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)
41 minutes
How has Georges-Kevin Nkoudou not scored?
With Palace a man down he is left completely alone level with the wall away from the free kick taker Kieran Trippier.
Trippier feeds him and Nkoudou should sweep home, but twice Julian Speroni denies two lacklustre efforts from the Frenchman.
PENALTY! Juan Foyth goes down under the challenge from Patrick Van Aanholt and Kevin Friend again points to the spot!
That's a penalty, too. VAR is checking but Foyth has turned marker Van Aanholt, and the Dutchman has caught the Spurs centre-half.
VAR confirms as such.
Kieran Trippier will have the opportunity to get Spurs back in it...
HE MISSES! Julian Speroni guess right, is right, but isn't required! A yard wide from Trippier. Poor pen, and it remains 2-0 to Crystal Palace.
An awful week from 12 yards for Tottenham.
A poor week for Tottenham continues. Connor Wickham returned to goalscoring form as Palace took an early lead, before their wing-backs each had a moment to forget as the half went from bad to worse.
First Kyle Walker-Peters' extended arm batted the ball away from Connor Wickham to allow Andros Townsend the second from the penalty spot, before Kieran Trippier continued their penalty woes from the Carabao Cup defeat at Chelsea, side-footing wide from twelve yards after Patrick Van Aanholt fouled Juan Foyth.
Without Harry Kane, Dele Alli, Heung-Min Son AND Christian Eriksen, Trippier was the option from the spot for Spurs, but he continued a very disappointing season with another disappointing moment.
It should be noted that Kieran Trippier had to wait a while before stepping up to take that penalty. First VAR had to confirm the foul (although such was the stonewall nature of the penalty that that didn't take long) and then the wind blew the ball from the spot.
A delay is not what you want when you're down on your luck and the thoughts are swirling in your head, particularly if you aren't a typical penalty taker.
There's hope for Tottenham still. Plenty of time left, and it sounds like Erik Lamela may be introduced at half-time as they plot a route back in to the game.
Crystal Palace will be hoping for more of the same.
Team News - Chelsea vs Sheffield Wednesday
Gonzalo Higuain and Callum Hudson-Odoi both START for Chelsea.
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