Shaun Wright-Phillips was the hero as holders Chelsea overcame the dismissal of John Obi Mikel to snatch an injury-time winner and a 2-1 victory over Everton in their League Cup semifinal first leg yesterday.
The Londoners led with a first-half goal by Wright-Phillips but Mikel was sent off
in the 55th minute and nine minutes later Aiyegbeni Yakubu equalised to keep alive Everton's hopes of reaching the final for the first time in 24 years.
Wright-Phillips then pressurised defender Joleon Lescott into heading into his own goal two minutes into injury time.
"Going to Goodison Park [for the second leg on January 23] with a lead means Everton will have to come out and attack," Wright-Phillips said.
Chelsea, without a host of leading players through injury, suspension and international duty, looked sharper and had far more attacking intent from the start.
They went ahead when Wright-Phillips was found by France winger Florent Malouda, back after a two-month injury absence, and the England international curled a right-footed shot in off the post.
Everton, knocked out of the FA Cup by third division Oldham Athletic on Sunday, sorely missed the midfield invention of suspended Spaniard Mikel Arteta and created few opportunities.
The game swung their way though when Mikel was shown a red card for a high tackle on Phil Neville.
The visitors equalised when third-choice keeper Hilario flapped at a free kick and Yakubu lashed the ball straight into the net.
James McFadden then clipped the post from a tight angle after a mazy dribble before Chelsea captain Michael Ballack swung in a deep cross for the diminutive Wright-Phillips to nod the ball in off his England teammate Lescott in injury time.
Lescott had time to make amends at the other end in the dying seconds, only to be thwarted by the on-rushing Hilario.
"It's really hard to take," said Everton manager David Moyes. "Chelsea's movement was fantastic in the first half but we kept at it and I thought we might go on and win it."
Arsenal host North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the first leg of the other semifinal this morning.
The final will be played at Wembley on February 25.
- REUTERS
