Reece
James
scored
the
winning
spot-kick
against
Aston
Villa
in
round
three,
and
it
was
the
wing-back
who
netted
the
decider
again
on
Tuesday.

Once
more
without
the
injured
strike
duo
of
Romelu
Lukaku
and
Timo
Werner,
Chelsea
went
ahead
through
Kai
Havertz,
but
Che
Adams
hit
back
early
in
the
second
half.

Kepa
Arrizabalaga
and
Fraser
Forster
both
then
saved
a
penalty
each
in
the
shoot-out,
yet
it
was
ultimately
Will
Smallbone’s
miss
that
proved
costly
as
the
five-time
winners
progressed.

Chelsea
had
set
the
tone
when
Ross
Barkley
delivered
a
teasing
corner
from
which
Saul
Niguez
forced
Forster
into
a
fine
stop
in
the
sixth
minute.

Havertz
twice
went
close
before
he
punctured
Southampton’s
resolve
on
the
cusp
of
half-time
when
a
defensive
lapse
allowed
the
Germany
international
to
head
home
Hakim
Ziyech’s
corner.

That
lead
lasted
only
two
minutes
into
the
second
half,
however.

Malang
Sarr’s
error
was
pounced
upon
by
Kyle
Walker-Peters,
whose
strike
squirmed
beyond
Kepa
and
into
the
path
of
Adams
for
a
tap-in.

Where
Kepa
failed
at
one
end,
Forster
succeeded
at
the
other,
preventing
Havertz
from
immediately
restoring
Chelsea’s
lead.

Both
goalkeepers
had
to
be
at
their
best
in
stoppage
time
to
force
penalties,
Kepa
saving
from
Lyanco
and
Mohammed
Salisu
before
Forster
kept
out
Sarr’s
effort.

Then,
Kepa
tipped
Theo
Walcott’s
spot-kick
onto
the
post
before
Forster
denied
Mason
Mount
to
cancel
out
Chelsea’s
advantage,
only
for
Smallbone
to
blaze
his
penalty
over,
leaving
James
to
coolly
settle
matters
again.

He
just
loves
a
shootout,
doesn’t
he!
=

pic.twitter.com/h1i4DyBXga
Chelsea
FC
(@ChelseaFC)
October
26,
2021

What
does
it
mean?
History
bodes
well
for
the
Blues

Unlike
in
their
hammering
of
Norwich
City
on
Saturday,
Thomas
Tuchel’s
side
did
miss
the
firepower
of
Lukaku
up
top,
but
they
got
the
job
done
in
the
end.

Chelsea
had
slumped
out
on
penalties
at
this
stage
last
season,
to
Jose
Mourinho’s
Tottenham,
but
put
that
ghost
to
rest.
They
have
now
progressed
from
all
three
of
their
EFL
Cup
ties
against
Southampton.
The
previous
such
meeting
had
come
in
1997-98
–
the
Blues
winning
2-1
at
Stamford
Bridge
en
route
to
lifting
the
trophy.

Goalkeepers
stand
tall

Although
Kepa
will
be
disappointed
by
his
efforts
for
Southampton’s
equaliser,
Chelsea’s
goalkeeper
had
another
solid
game
as
he
continues
to
excel
in
a
back-up
role
to
Edouard
Mendy.

He
made
an
impressive
six
saves,
though
that
was
a
tally
that
was
more
than
doubled
by
his
counterpart
Forster,
who
pulled
off
13
stops
in
total,
including
from
excellent
efforts
from
Saul
in
each
half
and
a
sharp
save
from
Sarr
late
on.

Smallbone
left
wondering
‘what
if?’

Smallbone
could
have
put
Southampton
ahead
with
his
first
touch
after
coming
on
from
the
bench,
if
not
for
Kepa’s
reactions
from
the
midfielder’s
header.

The
youngster
stood
up
to
take
a
spot-kick,
yet
never
looked
like
he
had
the
required
composure,
and
sure
enough
lashed
his
effort
well
over
the
bar.

What’s
next?

Away
games
follow
for
each
of
these
sides
in
the
Premier
League.
Chelsea
travel
to
Newcastle
United,
while
Southampton
face
Claudio
Ranieri’s
Watford.

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Match 20 – October 27 2021, 03-30 PM

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