Football News

Chelsea 1-1 Newcastle: Player ratings as Blues win shootout to book a place in EFL Cup final four

By Mohamed Moallim

Published: 22:15, 19 December 2023

A place in the EFL Cup semi-final was up for grabs when Chelsea entertained Newcastle at Stamford Bridge this evening.

Mauricio Pochettino’s men navigated past AFC Wimbledon, Brighton & Hove Albion and Blackburn Rovers to get this far. As for Eddie Howe’s side, they vanquished both Manchester clubs without conceding a goal.

Revenge was also in the air with this meeting coming weeks after the Magpies had run out 4-1 winners over a 10-man Blues at St. James’ Park.

This showdown wouldn’t be decided in regulation time as Chelsea equalised in stoppage time. The visitors had gone in front through a Callum Wilson effort though it was a self-inflicted wound by the hosts with the Geordie marksman profiting from a catalogue of Blues errors.

However, the Magpies decided to repay the favour with Kieran Trippier’s wayward backpass was intercepted by much-maligned Mykhailo Mudryk to finish past Dubravka.

With no extra time, the contest swiftly moved to a dreaded shootout which saw Chelsea come out on top winning 4-2. Trippier, who had a rough final stretch, missed their first sport kick. His effort crashed off the post. Matt Ritchie, another second-half substitute, could only watch Đorđe Petrović save his effort.

As the dust begins to settle on this EFL Cup quarter-final, here’s our player ratings:


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Chelsea

Đorđe Petrović – 7.5 – Consecutive start for the 24-year-old Serbian goalkeeper. But he couldn’t keep a clean sheet on this occasion. Badiashile’s miskick left him exposed and Wilson didn’t need a second invitation. He would end the evening as one of Chelsea’s heroes with an excellent save in the shootout.

Axel Disasi – 5.5 – Saw a headed effort on the stroke of half-time go wide.

Thiago Silva – 6.5 – He would be kicking himself for allowing Wilson to barge through and put Newcastle ahead. That aside the Brazil international didn’t put a foot wrong. 

Benoît Badiashile – 4.5 – A poor mistake allowed Wilson in to finish superbly for the visitors. “Initially Badiashile does brilliantly, but then he tries to be a little bit too clever and he gets it all wrong and it is an absolute gift for Newcastle,” Don Goodman noted on Sky Sports commentary.

Levi Colwill – 5.5 – His wayward pass ultimately resulted in Wilson’s opener. Felt something that led to him being substituted at half-time.

Moisés Caicedo – 5 – Picked up a second-minute booking after coming in late on Gordon but it could have been worse. “That is a naughty one,” Don Goodman on Sky Sports. “He is a lucky boy, he is nowhere near the ball. He is very lucky there is no VAR tonight….”

Conor Gallagher – 6 – Struck the crossbar from outside the box following a seventh-minute Chelsea corner. Went down under pressure from Livramento in the 90th minute but a penalty wasn’t awarded on reflection it was the right decision with Gallagher fortunate to not go into the referee book.

Enzo Fernández – 4 – Was able to play just 30 minutes before going off with a suspected illness.

Raheem Sterling – 7 – Had a wonderful opportunity to equalise after playing a one-two with Caicedo, but the former Man City man attempted to pass into the far bottom corner only for it to roll just wide. Booked late on for simulation. 

Nicolas Jackson – 4.5 – One cannot question his commitment but Jackson is lacking that consistency that will catapult him from being merely okay to good.

Cole Palmer – 6.5 – Deployed in a deep-lying forward position, that free role enabled him to be available whenever Chelsea ventured forward. He couldn’t though find that dynamic touch to make a difference. Picked up a knock that forced him off minutes into the second half.

Substitutes:

Armando Broja (for Fernández 32) – 5 – Put the ball into the net minutes after coming on but was offside.

Malo Gusto (for Colwill 46) – 4 – Picked up from where Colwill left off with him predominantly operating in Newcastle’s half as Chelsea pushed for an equaliser.

Christopher Nkunku (for Jackson 69) – 4 – Making his first appearance following his fanfare arrival this past summer. 

Ian Maatsen (for Disasi 78) – N/A – A late sub.

Mykhailo Mudryk (for Sterling 78) – 6.5 – Right place at the right time for Chelsea’s very, very late equaliser.

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Newcastle

Martin Dúbravka – 5.5 – Was kept on his toes by Chelsea’s forward but their wayward shooting coupled with Newcastle’s brave defending nearly ensured a clean sheet.

Emil Krafth – 4 – Played only 174 minutes of first-team football this season before this evening. Krafth felt that lack of playing time when he went down shortly before the break.

Jamaal Lascelles – 5 – Survived a penalty appeal following Sterling going down inside the box.

Sven Botman – 5 – His presence in Newcastle’s defence had been missed. Botman returned after nearly three months on the sidelines last time out but lasted one half.

Tino Livramento – 5.5 – Back where it all started for the Newcastle full-back. Gave a good account of himself considering Sterling was prowling down his flank. Though had a heart-in-mouth moment when his late defensive header flew inches past Dúbravka’s goal.

Bruno Guimarães – 5 – Produced a superb block on the line to deny Sterling moments after the English forward saw an effort go wide. Shown a yellow card in stoppage time after an unfair challenge on Maatsen.

Sean Longstaff – 5.5 – Covered ample ground while enjoying a fascinating midfield battle with Caicedo.

Lewis Miley – 4.5 – Another start for the promising teenager who is fast becoming a fan favourite though he was relatively quiet this evening.

Miguel Almirón – 4 – Made several runs into the opposition half but didn’t have that singular moment to get his name on the scoresheet.

Callum Wilson – 6 – Netted on his 100th appearance for Newcastle — a brilliant finish with the outside of his foot — after profiting from a huge Badiashile error. Before that he carried the ball 50 yards following a loose Chelsea ball in his own half.

Anthony Gordon – 5 – Had the first chance for Newcastle after picking himself up after Caicedo’s naughty challenge. Gordon’s volley from inside the box deflected over the bar.

Substitutes:

Dan Burn (for Botman 46) – 4 – Another back from Newcastle’s infirmary. Howe was sensible to manage his returning players’ minutes.

Kieran Trippier (for Krafth 46) – 3 – Knew he was coming on after Krafth went down twice. It didn’t take long for Trippier to get up to game speed but made a basic error in stoppage time allowing Mudryk to equalise. Followed that up with a miss in the shootout.

Matt Ritchie (for Gordon 51) – 4 – A rather conservative substitution due to a lack of options. Gordon would have likely played the full 90 minutes if he didn’t succumb to his knock. Missed in the spot-kick.

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