Breakthrough: Branislav Ivanovic gave Chelsea victory in the first half of extra-time Photo: GETTY IMAGES
An extraordinary game needed something extra. On a compelling, contentious night at the Bridge, Branislav Ivanovic headed home in the first half of extra-time to send Chelsea to the Capital One Cup final at Wembley where they will face either Sheffield United or Tottenham Hotspur, who meet at Bramall Lane on Wednesday.
Chelsea had enjoyed good chances through Diego Costa during normal time but found Simon Mignolet in imperious form. Liverpool also went close through Alberto Moreno and particularly Philippe Coutinho but Thibaut Courtois excelled. So it went to extra-time. Yet the game will also be remembered for Michael Oliver’s refereeing that certainly upset Jose Mourinho.
This was one of the quickest, most intense, controversy-strewn games of the season, with another exhibit for Mourinho “campaign” arriving when Costa was denied a clear penalty in the first half when clearly fouled by Martin Skrtel.
Oliver overlooked the offence, just as he had ignored assorted other offences. Mourinho’s concerns about a campaign against Chelsea began rolling earlier in the season when Oliver cautioned Costa for simulation at Turf Moor when it looked more like he had been brought down by the Burnley goalkeeper, Tom Heaton. “I hope he doesn’t get any more unfair decisions,’’ said Mourinho at the time.
Oliver is a talented referee, respected in Europe, but this should have been a game for England’s top official, Mark Clattenburg. Strangely, the authorities seemed to have turned against Clattenburg. Once again an important game was laced with a debate about English refereeing standards.
Mourinho became so annoyed that he talked to Oliver at the break and asked Liverpool’s bench if they had seen what was going. Colin Pascoe, Brendan Rodgers’ assistant, dismissively offered Mourinho his glasses. This was another night when relations between Chelsea and Liverpool declined.
The debating points began early when Chelsea’s team-sheet was handed in. After the “disgrace” against Bradford City, Mourinho had omitted two of his regulars who struggled in the FA Cup, Cesar Azpilicueta and Gary Cahill despite the Englishman’s goal.
Lining up in defence with Ivanovic and John Terry were Filipe Luis, who played in the Anfield leg of this Capital One Cup semi-final, and Kurt Zouma, the 20-year-old who retained his place despite Saturday’s Cup embarrassment.
Terry admitted he was still hurting after the Bradford game, and kept his captain’s notes in the programme to a minimum because “it’s more important we respond on the pitch”. The focus was inevitably on his central-defensive colleague Zouma, who stood firm early on, fending off attacks from Raheem Sterling and Coutinho. When Zouma misjudged a header, allowing Sterling to race down the inside-left channel, the young centre-half responded well, making amends for his mistake. As Sterling flew into the box, eluding Terry, Zouma covered back to muscle the Liverpool attacker off the ball.
If Liverpool looked for the pace of Sterling, Chelsea were focusing on Costa, who occupied the thoughts of the visitors’ defence fully and should have been more closely watched by Oliver. Rodgers had continued with his three centre-halves, Emre Can, Skrtel and Mamadou Sakho. Costa quickly engaged them in action, testing their physical and mental strength.
After 11 minutes, Costa planted his right foot into Can’s right ankle, incensing the German. Costa pleaded innocence, pointing out he had to put his foot somewhere. Can refused to calm down, railing at the Chelsea bench and at Costa. It was utterly predictable when Can chose the earliest opportunity to clatter Costa.
Oliver was trying to play advantage, keeping a frenetic game flowing, but assorted incidents kept going unpunished. When Luis complained about a Lazar Markovic challenge, the Serb ran past him and grabbed him by the neck. Chelsea’s bench was like a manic toaster, all popping up, all fuming. Oliver did not spot the offence. The fourth official, Phil Dowd, whose fitness had been questioned by Mourinho at the Lane, tried to calm tempers down.
Chelsea’s bench went into meltdown after 22 minutes when Oscar angled a great ball through for Costa, whose right foot was caught by Skrtel. The ball bounced towards the Shed and the decision was either for a corner or a penalty. Oliver decreed a goal-kick, further antagonising Chelsea who were convinced it was a clear penalty.
If controversy hung over one half, vapour trails floated over the other. Liverpool’s pacier players were charging forward. Having been picked out by a glorious Steven Gerrard pass, Alberto Moreno cut in but was thwarted by Thibaut Courtois. Then Coutinho raced through the middle, sending Zouma the wrong way, before letting fly with a left-footed strike. Only Courtois’ instant response, stretching out his left foot, diverted the danger.
Oliver finally booked somebody, punishing Jordan Henderson for hounding of Eden Hazard. As he walked towards the tunnel at the break, Oliver was greeted with caustic comments from the Chelsea fans. Mourinho also had a word at the break with the under-pressure referee. So much was going on, away from Oliver’s gaze. Mamadou Sakho gave the ball away early in the second half, passing crossfield, allowing Costa to nick the ball. Oscar went tearing through, painfully brought down by Lucas. Oliver tried to allow some advantage which simply resulted in Costa again being careless with his feet, landing one on Skrtel, who responded with an attempted fly-kick before the routine squaring up.
Costa began parading his more positive side, unleashing a shot that brought a good save from Simon Mignolet. Liverpool’s keeper has endured criticism this season but he rescued his defence here. Costa was gifted the ball, and ran towards goal, tried to go round Mignolet but was well tackled.
Oliver’s decision-making that had prompted Mourinho to seek him out at the break, requiring Dowd’s intervention, was seen again when Henderson handled Hazard’s ball forward. Henderson’s arm was stretched out and it was a clear free-kick, and seemed a straightforward caution which would have led to the Englishman’s expulsion.
Oliver did get a card out, punishing Terry for a foul on Sterling. Changes were being made, the game’s frantic nature taking its toll. Glen Johnson replaced Sakho. Terry accidentally caught Fabregas, who had to limp from the fray, as Ramires sped on. Mario Balotelli came on for Markovic. As the game hurtled towards extra time, Gerrard and Sterling had wayward efforts at the Shed end much to the chagrin of the 4,000 visiting fans congregated behind the goal.
Balotelli was soon up to speed with the tenor of the game, pushing Nemanja Matic who was attempting to take a throw-in. Matic and Oscar attempted to break through but the four minutes of injury time soon expired. Rodgers gathered his players in a huddle, so did Mourinho, who dropped on his haunches as he addressed his players. They responded strongly, Hazard immediately going on another dribble, this one ended by Lucas. As Mourinho asked Dowd why another yellow card hadn’t been waved at Lucas, Willian curled the ball over and Ivanovic headed powerfully home, exploiting terrible marking.
source:telegraph.co.uk
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