Reece James steps up again in shoot-out to help Chelsea into Carabao Cup quarter-finals
Chelsea edged through to the Carabao Cup quarter-final with a 4-3 penalty shoot-out win over Southampton at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night.
Reece James, who scored the winning spot-kick in the previous round against Aston Villa, repeated the feet by calmly sending Fraser Forster the wrong. The two teams had drawn 1-1 in normal time with both Forster and Kepa Arrizabalaga making a number of saves.
Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel rotated some of his key men for the visit of Southampton and made six changes.
James, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Kai Havertz were among those to retain their starting berth from the 7-0 win over Norwich. Marcos Alonso came in to captain the XI and Kepa, Malang Sarr, Saul, Ross Barkley and Hakim Ziyech were also recalled.
Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl makes nine alterations to the side who were held to a 2-2 draw at home to Burnley on Saturday.
Stuart Armstrong returned after a calf injury to skipper the side with Che Adams and Adam Armstrong also given opportunities up front. Fraser Forster started in goal.
Chelsea broke the deadlock against Southampton a minute before half-time when Kai Havertz headed into the bottom corner.
The German had gone close with two earlier efforts and finally got his goal when Ross Barkley’s corner was met by the forward, who guided his header beyond Fraser Forster to make it 1-0.
It did not take long for Southampton to restore parity after half-time with Che Adams equalising two minutes into the second period.
Kyle Walker-Peters raced into the area and although his low effort was saved by Kepa, Adams was on hand to tap in for his first goal of the season to make it 1-1.
Adams then brought down Alonso just outside the box on the left. James took the free-kick and arrowed a shot which was dipping under the crossbar until Forster tipped it over.
And moments later, on the hour mark, Havertz pulled the ball back across to Barkley on the right of the area. But from a tight angle Forster smothered it.
Chelsea came close again after a break on the counter attack. Havertz was forced wide. His pull-back though picked out Saul Niguez on the edge of the box, but drilled a low effort just wide.
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Saul denied
Two minutes later, with 75 minutes on the clock, Saul almost scored again. From the edge of the box he curled a brilliant shot towards the top corner, but Forster was equal to it.
Saints sub Will Smallbone then headed goalwards from a Shane Long cross, but Kepa kept the ball out.
Hudson-Odoi then skipped past two Southampton defenders to get into the box, but could only shoot into the side netting from a tight angle.
Lyanco though almost won for Saints with a thumping header from a corner which Kepa tipped over. And from that resulting corner, Mohammed Salisu flicked a header on and Kepa made another vital stop.
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