English League Cup
Result: Chelsea 1-0 Bournemouth
Date: 19 December 2018
Venue: Stamford Bridge
Chelsea needed a late winner to advance into the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup after sinking Bournemouth 1-0 at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday evening. The Blues, who predictably rotated the team for this cup tie, nearly opened the scoring in the seventh minute through Ross Barkley who forced a great save out of Artur Boruc with a curling effort from distance. Maurizio Sarri's charges were pressing the visitors high from the onset, but their next chance only arrived on 20 minutes when Olivier Giroud saw his snap-shot parried away by Boruc. Boruc kept Eddie Howe's troops in the game in the 31st minute after making himself big in a one-on-one situation to deny Willian the breakthrough for the hosts. Bournemouth, meanwhile, were unable to carve out any serious openings at the other end as Kepa Arrizabalaga endured a quiet opening 45 minutes. Ruben Loftus-Cheek came close to breaking the deadlock for Sarri's men ten minutes into the second stanza with a low strike that came crashing off the upright. Sarri needed a change of fortunes upfront and he brought on Chelsea talisman Eden Hazard in place of Barkley, who made way for the Belgian on the hour mark. The tie was still evenly poised 20 minutes before time, with the Cherries bravely pressing the Blues high, although chances were hard to come by on both ends. Hazard finally broke the deadlock six minutes before time with a close range strike that took a deflection off Charlie Daniels and sailed in into the bottom corner, 1-0. The late strike took all the energy away from Bournemouth, as the Blues managed to stay compact at the back in the closing minutes to seal a spot in the last four of the tournament.
