Watch: Azpilicueta, Fabregas lead Chelsea's comeback in League Cup
Chelsea was facing certain elimination in the League Cup, down to Leicester City 2-0 at King Power Stadium with halftime approaching, but a massive turnaround saw the Blues send the Premier League champions tumbling out of the competition.
Gary Cahill started the comeback on the stroke of halftime, Cesar Azpilicueta sent the match to extra time with a sensational volley from long distance and Cesc Fabregas scored twice in quick succession in extra time to give Chelsea the 4-2 victory.
Shinji Okazaki scored twice in the opening 34 minutes for Leicester, but Cahill gave Chelsea a lifeline and set the stage for the comeback with a header off a corner kick that just crossed the line (before David Luiz ensured it found the back of the net anyway).
Goal-line tech is getting tested today! @GaryJCahill keeps @ChelseaFC close. #beINEFLCup https://t.co/zVzJCEEANO
— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) September 20, 2016
Azpilicueta took it one step further, lacing a right-footed volley off a clearance attempt by a helpless Ron-Robert Zieler in goal.
GOLAZO! GOLAZO-SAZO- SAZO! @CesarAzpi with a cracker to tie the game back up. #beINEFLCup https://t.co/NbV3ZhfHSm
— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) September 20, 2016
After both teams squandered chances to net the go-ahead strike in regulation, Fabregas combined with Eden Hazard for a gorgeous goal to break the deadlock in extra time.
Oh how sweet that build up play that was! #beINEFLCup https://t.co/eIW92ZA267
— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) September 20, 2016
The Spanish midfielder then capped the win with a powerful finish from the center of the box after Leicester failed to clear out of its own area.
Give it up to @Cesc4Official with this powerful shot. #beINEFLCup https://t.co/Z2bJ2mvcH8
— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) September 20, 2016
Chelsea joins Arsenal (4-0 over Nottingham Forest), Liverpool (3-0 over Derby County), Newcastle (2-0 over Wolverhampton), Reading (2-1 over Brighton & Hove), Leeds United (1-0 over Blackburn), Norwich City (2-0 over Everton) and Preston North End (3-2 AET over Bournemouth) as third-round winners.
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