Chelsea secured a dramatic 4-3 victory in an action-packed Carabao Cup clash with Wolves at Molineux.
Manager Enzo Maresca will have been thrilled by Chelsea’s clinical first-half performance, which saw them lead by three points and spark chants of “fired in the morning” by the home supporters, aimed at Wolves manager Vitor Pereira. They were booed during the break, and there were no signs of a comeback.
However, pleasing goals from Andrej Santos, Tyreke George and Estevao transformed the physical Wolves in the second half, with Tolu Alokodare pulling one back with a clean finish, and David Moeller-Wolf scoring to upset Chelsea.
Liam Delap was sent off shortly after coming on, and when Jamie Gittens fired a superb shot into the top corner, Moeller Wolff came up at the other end to keep the score level. Wolves were unable to score an equaliser, but were greeted with applause from their supporters.
However, it is Chelsea who have advanced to the last eight and will play away to Cardiff.
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Jamie Gittens scored Chelsea’s fourth goal, the goal they needed for the win.
Maresca criticizes ‘stupid’ Delap
Maresca gave a scathing assessment of Delap’s red card after he was twice involved in a physical fight with the Wolves’ central defender within minutes.
The substitute was booked and given an immediate red card for giving Elson Mosquera the lead with an elbow after he shoved him in the face during a challenge on Emmanuel Agbadu.
“A very stupid red card that was completely unnecessary,” Maresca said.
“Of course it was. It was a stupid foul. We can avoid it. I fully support the red card.”
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Liam Delap sent off for two yellows in 7 minutes against Wolves
Asked if Chelsea’s disciplinary action was embarrassing, Maresca added: “A red card like today is embarrassing. Two in seven minutes is embarrassing, but both are avoidable.”
The Chelsea manager was particularly irritated as he had given warnings to his players.
“After the yellow card, I told him four or five times to calm down. But Liam is a player on the pitch, he plays the game for himself and he struggles to listen to what those around him think.”
Pereira: Let’s turn things around.
Pereira appeared to be on the brink after being booed by his team at half-time, but his second-half showing of spirit gave hope to the bottom club. “I have no doubts about doing it again. It will definitely turn things around,” the Wolves manager said.
“We showed spirit, we showed humanity, we showed that we have quality. We showed ourselves and the supporters that together we can do it again. We just need a win to believe and move on and it definitely showed in the second half.”
“We can compete with Chelsea, we can compete with any team. If we play with confidence, with energy, with the energy of our supporters like this, we can do it. We are a small club, but together we can do it. And this is the message: It’s not about me.”
