Chelsea 5 Manchester United 4 (After extra time)
Cue the Halloween puns after youngster Scott Wootton’s nightmare moments helped Chelsea into the League Cup quarter-finals despite their own defensive horror show.
They came from behind three times before scoring twice in extra time to reach the last eight in a dramatic clash at Stamford Bridge.
Inexplicable errors led to first-half goals for Ryan Giggs and then – after David Luiz had equalised for the Blues with a penalty – Javier Hernandez.
And after Manchester United were pegged back again, this time by Gary Cahill’s 52nd-minute header, Nani capitalised on more shoddy defending to put them back in front just before the hour mark.
But Wootton panicked during what should have been the final seconds of the match, bundling over Ramires with substitute Eden Hazard netting the resulting penalty to force extra time.
And another error by Wootton enabled Daniel Sturridge to put Chelsea in front before Ramires’ late fifth.
Wootton’s attempted header back to his keeper fell straight to the Chelsea forward, who had the simple task of rounding Anders Lindegaard and tapping into an unguarded net.
Ramires did the same after being beautifully set up by Hazard, before Giggs pulled one back with the game’s third penalty.
It was an amazing victory for Roberto Di Matteo’s side, who made a decent start but found themselves behind on 21 minutes.
Oriol Romeu invited keeper Petr Cech to knock a goal-kick to him just outside his own penalty area and immediately came under pressure from Anderson, who robbed the Spaniard and teed up Giggs for a cool finish from 10 yards.
Luiz hauled Chelsea level after Alexander Buttner’s careless foul on Victor Moses nine minutes later.
Lindegaard dived to his right and got a hand to the defender’s spot-kick but was unable to keep it out of the net.
But a rush-of-blood moment from Luiz led to United regaining the lead shortly before half-time.
He attempted to dribble his way towards the United box and was dispossessed, with Anderson pouncing on the loose ball and finding Hernandez, who made no mistake.
Neither did Nani, who was given time and space to exchange passes with Anderson and then cleverly lift the ball over Cech.
That goal looked like being enough to take United through until Wootton pressed the self-destruct button.
As expected, both managers made a number of changes for the game, with Brazilian teenager Lucas Piazon among those brought into the Chelsea line-up.
But John Obi Mikel and Juan Mata, the Blues players at the centre of the furore surrounding referee Mark Clattenburg in the wake of Sunday’s controversial league encounter between these sides, both started despite speculation that they would be rested.
Mikel was replaced at the interval by Ramires, whose influence in midfield seemed to shore up the hosts during an encouraging opening to the second half.
They equalised for the second time when Mata’s left-wing corner was met by Cahill, whose poweful header crossed the line before being cleared from under the bar by Rafael.
That cheered the home fans riled by the sight of Hernandez – the scorer of Sunday’s winner when in an offside position – celebrating another goal.
But the game again swung United’s way when Nani was given time and space to exchange passes with Anderson and then cleverly lift the ball over the exposed Cech.
Cesar Azpilicueta showed much less composure at the other end, missing a golden chance to reply for Chelsea when he headed over at the far post after being found by Mata.
“Time to blame the referee,” the United fans mockingly chanted – and Chelsea soon had reason to.
Mata’s ball into the box struck the arm of young centre-back Michael Keane but the visitors were given the benefit of the doubt. Again.
But when Wootton fouled Ramires in the 94th minute, Lee Mason did point to the spot.
Hazard took responsibility and forced extra time with a calmly taken kick, and Wootton’s second error proved decisive.
Chelsea almost netted again when Luiz, who had a mixed night to put it mildly, smashed a free-kick against the bar.
They did eventually get the fifth, scored by Ramires but created by the brilliant Hazard, who then hit the post.
Giggs’ penalty, slotted home following Azpilicueta’s foul on Hernandez, meant Chelsea had to endure an anxious final minute.
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Cech; Azpilicueta, Cahill, Luiz, Bertrand; Romeu (Oscar 71), Mikel (Ramires 45); Moses, Mata, Piazon (Hazard 55); Sturridge.
Subs not used: Hilario, Ferreira, Marin, Saville.
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This post was last modified on 01/11/2012