FA Cup 4th Round Replay: Immature Chelsea Crash Out

Immature Chelsea (there are stronger words I can use, but they are not publishable here) crashed out of the FA Cup at Stamford Bridge yesterday to a determined, resilent Everton team, a team who defy belief that they are struggling at the foot of the Premiership. Once the full-time whistle blew at the end of extra-time, every Chelsea fan knew, that Everton were going to win the spot-kick competition.

Chelsea do not win penalty shoot-outs. Yesterday's spot-kick 'defeat' was Chelsea's seventh in a row, even after, scoring the first and Cech making a good save, Chelsea contrived to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

I wouldn't let Anelka within a million miles of a penalty spot again!! Failure in the Champions League final, his casual approach yesterday, no run up, enabled Howard to save easily.

Chelsea's other spot-kick failure was Ashley Cole who blasted high over the bar - but at least he used a run-up.

On Everton's previous two visits to Stamford Bridge they have scored last minute equalisers to snatch draws.

Yesterday there were TWO incredible deja-vu scenarios.

In the dying seconds of normal time Chelsea gave away a free-kick in a dangerous position. Cech saved, but the rebound fell to Fellaini who stroked the ball into the net. Fortunately the eagle-eyed Assistant put his flag up for offside.

However, in the dying seconds of extra-time, Chelsea needlessly gave away a free-kick. Up stepped Leighton Baines who curled the ball high into the left-hand side of Cech's net.

Lightning striking twice in the same place? Lets try four times and if my old memory is working, all of Everton's dramatic equalisers have been scored at The Shed End.

Chelsea created enough chances to win in normal time, but wayward shooting and good saves from Howard prevented Chelsea form their only realistic chance of a winning a trophy this season.

I want to know why referee Phil Dowd booked Ramires for diving and NOT Baines when he was inside Chelsea's penalty area?

Was it because Baines was already on a yellow card?


Chelsea: Cech, Ferreira, Ivanovic, Terry (c), Cole, Ramires, Lampard, Mikel (Essien h/t), Malouda (Anelka 90), Kalou (Zhirkov 110), Drogba

Goal: Lampard 103
Booked: Malouda 42, Ramires 44


Everton: Howard, Neville (c), Jagielka, Distin, Baines, Arteta, Fellaini, Coleman, Cahill (Bilyaletdinov 70), Osman (Heitinga 94), Beckford (Anichebe 80)

Goal: Baines 120
Booked: Baines 50, Coleman 52, Distin 59, Arteta 112