Chelsea vs Tottenham LIVE: Carabao Cup result, final score and reaction after Ben Davies’ own goal
Follow live reaction from Stamford Bridge in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final between the London rivals
Chelsea seized control of their league cup semi-final against Tottenham Hotspur, beating their London rivals 2-0 in the first leg on Wednesday thanks to an early strike by Kai Havertz and an own goal by Spurs defender Ben Davies.
The Blues swamped their visitors right from the kickoff and, after a mix-up in the Spurs defence in the fifth minute, Havertz fired an angled shot that was goal-bound before it went in off the foot of Davinson Sanchez.
Half an hour later, the dominant hosts got their second goal, albeit with a slice of luck, when Japhet Tanganga headed away a Hakim Ziyech free kick, only for the ball to rebound into the Spurs net off Davies’ shoulder.
The win dented the hopes of Spurs, under former Chelsea coach Antonio Conte, of winning a first trophy since lifting the league cup in 2008. In that time, Chelsea have won 12 major trophies including three Premier League and two Champions League titles.
Chelsea coach Thomas Tuchel restored record signing Romelu Lukaku to the team having dropped him for Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Liverpool as punishment for the Belgian saying in an interview that he was unhappy with his role at Stamford Bridge.
Lukaku went close with a first-half header, created a chance for Ziyech after the break which the Moroccan wasted and hit an injury-time shot straight at Hugo Lloris.
Chelsea ease past lacklustre Tottenham to put one foot in Carabao Cup final
Chelsea have one foot in the Carabao Cup Final after a convincing 2-0 win that was as much earned as gifted.
Taking advantage of a distantly lacklustre Tottenham Hotspur, who produced perhaps their worst performance under Antonio Conte, the 2019 winners bossed the opening 45 minutes before managing the second.
The only blemish, perhaps, that they did not seize the opportunity to kill off the two-legged tie in this opening stanza.
Chelsea ease past lacklustre Tottenham to put one foot in Carabao Cup final
Chelsea 2-0 Tottenham: Havertz struck early and Davies put through his own net in the semi-final first leg
Reaction from Chelsea’s Hakim Ziyech
Hakim Ziyech put in a man of the match performance to help the Blues take a two-goal lead over Tottenham after the first of two fixtures in this Carabao Cup semi-final tie. Ziyech spoke to Sky Sports after the match saying:
It was a good performance for the team - strong first half, second half was a little bit up and down but overall a good performance.
“The second half they had chances as well, we had bigger chances, but 2-0, we can be happy with that.
“We put pressure on them, don’t give them the space and time, I think we did good the first half especially.
“We had four at the back, normally we have five, so that gave us more opportunities up front – they didn’t know whether to follow the midfielders or step out.
“We forgot to finish the game, a lot of chances, hopefully we get the job done there.”
Chelsea vs Tottenham player ratings: Saul and Hakim Ziyech impress as Blues earn first-leg lead
Chelsea have a two-goal lead at the halfway point in the Carabao Cup semi-final after Tottenham’s first-half defensive deficiencies proved telling.
Kai Havertz scored the opener just minutes in after a poor pass out of the back line was intercepted, with the second a comedy of errors with Japhet Tanganga heading an attempted clearance straight into Ben Davies, who was credited with the own goal.
Here’s how the players rated in a good evening for Chelsea:
Chelsea vs Tottenham player ratings as Saul and Ziyech impress
Chelsea 2-0 Tottenham: Tuchel’s side halfway to Wembley after a strike from Havertz and a Davies own goal
Chelsea 2 - 0 Tottenham
After his interview with Sky Sports Italy in which Romelu Lukaku spoke about potentially leaving Chelsea for a return to Italy, the Blues supporters will be pleased with the performance he put in tonight. Manager Thomas Tuchel has drawn a line under the incident and Lukaku repaid his boss’s faith with a solid, intense performance at the head of the line.
Chelsea vs Tottenham: Five things we learned as Thomas Tuchel wins the tactical battle
Chelsea beat Tottenham 2-0 in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg on Wednesday night to make them clear favourites to reach Wembley.
The Blues threatened through the returning Romelu Lukaku within 30 seconds, but it took a further four minutes for the opener to arrive via Kai Havertz, after a series of poor defensive choices from the Tottenham players.
If those were poor defensive moments, the second goal was merely farcical, as Japhet Tanganga headed a free-kick straight into team-mate Ben Davies and the ball bounced in past Hugo Lloris.
Five things we learned as Chelsea beat Spurs and Tuchel wins tactical battle
Chelsea 2-0 Tottenham: Two first-half goals put the Blues in the driving seat for a Wembley appearance
Chelsea 2 - 0 Tottenham
No goals in the second half at Stamford Bridge as Tottenham hung in there against an impressive Chelsea side. Timo Werner and Romelu Lukaku both had good opportunities to give Chelsea a third goal but the best chance of the half fell to Giovani Lo Celso who was denied from close range by Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Full-time: Chelsea 2 - 0 Tottenham
90+4 mins: It’s all over! Chelsea win 2-0 at Stamford Bridge and take advantage of this semi-final tie. Tottenham will have a difficult task ahead of them in the second leg next Wednesday but it’s not an impossible one.
So far so good though for Thomas Tuchel’s men.
Chelsea 2 - 0 Tottenham
90+2 mins: Chance! Kovacic picks out Werner in the ‘D’ and he slips a short pass into the box for Lukaku. The forward shoots on the spin and hits low effort at goal but there’s little power behind the effort and Lloris has no trouble keeping it out.
Chelsea 2 - 0 Tottenham
90 mins: Harvey Vale makes his first appearance for Chelsea as he comes on to replace the injured Cesar Azpilicueta. Christian Pulisic has dropped back to play at right-back with the youngster slotting into the midfield.
Four minutes of added time to play.
Chelsea 2 - 0 Tottenham
87 mins: Marcos Alonso is the one to take the free kick and he goes for for but drills his effort straight into the Tottenham wall.
Save! Azpilicueta is hobbling around clutching his hamstring but Spurs play on targeting Chelsea’s right side. Bryan Gil weaves into the box and lays the ball off to Lo Celso. He shoots first time and forces a sharp save out of Kepa Arrizabalaga. The ball bounces back into play but narrowly evades Ndombele and Chelsea boot the ball clear.
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