lukaku to slot in with just 12 – minutes left in this highly – contested game between Luton and the heavily – favored Chelsea football club.
“There was some noise today around the club, of course, so it was not so easy to focus,” Chelsea’s head coach Thomas Tuchel explained, “but we did very well I think.”
“In the very short term,” Tuchel goes on to say, “for us as a team, staff and players, hopefully (it will change) not too much. Maybe even it will change nothing. But the situation is now out there and a big situation.”
In Other Action from the FA Cup
Only 4 – days after they beat Chelsea during the League Cup final, Liverpool stayed on course for an unimaginable quadruple of trophies with a 2nd – victory against Norwich over the course of 11 – days.
Jurgen Klopp managed a profoundly rotated squad that featured 10 – changes as one of them, Takumi Minamino, scored both of their goals during the 27th as well as the 39th – minute of this contest.
Liverpool reached the FA Cup quarterfinals for the very 1st – time under the control and dictation of Klopp, whose team is currently sitting in 2nd – place in the English Premier League, and they are presently on schedule to advance to the Champions League quarterfinals as well.
Norwich, who was defeated by Liverpool 2 – times in the league, including as most recent as last month (February of 2022), and in the League Cup, scored a goal via Lukas Rupp during the 76th – minute of match play.
Southampton made a whole bunch of changes too, a total of 9 of them, versus West Ham, but they still came through in a big way with their substitute, Armando Broja, scoring a goal as well as drawing a penalty that was dispatched by James Ward – Prowse.
Manchester City, Crystal Palace, and the second – tier football club of Middlesbrough all advanced on Tuesday, March 1st, 2022 whereas Everton hosts the non – league squad of Boreham Wood on Thursday, March 3rd, 2022.
Sources:
Douglas, Steve. “Amid off – field crisis, Chelsea rallies to advance in FA Cup”. The Associated Press. March 2, 2022.