Leicester Metropolis 1-2 Chelsea (aet)

Pedro’s extra-time winner gave Chelsea victory at Leicester Metropolis to region up an FA Cup semi-final date with Southampton at Wembley.

Antonio Conte’s aspect dug deep after the midweek Champions League defeat in Barcelona to retain their hopes of silverware alive as they survived an attacking assault from The Foxes.

Alvaro Morata took Willian’s pass in his bound to beat Leicester keeper Kasper Schmeichel in unruffled type to present Chelsea the advantage lawful earlier than half of-time.

But Jamie Vardy made amends for a uncomfortable headed omit when he pounced in a goalmouth slip for a 76th minute equaliser.

The decisive second came lawful lawful earlier than the interval in beyond regular time when Chelsea substitute Pedro beat the onrushing Schmeichel to N’Golo Kante’s lag and headed within the winner.

Chelsea will play the Saints – who reached the closing four by beating Wigan earlier on Sunday – on both 21 and 22 April at Wembley.

Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, who acquired their respective quarter-finals on Saturday, will contest the other tie.

Conte will get ideal Chelsea response

Chelsea supervisor Antonio Conte’s hopes of silverware this season – which more and more appears admire this would possibly occasionally be his closing at Stamford Bridge – rested entirely on this game after the Champions League exit to Barcelona.

And how superbly Conte and his avid gamers replied to that disappointment, as tired our bodies and minds managed to retain their FA Cup aspirations heading within the correct route within the face of Leicester’s relentless effort.

Chelsea looked to maintain misplaced momentum when Vardy scrambled home The Foxes’ equaliser 14 minutes from the stay of smartly-liked time to ensure this compelling quarter-final would lag the extra distance.

But Chelsea confirmed renewed personality, resilience and quality to disappoint a in overall concerned home give a lift to and indicate about a of the fashioned steel that introduced Premier League title success in Conte’s first season.

Conte became, as fashioned, the driver from his technical space, and the nature of this efficiency (and indeed the show conceal in defeat within the Nou Camp) became proof that, despite the complete uncertainty surrounding his future, these avid gamers are unruffled performing for his or her supervisor.

He additionally retains the faith of Chelsea’s followers, who chanted Conte’s title loudly in their corner of the King Vitality Stadium. The supervisor repaid their loyalty with an noteworthy victory.

Bruised Morata wins the fight

Morata has suffered blended fortunes in his first season at Chelsea following his £60m switch from True Madrid – nonetheless he can stare aid on this FA Cup quarter-final with a shapely degree of enjoyment.

The Spanish striker, who became unnoticed of his nationwide squad this week, now not only utilized a fab attain to Willian’s pass to attach Chelsea in entrance within the first half of, on the other hand it came after the develop of physical roughing-up some maintain immediate Morata has struggled to tackle in his first season in England.

Morata became on the receiving stay of some heavy medicine from Leicester’s Harry Maguire, who became booked, and captain Wes Morgan. But the Spaniard had the final phrase with his second of quality.

And broken-down Leicester Metropolis title-winner N’Golo Kante gave a majestic midfield efficiency from first to closing, breaking apart play and increasing in equal measure to demonstrate again he’s within the top likely bracket of midfield operators.

Sheer frustration for Puel and Leicester

Leicester had every shapely to in actual fact feel assured forward of a rental quarter-final towards opponents who had been unruffled hurting from that harmful Champions League defeat.

And Claude Puel’s aspect got so critical shapely, even having a stumble on to maintain the wind in their sails when they drew stage by device of Vardy.

Leicester, on the other hand, conceded two aims that Puel will regard as soft.

Kelechi Iheanacho played a uncomfortable pass to Riyad Mahrez, permitting Willian to demolish and region up Morata, while Chelsea’s second contrivance became additionally avoidable.

Once Schmeichel came for Kante’s lag in beyond regular time, it wanted to be his. In its attach, he misjudged it and allowed the minute Pedro to beat him to alter into the unlikely winner of the aerial duel.

Man of the match – N’Golo Kante (Chelsea)

‘We deserved but every other result’ – what they acknowledged

Leicester Metropolis supervisor Claude Puel:

« I am a chunk upset on the second due to I agree with we deserved but every other result.

« They found a factual, clinical edge. Morata’s contrivance became the one chance of the first half of, it became harsh to concede lawful earlier than half of-time. But we came aid with more quiet and more quality.

« I am contented with my avid gamers due to it became a game with a high stage towards a factual personnel. We improved and we deserve but every other result.

« I agree with for the reason that starting Kasper has been an excellent goalkeeper. In contrivance there’s repeatedly a mistake nonetheless he has been unbelievable.

« I will now not advise anything else bad about him – he’s an excellent keeper. We had been wretched. »

Chelsea supervisor Antonio Conte:

« It became a worthy game nonetheless we knew this. The closing game at home [a 0-0 draw in January] we suffered loads towards Leicester.

« We’re going to have the flexibility to maintain to be happy. I saw a factual efficiency and expedient personality from my personnel.

« After the game within the Champions League, after we spent plenty of energy, they confirmed factual heart to beat Leicester. »

A lucky Leicester omen for Chelsea? – the stats

• Chelsea maintain reached the FA Cup semi-finals for the fourth time within the previous seven seasons.
• Of the outdated three instances where Chelsea maintain faced Leicester within the FA Cup, the Blues maintain knocked The Foxes out en route to winning the competition (1997, 2000 and 2012).
• Leicester maintain misplaced their closing four FA Cup quarter-finals – the closing two towards Chelsea – and maintain now not reached the semi-finals since 1982.
• With the exception of his defeat in closing season’s final towards Arsenal, Antonio Conte has now progressed from all 9 of his FA Cup ties accountable of Chelsea.
• Jamie Vardy has scored 10 aims in 12 appearances in all competitions towards ‘sizable six’ opposition this season.
• Alvaro Morata’s contrivance became his first in 14 appearances in all competitions for Chelsea, ending his longest speed with out a contrivance since becoming a member of the membership.
• Willian has been straight concerned by 10 aims in his closing 10 FA Cup appearances for Chelsea (six aims and four assists).
• The Brazilian has had a hand in 18 aims in his closing 20 starts for Chelsea in all competitions (12 aims and six assists).
• Pedro has been straight concerned by eight aims in his closing 10 FA Cup appearances (six aims and two assists).