toptop
Chelsea
hit back to beat AFC Wimbledon 2-1 and reach the third round of the Carabao Cup.
There were 63 places between the sides at kick-off, but it was League Two AFC
Wimbledon that took the lead at Stamford Bridge via an early penalty from James
Tilley.
But Chelsea levelled via their own spot-kick in first-half stoppage-time, won
and converted by Noni Madueke, before a second-half winner thanks to substitute
Enzo Fernandez.
How Chelsea hit back to down Dons
It was a tale of two penalties in the first half. AFC Wimbledon struck first on
19 minutes, after Robert Sanchez had come to punch clear a free-kick and instead
connected with Harry Pell, before Tilley sent the ball past the Chelsea
goalkeeper from 12 yards.
Then it was Chelsea's turn in stoppage time. Madueke, undoubtedly their bright
spark, raced down the right before being brought down in the box. Stepping up
himself to beat Alex Bass in the Dons net.
Mauricio Pochettino eventually called for his reinforcements, with Fernandez and
Malo Gusto coming on.
It was Enzo who made the difference, as he capitalised on a mistake at the back
from Bass, whose poor attempt at a clearance ricocheted into the Argentine's
path, allowing him to bend the ball into an empty net from the edge of the box,
taking Chelsea into the third round.
Did Cucurella do enough to impress Poch?
Sky Sports' Simeon Gholam at Stamford Bridge:
An eye-catching name on the team-sheet to say the least. Marc Cucurella was
handed a first start of the season by Pochettino, but did not do a huge amount
to impress on the left side.
Whether he is still at the club by the end of the week remains to be seen, with
Deadline Day looming on Thursday. Ian Maatsen, playing further up the pitch on
Tuesday night, looks a capable understudy for Ben Chilwell.
Player of the Match - Noni Madueke
It is a tad unfortunate for Madueke that he occupies the same position as Raheem
Sterling, and that the latter has started the season so brilliantly down
Chelsea's right flank.
Madueke was electric at times in his first start of the season on Tuesday night,
particularly in his burst of pace to win the crucial equalising penalty. He may,
however, have to wait a while to get his chance should Sterling's league form
continue.
Click Here for Official Teamsheet
Teams
Chelsea Sanchez, Disasi, Humphreys, Colwill (Gusto 65),
Cucurella, Moreira (Jackson 46), Ugochukwu, Gallagher (c), Madueke (Caicedo 81),
Burstow (Fernandez 65), Maatsen
Subs Not Used Petrovic, Bergstrom, Samuels-Smith, Silva,
Chilwell
Booked Maatsen
Goals Madueke 45+1 (pen), Fernandez 72
AFC Wimbledon Bass, Ogundere, Johnson, Lewis, Pearce (Brown
56), Tilley, Williams, Pell (Bugiel 78), Ball, Neufville (Sasu 78), Davison (Al
Hamadi 56)
Subs Not Used Tzanev, Lock, Sutcliffe, Jennings
Booked Pearce, Pell
Goals Tilley 19 (pen)
Attendance 37,794
Referee Tony Harrington