After Tuesday night’s remarkable comeback win by Arsenal in the Capital One Cup, I did not think anything could top that. But Wednesday nights three remaining matches came close.
Chelsea came from behind three times to beat Manchester United 5-4 after extra time, while Norwich upset Spurs 2-1 and Swansea knocked out holders Liverpool 3-1 at Anfield.
Four days after a thrilling 3-2 United win at Stamford Bridge in the league, the two sides met again and this time combined for nine more goals. Not sure if the 14 goals scored in the two days in a reflection of both sides scoring prowess, or a reflection of their shaky defences?
And it was United’s young and inexperienced that cost them this match. Chelsea made two defensive errors as Ryan Giggs and Javier Hernandez scored either side of David Luiz’s penalty.
Gary Cahill made it 2-2 and it appeared Nani’s chipped finish would win it but Eden Hazard scored another spot-kick in the last minute of added time after young United defender Scott Wootton had bundled into the back of Ramires.
Wooton then gifted a goal in extra time to Daniel Sturridge when his woeful fell to Sturridge, who calmly scored Chelsea’s fourth and decisive goal.
Ramires put the result beyond doubt when he rounded off some excellent work by Hazard to score Chelsea’s fifth.
Ryan Giggs’ late penalty for United, after Cesar Azpilicueta had bundled into Javier Hernandez, was just a consolation for United.
Swansea produced a majestic performance at Anfield to reach the quarter-finals of the Capital One Cup for the first time in their history and in doing so beat the team of their former manager Brendan Rodgers.
Liverpool were outplayed in the first half and deservedly trailed at the break thanks to Chico Flores’s powerful header.
Rodgers responded by throwing on Steven Gerrard, Luis Suarez and Raheem Sterling as second half substitutes but it was Swansea who struck again as Nathan Dyer made it 2-0 with 20 minutes remaining.
Suarez glanced in Gerrard’s free-kick four minutes later to cut the deficit but in injury time Swansea added a third through Jonathan De Guzman to record a famous victory.
Finally, Norwich City produced a dramatic late turnaround to beat Tottenham and reach the quarter-finals of the Capital One Cup for the first time in 18 years.
Spurs dominated for most of the game and Gareth Bale put them in front with a second-half drive.
But the Canaries replied late on through a deflected Alex Tettey shot and Simeon Jackson’s poached effort.
Spurs’ Kyle Walker won a penalty from a Marc Tierney trip in the 88th minute, but Clint Dempsey’s spot-kick was saved by Mark Bunn.
