It turned out alright in the end, didn’t it!
After a pulsating Carabao Cup semi-final second leg, Chelsea made it to the final courtesy of a dramatic penalty shoot-out.
The spectacular conclusion to the tie left me, and a lot of other Chelsea supporters I’m guessing, unable to sleep, with the adrenalin level at a high.
Beating Tottenham is always great but to do it in a semi-final was something special.
Tottenham may insist they were beset with injuries and Son on international duty, but you can only beat what’s put in front of you, as they say.
Chelsea dominated the first half and went into the break leading 2-0, courtesy of goals from N’Gola Kante and Eden Hazard.
It looked for all the world that Chelsea had this tie in the bag and would go on to score more in the second half.
However, Tottenham had other ideas and a formation change, at the break, saw Llorente get them back into the game.
At 2-2, on aggregate, it was a game either side could win.
Both sides had chances, both sides failed to take them.
With the regulations stipulating that extra-time or away goals don’t come into play, we went into a dreaded penalty shoot-out.
Tottenham Hotspur got the spectacle underway, but it was Chelsea that were to sparkle. Two misses by Tottenham gave David Luiz, with the fourth penalty, the chance to win it.
The Brazilian made no mistake and stroked the ball home, sending Stamford Bridge ecstatic.
Maurizio Sarri, in reaching the final, becomes the fourth Chelsea manager to take Chelsea to a League Cup final, following in the footsteps of Vialli, Mourinho and Grant.
Manchester City await us, it’ll be a tough ask, but anything can happen in a Wembley final.
Enjoy the moment and if, like me, you work in an office where there is more than the occasional Tottenham fan, give it to them large!
Up the Chels!
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Match Day Moments – Carabao Cup Semi-Final Second Leg – Tottenham (H)