Report as two late goals give Chelsea FA Cup victory over Leicester; Marc Cucurella and Cole Palmer put Blues 2-0 up; Axel Disasi’s own goal and Stephy Mavididi level at 2-2 before late strikes; follow the semi-final draw on the Sky Sports website and app after Man Utd vs Liverpool
By Charlotte Marsh, Senior football journalist
Late goals from Carney Chukwuemeka and Noni Madueke spared Chelsea’s blushes as they battled to a 4-2 victory against Leicester, booking their spot in the FA Cup semi-finals.
It was an action-packed, entertaining cup encounter at Stamford Bridge – the first time the two sides had met in the competition since Leicester’s win in the 2021 final at Wembley.
But as has been the case far too often this season, Chelsea let a first-half lead slip through their fingers. Marc Cucurella (13) and Cole Palmer (45+1) had found the net, and Raheem Sterling missed a penalty to further add to the tally.
It left Chelsea in a precarious position and Leicester were offered a lifeline as Axel Disasi (51) spooned the ball into his own net. Soon after, a superb curling effort from Stephy Mavididi (62) deservedly levelled for the Foxes.
But they ended up with 10 players after a VAR check on what had initially been a penalty to Chelsea and a yellow card to Callum Doyle. However, the foul on Nicolas Jackson occurred just outside the box, changing the application of the laws, and therefore was upgraded to a red card for the Man City loanee.
Sections of the Stamford Bridge crowd booed both Sterling and Mauricio Pochettino as nerves frayed, but it was then the two substitutes Chukwuemeka (90+2) and Madueke (90+8) – the latter’s a stunning effort – that prevented the game from heading into extra-time and put Chelsea’s name into the hat for the semi-final draw later on Sunday.
How Chelsea battled past Leicester
After an early Chelsea effort was flicked onto the post, the Blues went ahead inside 13 minutes. A superb run from Jackson carved open the Leicester back line, easily beating Jannick Vestergaard. It was then a simple squared ball for the unmarked Cucurella at the back post to tap in.
But as Leicester began to find their feet, a rash moment from the Abdul Fatawu handed Chelsea a penalty as he tackled Sterling from behind. The Blues forward took the spot-kick himself – rather than Palmer – but it was a tame effort and easily saved by Leicester goalkeeper Jakub Stolarczyk.
Sterling’s afternoon didn’t get any better either when, just before the break, he missed a glaring one-on-one effort. He raced through on goal after a fine Moises Caicedo pass, but fired his shot well wide of the leaping… complete the sentence faction.
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