Chelsea had two players shown second yellow cards after being adjudged to have been guilty of simulation during their FA Cup replay against Championship side Norwich on Wednesday. Nonetheless, Antonio Conte’s side survived a 94th-minute equalizer and managed to advance 5-3 in a shootout after a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge.
The absurdity of the Chelsea vs. Norwich City replay was not about the beauty of the FA Cup, but instead the beauty of a referee who didn’t take shit from anyone, even with VAR ready to back him up.
After a scoreless first meeting, the replay got wacky after 90 minutes. First, 19-year-old Jamal Lewis scored an unlikely equalizer in the 94th minute to send the match to extra time, then Pedro and Alvaro Morata were both sent off after receiving two yellow cards, including one each for dives.
Pedro was the first to see red and his was completely deserved without a doubt. He picked up a yellow for an awful dive in the second half and then was sent off for a bad challenge on Wes Hoolahan in extra time.
Disgusting dive by Pedro. Should be straight red for blatant cheating like this. Embarrassment! #cfc #ncfc #pedro #dirty #cheat #dive pic.twitter.com/qxc9U94bCj
— Grant Koston (@GrantKoston) January 17, 2018
Morata’s two yellow cards came in quick succession after two hours of play. He was booked for a dive and almost immediately after sent off for dissent. The Spaniard did go down easy, but it’s a bit harsh to call it a dive worthy of a yellow card. In that case, it’s almost to be expected Morata would argue to the point of a second yellow to defend his honor.
Chelsea fans rn pic.twitter.com/9i7hWTwp50
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) January 17, 2018
Chelsea survived a couple frantic minutes with nine men to send the match into a shootout. The Blues made all five of their shots while Willy Caballero saved Nelson Oliveira’s first kick for Norwich to secure the win for Chelsea.
Alvaro Morata saw red for Chelsea vs Norwich City. Photo: @goal | Twitter
In regulation, Michy Batshuayi ended a 331-minute goal drought for Chelsea 10 minutes into the second half when Kenedy put it on a platter for his teammate to hammer into the roof of the net for the game’s first goal.
Aside from the goal and the shootout, the next best highlight for Chelsea was this sick elastico nutmeg from Kenedy.
Best part of the half #chelsea #kenedy #facup pic.twitter.com/ohO6Qt2T4C
— Ricky Burford (@RICKY93JB) January 17, 2018
The Blues looked to be heading to a win until in the fourth minute of stoppage time when Lewis equalized with a header that may or may not have gone exactly as he planned it.
But, despite the two-man advantage late, Norwich couldn’t knock Chelsea out of the competition.
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