Chelsea's poor run continues as Everton eliminate them 3-4 from FA Cup on penalties
Chelsea's poor run continues as Everton eliminate them 3-4 from FA Cup on penalties
Holders Chelsea were sent crashing out of the FA Cup on Saturday after losing a dramatic fourth round replay against Everton 4-3 on penalties.
Chelsea looked to be on course for a place in the fifth round when midfielder Frank Lampard fired them 1-0 up in the first half of extra time at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea players stand dejected after losing 3-4 in the penalty shoot out
in the FA Cup fourth round replay match against Everton at Stamford
Bridge, London on Saturday. PIC/Getty Images
But a sensational last-gasp equaliser from Leighton Baines, the Everton left-back curling in a free-kick from 25 yards, took the game to penalties.
Even then Chelsea appeared to be on course for victory, when Lampard and Didier Drogba buried their opening spot-kicks either side of a miss by Baines to put the Blues 2-0 up in the shoot-out.
Phil Jagielka kept Everton in it with a clinical penalty before Nicolas Anelka saw his effort palmed away by Tim Howard.
Mikel Arteta scored for Everton to level at 2-2 and when Ashley Cole missed with Chelsea's fifth spot-kick, sending his penalty blazing over the bar, it was left to Everton skipper Phil Neville to blast home the winner.
Victory was especially sweet for Everton, who face Reading in the next round, as the Merseysiders had been beaten by Chelsea in the 2009 final.
The defeat leaves Chelsea's domestic season in tatters. They trail Premier League leaders Manchester United by 12 points and their only realistic chance of silverware lies in the Champions League.
Chelseau00a0-- who had been held to a 1-1 draw by Everton in the first match at Goodison Parku00a0-- had the upper hand throughout normal time but were unable to convert a plethora of scoring opportunities.
Everton keeper Howard made a string of stunning saves as the Londoners laid siege to Everton's goal. Elsewhere, Premier League sides Brimingham City and Stoke City won their ties against non league teams Sheffield Wednesday and Brighton. Both matches ended 3-0 in favour of the Premiership sides.
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