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Two goals in the last three minutes saw champions Chelsea come from behind and beat Leicester 4-3 at Stamford Bridge in their Carling Cup fourth round tie.

Leicester had looked on course to secure a famous victory as Carl Cort put them ahead with just 16 minutes remaining.

But Andrei Shevchenko levelled on 87 minutes before and then his deflected shot off Juliano Belletti saw Chelsea through by the skin of their teeth.

Gareth McAuley had put Leicester ahead after just six minutes - but stand-in captain Frank Lampard struck twice to give Chelsea a half time lead.

DJ Campbell then came off the bench to level on 70 minutes before Cort scored and the late drama unravelled as Chelsea claimed their quarter-final berth.

A night of high drama began when McAuley rose unchallenged to head home a cross from Matt Fryatt after the City striker had collected a quick free-kick from Shaun Newton.

Claudio Pizarro, who had replaced Didier Drogba in attack, was the first Chelsea player to try his luck with a speculative 25-yard effort in the 17th

minute and moments later the home side were level.

Level

The scorer was England midfielder Lampard who finished off a fine three-man move to haul Chelsea level.

Lampard then struck for a second time when Scott Sinclair's low cross bobbled loose to the England midfielder and he sidefooted a volley home from eight yards in the 30th minute.

Chelsea continued to press for further goals as coach Avram Grant's new attacking style began to get the better of the Championship side.

Chelsea lost right-back Paulo Ferreira just after half-time with what appeared to be an injury to his right ankle. He was replaced by winger Florent Malouda.

In the 56th minute though Chelsea should have made it 3-1 when Lampard and Pizarro combined before the Peruvian's shot was saved by Marton Fulop.

Seconds later Pizarro put Sinclair through on the edge of the six-yard box but the youngster's effort was pushed on to the upright by the City keeper.

In the 69th minute they managed to stun Chelsea again when substitute Campbell headed Levi Porter's chip over the advancing Carlo Cudicini and into the net.

Late drama

Chelsea's hold on the Carling Cup became even more precarious in the 74th minute when Cort put the Championship side in front.

Alan Sheehan's free-kick was missed by everyone except Cort at the far post and he swept the ball home to the delight of the travelling fans.

But Shevchenko levelled for Chelsea in the 87th minute and in the dying seconds the winner.

Pizarro's shot-come-cross deflected off the bar and came for Lampard, his header was cleared off the line - but it came for Shevchenko - whose wild shot deflected off Belletti and passed the helpless Leicester defence.

Teams

Chelsea Cudicini, Alex, Belletti, Ben-Haim (Essien 80), Ferreira (Malouda 52), Lampard, Sidwell, Wright-Phillips, Pizarro, Schevchenko, Sinclair (Kalou 78)
Subs Not Used Hilario, Mikel
Booked Sidwell, Ben-Haim
Goals  Lampard 20, 29, 90, Shevchenko 87

Leicester City  Fulop, Chambers, Kenton, Kisnorbo, McAuley, N’Gotty, Sheehan, Stearman, Newton (Porter 60) (Maybury 80), Cort, Fryatt (Campbell 62)
Subs Not Used Henderson, Hellings
Booked Newton, Sheehan
Goals  McAuley 6, Campbell 69, Cort 74

Attendance 40,037

Referee  P. Dowd