Carabao Cup: Late Eden Hazard goal carries Chelsea to semi-finals

Eden Hazard scored a late deflected goal as Chelsea scraped through into the Carabao Cup semifinals with a 1-0 victory against Bournemouth on Wednesday.

Chelsea dominated for much of the game but couldn’t find a way to breakthrough until Hazard rode on a pass from Pedro to slot home the only goal of the match, which deflected off a Bournemouth defender before hitting the net.

Olivier Giroud, Ross Barkley and Ruben Loftus Cheek had great chances to kill off the game in the opening half. But the chance of the first 45 minutes fell to Willian, whose surging run from the halfway line after 30 minutes was blocked by Bournemouth goalkeeper Artur Boruc before it could find the net. Boruc also kept his side in the game with a diving save to keep off Ross Barkley.

But after Ruben Loftus-Cheek had fired wide from an open situation, Chelsea coach Maurizio Sarri was forced to bring on Pedro and after him Hazard. With six minutes remaining both combined to help Chelsea come out the winners.

Bournemouth were gritty on the night and had their own chances to seal the victory but Callum Wilson dragged his shot wide in the 17^th minute. While Lys Mousset’s shot, after Jordon Ibe had caught the Chelsea backline with a deadly ball, was parried away by an alert Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Also read: Carabao Cup: Manchester City beat Leicester on penalties to reach semi-finals