Chelsea were the comeback kings as they claimed a thrilling 5-4 win over Manchester United to reach the League Cup quarter-finals.
After the stormy events of Sunday’s Premier League clash which was marred by controversy and a race row, this time the pair put on a goal fest that enthralled Stamford Bridge.
Following the drama of Arsenal’s 7-5 win at Reading on Tuesday, this match had similar thrills and spills on Halloween night.
Ryan Giggs had put United ahead when he cashed in on a mistake from Petr Cech. The Chelsea keeper put Oriol Romeu under pressure with a goal kick and Anderson nicked the ball away and Giggs finished into the corner.
But David Luiz levelled with a coolly-taken spot-kick after Alex Buttner had tripped Victor Moses.
Still, United looked dangerous on the counter and Luiz erred by giving the ball away to Anderson and he set up Javier Hernandez to score – just like he had done controversially in Sunday’s league encounter.
A powerful header by Gary Cahill put Chelsea back on level terms, but Nani stunned the hosts when he played a neat one-two with Anderson and then dinked the ball over Cech .
But there was more to come and Chelsea left it late, just like Arsenal. And young United defender Scott Wootten had a nightmare spell that saw Roberto Di Matteo’s men turn the match around.
First the Liverpudlian teen bundled over Ramires in the box in injury-time and Eden Hazard stroked home the spot-kick to level at 3-3. Wootten’s poor header then gifted the ball to Daniel Sturridge, who rounded Anders Lindegaard and slotted home for 4-3 early in extra-time.
Ramires added the fifth before United gained hope when Cesar Azpilicueta crashed into Hernandez and Giggs made it 5-4 from the penalty spot.
But Chelsea saw out the final two minutes of added time to book a date with Leeds United in the quarter-finals.
"Leeds and Chelsea have a bit of history so it should be an interesting game," said Chelsea boss Roberto Di Matteo.
Meanwhile, Liverpool’s defence of the League Cup ended as Brendan Rodgers’ selection gamble backfired, as former club Swansea progressed to the last eight with a 3-1 win.
The Northern Irishman left the Welsh club in the summer to take over from Kenny Dalglish but it was the visitors who had the last laugh.
Chico Flores and Nathan Dyer put the Swans 2-0 up with 17 minutes to go, and although Luis Suarez pulled one back, Jonathan de Guzman made sure of the win in added time to loosen the eight-time winners’ grip on the trophy.
It was only Liverpool's 10th defeat in 102 League Cup games as the home team.
At Carrow Road, two late strikes and a penalty save from Mark Bunn ensured Norwich’s passage through as they beat Tottenham 2-1.
Gareth Bale, who had torn Norwich apart here last season, seemed to have put the visitors on course for victory when he drove home a 20-yard shot in the second half.
But two goals in the last six minutes gave the Canaries victory. Alex Tettey’s shot flew in off the out-stretched leg of Jan Vertonghen and then Simeon Jackson pounced on an error by Hugo Lloris to make it 2-1 with three minutes left.
The drama did not end there, however, as Kyle Walker was upended in the Norwich box by Marc Tierney a minute later. Clint Dempsey stepped up to take the spot-kick, but Bunn saved the American’s shot.
QUARTER-FINAL DRAW
Leeds United v Chelsea
Swansea v Middlesbrough
Norwich v Aston Villa
Bradford City v Arsenal
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