Chelsea see off Sheffield Wednesday on Gonzalo Higuain debut
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Callum Hudson-Odoi scored on what could be his final Chelsea appearance and Willian netted twice as the holders advanced with a 3-0 FA Cup fourth-round win over Sheffield Wednesday at Stamford Bridge.
Hudson-Odoi started despite reportedly submitting a transfer request in an effort to force through a move to Bayern Munich ahead of Thursday's transfer deadline and the 18-year-old winger netted Chelsea's second after 64 minutes.
Until that moment, an official sitting 14 miles away in Stockley Park had been the most influential person on the contest, despite the fact Gonzalo Higuain was making his Chelsea debut.
Wednesday had a penalty overturned by Video Assistant Referee Graham Scott after 22 minutes and Chelsea had a spot-kick awarded four minutes later, Willian converting from the spot, after referee Andre Marriner's decision had been confirmed by VAR.
Willian added a late third as the Blues advanced to the fifth round.
Higuain made his first appearance and Hudson-Odoi potentially his last as Chelsea made eight changes following last Thursday's win over Tottenham which saw them advance to the Carabao Cup final.
Wednesday's defence offered up a greater resistance than the England batting line-up their incoming boss Steve Bruce has witnessed in the Caribbean.
Bruce insisted on fulfilling his promise to go on a family holiday following the death of both his parents last year and watched England's 381-run first Test loss in Barbados ahead of taking up his role at Hillsborough from Friday.
Cricket's Decision Review System has largely been a success, but VAR has had its moments. On this occasion it was right, frustrating nearly 6,000 visiting fans.
When Joey Pelupessy surged through to try to meet Steven Fletcher's pass, Ethan Ampadu slid in and won the ball before being kicked by the Wednesday midfielder. Marriner's award of a penalty was swiftly overturned by VAR.
Play restarted with a dropped ball, as per the rules, which Wednesday did not contest. Soon they had conceded a spot-kick.
Blues academy graduate Sam Hutchinson trod on Cesar Azpilicueta. Marriner's decision was reviewed, but there was no doubt.
Willian appeared to offer the spot-kick to Higuain, who declined, before the Brazilian sent goalkeeper Keiren Westwood the wrong way for his 50th Chelsea goal.
The hosts celebrated in front of the Shed End, packed with visiting fans, some of whom took exception, with missiles thrown.
Higuain until that pointed had lurked menacingly. He had one half-chance after a pass from Mateo Kovacic. He turned and shot, but the ball deflected wide.
The 31-year-old striker, who had the best goalscoring season of his career under Sarri at Napoli, netting 36 times in 35 Serie A games, dropped deeper and deeper as the first half progressed in search of the ball, while Hudson-Odoi was a peripheral figure.
Chelsea, as usual under Sarri, dominated possession, but little was created with the ball in the final third, while Wednesday's best chance was a mishit cross by Adam Reach which hit the outside of a post.
The Blues' lack of killer instinct has become a familiar frustration for the Italian, one he believes Higuain can solve. He had half chances when a Willian cross was deflected away from him and heading an Ampadu cross just wide.
Chelsea scored their second when Andreas Christensen's long pass found Hudson-Odoi on the right. He checked inside, wrong-footing Morgan Fox, and struck a shot which deceived Westwood. His second Chelsea goal could be his last.
Chelsea had a third when Willian played a one-two with Olivier Giroud, on for Higuain, and passed the ball in.
A Giroud overhead kick went wide and Willian shot off target late on, missing out on a hat-trick.
PA
What time does it start?
Chelsea vs Sheffield Wednesday kicks off at 6:00pm (GMT) on Sunday 27th January.
Where can I watch it?
Chelsea vs Sheffield Wednesday will be shown live on BBC One from 5:45pm (GMT).
Highlights will be shown at 10:30pm on BBC One.
Player to watch…
Gonzalo Higuain: The former Real Madrid striker signed on-loan from Juventus until the end of the season, with an option to extend the loan for another season for £15.6 million, or buy him permanently for £31.3 million.
The 31-year-old played under Sarri at Napoli, and the Italian manager will be hoping the Argentinian hits the ground running, with Alvaro Morata and Olivier Giroud both struggling for form.
Form guide…
Chelsea: DWLWLW
Sheffield Wednesday: DDDLWW
Odds…
Chelsea to win: 2/9
Sheffield Wednesday to win: 21/2
Draw: 27/5
(Odds provided by 888 Sport)
GOAL! Crystal Palace 1-0 Tottenham Hotspur (Connor Wickham, 9 minutes)
Back in the starting lineup, back on the scoresheet!
Jeffrey Schlupp moves beyond a slumbering Davinson Sanchez and shows impressive pace to surge past the Colombian.
He doesn't hit his right-footed shot across goal particularly cleanly, and Paulo Gazzaniga gets down well to save, but the goalkeeper's parry only takes the ball in to Connor Wickham's path.
The Palace striker is just about behind the ball as Schlupp hits his shot and simply cannot miss, albeit turning home with his knee.
12 minutes
A perfect start then for the home side.
The Tottenham back-three haven't played a huge amount of football in combination previously and look a little uncomfortable so far.
Andros Townsend tests Kyle Walker-Peters on the outside and earns a corner off the wing-back, though the final touch came off the Crystal Palace winger.
13 minutes
Twice Palace rattle the legs of Tottenham blockers from the corner, before Patrick Van Aanholt's pass for Wilfried Zaha just rolls out of play as the Ivorian looks to cross.
15 minutes
Spurs settling back in to their passing game, with Palace slipping in to a midfield five and preventing their opponents moving the ball between the lines easily.
Juan Foyth is whistled for a lunge on Cheikhou Kouyate. He wins the ball, but he has to be careful. A touch reckless, though Kevin Friend is satisfied it is solely a foul.
17 minutes
"Glad All Over" chant the Palace fans, as well they might. The home crowd has been in impressive voice so far, and they are lifting their team, who are scrapping for every ball with vigour.
18 minutes
A ball inside from Fernando Llorente opens space up for Lucas Moura, and with the defence withheld the Brazilian fancies a shot.
He hits it well, with the ball flying over Julian Speroni's outstretched fingertips and just over the bar.
19 minutes
At the other end it is Patrick Van Aanholt who sees space open in front of him. The left-back strikes his effort equally firmly, and Paulo Gazzaniga does well to hold it down to his right at the first attempt with players waiting for a rebound.
A first goal in 799 days for Connor Wickham to put Crystal Palace ahead.
22 minutes
A floated cross from Kieran Trippier looks innocuous but Julian Speroni fails to come and claim, forcing Martin Kelly to clear hurriedly with Fernando Llorente moving ominously towards the ball.
24 minutes
Oliver Skipp is not the quickest and an overhit pass by Georges-Kevin Nkoudou allows Andros Townsend to beat the young midfielder to the ball.
Skipp responds well, however, tracking Townsend's resulting forward surge well and preventing him from making significant progress, timing an intervention well.
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