Match ends, Chelsea 1, Bournemouth 0.
ChelseaChelsea1BournemouthAFC Bournemouth0
Substitute Eden Hazard scored a late winner as Chelsea beat Bournemouth to reach the Carabao Cup semi-finals.
The match was six minutes away from going to penalties when Pedro's back-heel gave Hazard a chance, with his shot deflecting off Charlie Daniels and past Artur Boruc.
Bournemouth, who were aiming to reach the semi-final of a major cup competition for the first time in their history, had chances but Callum Wilson shot just wide and Lys Mousset had an effort saved by Kepa Arrizabalaga.
The Cherries, with keeper Boruc joining the attack, had a chance from a free-kick in the 94th minute but shots from Ryan Fraser and Wilson were blocked as the hosts held on.
It means Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri remains on course for a cup final in his first season in English football.
His side will play Tottenham, 2-0 winners over north London rivals Arsenal, in the semi-finals with the Blues away in the first leg in the week commencing 7 January, before the return at Stamford Bridge two weeks later.
Manchester City, 2018 winners, will face League One side Burton Albion in the other tie.
Chelsea, fourth in the Premier League and eight points behind leaders Liverpool, had the majority of the chances against Bournemouth but Boruc saved efforts from Ross Barkley, Olivier Giroud and Willian in the first half.
The impressive Ruben Loftus-Cheek hit the foot of the post with a fine strike from outside the penalty area before Hazard replaced Barkley in the 61st minute.
The Belgium international shot over the bar and had another attempt from 30 yards well saved by Boruc, before he linked up with Pedro for the game's only goal - his 10th for Chelsea in all competitions this season.
For Bournemouth, they have now lost seven of their past eight games in all competitions, failing to score in their last three matches.
Chelsea in the final four again - the stats
- Chelsea have qualified for the EFL Cup semi-finals in consecutive seasons for the first time since 2007-08.
- Chelsea have won all four of their EFL Cup meetings with Bournemouth, with the last two coming in the quarter-final.
- Eden Hazard has had a hand in 19 goals in all competitions this season (10 goals and nine assists); the most of any Premier League player.
- Chelsea had 12 shots on target against Bournemouth; their most in a game in any competition under Maurizio Sarri.
'Hazard made the difference' - what they said
Chelsea assistant manager Gianfranco Zola said: "The difference was the changes we made. When Pedro and Eden came on, they gave us an extra gear.
"Eden is the type of player who can make a big difference when he comes on, even for 20 minutes.
"He's certainly one of the players who has given this club a lot of satisfaction. He is 27, and hopefully he will stay long with us and become even bigger."
Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe said: "We put in a disciplined defensive display, counter-attacked well and we used the ball well. The result could've been different and I'm so disappointed for those players who gave their all out on the pitch.
"At 0-0 we looked more than capable and had our moments, we just couldn't get that one moment to score.
"Hazard always has a habit of scoring against us, he's a quality player who made the difference.
"We knew we were going to be tested but when you go against the best that's the best way to judge yourselves."
Line-ups
Chelsea
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Arrizabalaga
- 28Azpilicueta
- 2Rüdiger
- 27ChristensenSubstituted forDavid Luizat 81'minutes
- 33Emerson
- 17Kovacic
- 4FàbregasBooked at 60mins
- 8BarkleySubstituted forE Hazardat 61'minutes
- 12Loftus-Cheek
- 18Giroud
- 22WillianSubstituted forPedroat 55'minutes
Substitutes
- 7Kanté
- 10E Hazard
- 11Pedro
- 13Caballero
- 20Hudson-Odoi
- 21Zappacosta
- 30David Luiz
Bournemouth
Formation 3-5-2
- 1Boruc
- 3S Cook
- 25SimpsonBooked at 65mins
- 11Daniels
- 10Ibe
- 19StanislasBooked at 57minsSubstituted forFraserat 63'minutes
- 20BrooksSubstituted forDefoeat 88'minutes
- 5Aké
- 21Rico
- 13Wilson
- 9MoussetSubstituted forKingat 73'minutes
Substitutes
- 6Surman
- 7Pugh
- 17King
- 18Defoe
- 24Fraser
- 26Mings
- 42Travers
- Referee:
- Anthony Taylor
- Attendance:
- 40,432
Match Stats
Home TeamChelseaAway TeamBournemouth
- Possession
- Home73%
- Away27%
- Shots
- Home25
- Away11
- Shots on Target
- Home11
- Away3
- Corners
- Home6
- Away2
- Fouls
- Home6
- Away8
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Chelsea 1, Bournemouth 0.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Steve Cook (Bournemouth) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
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Attempt blocked. Ryan Fraser (Bournemouth) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
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Attempt blocked. Callum Wilson (Bournemouth) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Steve Cook.
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Foul by Emerson (Chelsea).
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Steve Cook (Bournemouth) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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David Luiz (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Joshua King (Bournemouth).
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Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Artur Boruc.
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Attempt saved. Olivier Giroud (Chelsea) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Eden Hazard.
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Attempt saved. Emerson (Chelsea) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Eden Hazard.
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Attempt saved. Steve Cook (Bournemouth) right footed shot from long range on the left is saved in the bottom right corner.
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Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Diego Rico (Bournemouth).
Substitution
Substitution, Bournemouth. Jermain Defoe replaces David Brooks because of an injury.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Mateo Kovacic (Chelsea) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Eden Hazard.
Post update
Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Charlie Daniels.
Goal!
Goal! Chelsea 1, Bournemouth 0. Eden Hazard (Chelsea) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Emerson.
Substitution
Substitution, Chelsea. David Luiz replaces Andreas Christensen because of an injury.
Comments
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So a team lose narrowly AWAY from home to one of the best teams in the country and that makes their manager a fraud? Have you considered going to school? Education truly is a wonderful thing, give it a whirl.
Oh the joys of playing a "top" club!
Great effort Bournemouth, the performance was encouraging after some poor games. UTCIAD 🍒
Just grow up.
@5 very quiet when Madrid got thumped in the Champions League, if you detest the Premiership that much don’t comment on it - is that simple enough for your one brain cell to understand.
What utter rubbish to claim that City fans aren't racist. They fans berate and abuse United fans all the time and they're mainly from Asia.