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Chelsea took on Luton to ease off the pressure on the team with a win. From the start of the game, you would see the determination and commitment to get a good result on the day. A good and comfortable win sometimes can be a springboard for any struggling team as it could also be their downfall as well
Chelsea started brightly and the out of form Timo Werner found Tammy Abraham with a beautiful ball and Tammy wasted no time to mark the register on the night and put Chelsea ahead.
Tammy wasn't done and Reece James' accurate lob cross found him and he expertly nodded the ball home to make it 2-0. 2 goals for Chelsea and 2 goals for Tammy. You could have easily known that Tammy would hit his hat-trick on a day like this. I expected goals because the wealth of talents Lampard kept on the bench too can take the game further away from Luton.
Kepa was restored to the line up for this match so as to rest Mendy. It was all in a bid to restore confidence to him as Mendy has displaced him as number 1. He still has his wobbly feet and failing hands, coupled with his occasional wrong judgements but you can never deny the fact that he would be an amazing goalkeeper if only he can be consistent and do even more. He had some brilliant saves on the day but that solitary mistake would be talked about more and more. That is to be expected from the most expensive goalkeeper in Chelsea. Every action would be scrutinized especially if the mistake leads to a goal and the best would be expected of him every time.
Kepa made a mistake that led to Luton getting a lifeline to get back into the game when a low drive shot easily beat him and he couldn't keep it out. For a goalkeeper at his level, he should have kept that out. It would or might have been overlooked if it happens once in a while but for his career till date at Chelsea, these mistakes have plagued him. Luton scored and the game is on, 2-1.
In the 35th minute, Reece had a ball in but Tammy couldn't quite connect with the ball and in the 41st minute as well, Tammy found Ziyech but he couldn't sort himself out because the ball fell to his right. He tried to release a pass but it was cut out easily. Chelsea's pressure is getting intense even at this stage of the game.
The captain of the night; Mason Mount had a ball flash across the face of the post but there was no one to connect with it in the 44th minute.
In the 46th minute, Emerson's ball found Timo Werner who put his effort wide albeit from a tight spot. Just a minute after, Luton decided to threaten Chelsea's backline with a good header from a ball in but the Kepa held firm. 3 minutes after, Ziyech and Pulisic exchanged a wonderful pass that sent Pulisic through but the goalkeeper saved with his feet, leaving Pulisic on the floor in pains.
Chelsea then had a short corner with Ziyech flashing the face of the post but Tammy couldn't connect with the effort. Tammy wasted few chances on the night and the frustration also showed on him with every miss.
In the 56th minute, Ziyech dazzled and found Mason Mount who fired agonizingly wide. That was a poor effort even by his own standards. Chelsea really bombarded Luton and the game looked like a shooting practice for Chelsea who had chances upon chances and were shooting from every angle but Luton defended desperately.
Reece James made a mistake in the 60th minute that led to a swift attack from Luton but Kepa saved it wonderfully. Luton came so close to taking the lead but for the heroics of Kepa. Luton threatened Chelsea also from set-pieces.
As the game wears out and Tammy Abraham knew be might be taken off, he started getting desperate for his hat-trick and he had a shot go out wide in the 65th minute.
In the 70th minute, Werner was pulled back in the box and was hoping for a penalty which the referee didn't point to.
Substitute Odoi's first touch of the game came from Reece's cross. His touch was good, so was his control but nothing came out of it and just 2 minutes after, he dazzles with his feet and crossed for Tammy Abraham who missed yet again.
In the 74th minute, Tammy got his hat-trick when the impressive Odoi exchanged a pass with Gilmour and Tammy only did a tap in to register his 3 goals and secure Chelsea's passage into the next round; 3-1. Odoi inject pace, urgency and belief into the team when he came on and it explains why they started playing with more urgency with him introduced into the side.
Substitute, Moncur had a curling effort go wide as well for Luton. Chelsea had 14 touches in Luton's box and his hat-trick should have been 5 goals or more.
In the 84th minute, Werner was clipped in the box and the referee had no choice than to point to the spot-kick. After a brief discussion with Giroud, Giroud allows Werner to play it but he missed. The keeper brilliantly saved his effort. This explains and sums up.
Chelsea won on the night but still didn't save Lampard from the sack. I will be writing on his sack, very soon.
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