Ivanovic heads Chelsea into League Cup final

Published January 29, 2015
London: Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic (C) heads the ball to score the goal during the English League Cup semi-final against Liverpool at Stamford Bridge.—AFP
London: Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic (C) heads the ball to score the goal during the English League Cup semi-final against Liverpool at Stamford Bridge.—AFP

LONDON: Chelsea reached the League Cup final after Branislav Ivanovic’s towering extra-time header secured a 1-0 victory over Liverpool in a breathless semi-final second-leg at an electric Stamford Bridge on Tuesday.

The Serbian defender powered a header past Liverpool keeper Simon Mignolet four minutes into the extra period to secure a 2-1 aggregate win for the four-times winners days after their humiliating FA Cup exit to third-tier Bradford City.

Both sides had good chances in normal time and were grateful to their keepers — Thibaut Courtois and Mignolet — for keeping the scores level in a blood-and-thunder encounter with plenty of controversy.

Chelsea striker Diego Costa was typically in the thick of the action and twice appeared to stamp on Liverpool players, but should also have been awarded a penalty when he was felled by Slovak defender Martin Skrtel in the first half.

After a 1-1 draw in the first leg Ivanovic rose to meet Willian’s free kick in the 94th minute, taking them into a March 1 final against either Tottenham Hotspur or Sheffield United and cutting off one of Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard’s paths to a golden send-off before his departure for the Los Angeles Galaxy.

The 34-year-old now has only the FA Cup and Europa League to aim for, while Chelsea remain on course for three trophies after bouncing back from their humiliating 4-2 loss to third-tier Bradford City in the FA Cup.

“This is a game where we showed the real character of the team and we are happy, very happy,” Ivanovic said.

The Premier League leaders were fortunate to complete the heated and compelling game with 11 men after Costa avoided punishment for stamping on Liverpool duo Emre Can and Martin Skrtel.

With Costa risking a retrospective ban, Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho defended his striker and blamed the media.

“What you call stamps and Sky [television] calls crimes, I have to say absolutely [were] accidental,” Mourinho told reporters.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers told Sky Sports: “I thought they were outstanding. Over the course of two legs, we were the better team.

“We had good opportunities to score, but didn’t score. I feel nothing but pride, really, because the players gave everything.”

Published in Dawn January 29th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play

Opinion

From hard to harder

From hard to harder

Instead of ‘hard state’ turning even harder, citizens deserve a state that goes soft on them in delivering democratic and development aspirations.

Editorial

Canal unrest
Updated 03 Apr, 2025

Canal unrest

With rising water scarcity in Indus system, it is crucial to move towards a consensus-driven policymaking process.
Iran-US tension
03 Apr, 2025

Iran-US tension

THE Trump administration’s threats aimed at Iran do not bode well for global peace, and unless Washington changes...
Flights to history
03 Apr, 2025

Flights to history

MOHENJODARO could have been the forgotten gold we desperately need. Instead, this 5,000-year-old well of antiquity ...
Eid amidst crises
Updated 31 Mar, 2025

Eid amidst crises

Until the Muslim world takes practical steps to end these atrocities, these besieged populations will see no joy.
Women’s rights
Updated 01 Apr, 2025

Women’s rights

Such judgements, and others directly impacting women’s rights should be given more airtime in media.
Not helping
Updated 02 Apr, 2025

Not helping

If it's committed to peace in Balochistan, the state must draw a line between militancy and legitimate protest.