Chelsea 5 - 4 Man Utd (aet)

 Wednesday 31^st October:

Chelsea 5 – 4 Manchester Utd (aet)

I love how hilariously fickle fans can be regarding the league cup. If your team is still in the competition then it’s a great chance to cheer your team to Wembley and collect the year’s first piece of silverware. If your team is out then it’s a nothing competition that has no importance towards the footballing calendar and dubbed a waste of a Wednesday. At 3-2 the Manchester support were chanting ‘we’re going to Wem-ber-leeeeee’. After extra time Chelsea had ‘beaten United’s reserves in the what’s-it-called cup’. I’m not ashamed to admit that I behave the same when Chelsea get knocked out of the league cup, it’s all part of being a passionate football fan. I personally love League Cup nights and enjoy any excuse to head down to Stamford Bridge.

A nine-goal thriller against Man. Utd with 3 penalties, extra time and a 94^th minute equaliser for £25 is unarguably great value. The strong Chelsea side put out by RDM decided to gift Man Utd 2 early goals with some suicidal overplaying in defence. The blues showed great character to level both times before a neat little one-two sent Nani into the box and he dinked the ball past Cech. After that Chelsea missed some good chances and had a stonewall penalty appeal turned down when Powell handled Mata’s cross in the area. Azpilicueta, or ‘Dave’ as Stamford Bridge regulars know him, took his eye off the ball and missed the target with a headed effort from only a few yards out. After that we sensed the game was over. Ramires was immense when appearing as a second half substitute and was bundled over during Fergie time in the box, penalty was the scream and penalty was the decision. Up stepped the equally impressive substitute Eden Hazard to coolly slot home the ball in the 94^th minute. As we entered extra time the Chelsea attack could smell goals as they pressured United’s weary and inexperienced defence. Sturridge took advantage of some poor defending before Hazard and Ramires exquisitely linked up to make it 5-3. There was still time for another late penalty, this time for Man Utd, but the game was soon over and Chelsea continue to march towards Wembley. Di Matteo seems to have targeted the League Cup as a definite target judging by the strong team sheets and passionate intent on display, some February silverware is always welcomed by Chelsea fans.  

On the train home I had the pleasure of sitting next to a fellow Chelsea fan and was able to talk football throughout the London to Essex train journey. My new, blue friend showed me countless pictures of him with injured Chelsea stars such as Lampard and Bertrand. When I asked how he got so close to the players he told me that his work had got him hospitality tickets for the whole season. My next question was ‘where do you work and how do I apply?’ to which he laughed not noticing the serious and desperate tone in my voice. Not to be outdone I informed my fellow fan that I had seen ex-Eastender actor Dean Gaffney sitting in the next section of the stadium to which he again laughed. I then tranquilly sat back on my seat and took a successful swig of my tea knowing that I had won the boasting competition; as everyone knows a brief Gaffney sighting emphatically beats photos with premiership footballers.