Chelsea 1-1 Newcastle (4-2 pens): Djordje Petrovic saves Matt Ritchie’s penalty in shoot-out as Mauricio Pochettino’s side reach Carabao Cup semi-final after dramatic late equaliser from Mykhailo Mudryk

• Chelsea are through to the Carabao Cup semi-finals after beating Newcastle 4-2 on penalties
• Mykhailo Mudryk scored a late equaliser for Chelsea after Callum Wilson had opened the scoring
• Kieran Trippier made an error for Mudryk’s goal and also missed from the spot in the shootout 
• West Ham can WIN the League Cup… don’t get hung up on rotation. Sod it! Go all out at Anfield – It’s All Kicking Off 

Eddie Howe has put the block on any plans for a Christmas party because of the fixture schedule. His Newcastle players probably don’t feel much like celebrating anyway.

After the late heartache of the controversial penalty at Paris Saint-Saint Germain that ultimately proved costly in the Champions League, here was another dagger in the chest right at the death.

The Magpies were two minutes from a first ever away victory in a League Cup quarter-final when Mykhailo Mudryk sent an absorbing tie to a penalty shootout. And how Mauricio Pochettino needed that with the home crowd ready to turn.

The Ukrainian capitalised on a mistake by Kieran Trippier to pounce in the second minute of stoppage time. The Newcastle defender then missed his spot-kick and Djordje Petrovic was the hero when he saved Matt Ritchie’s effort.

Howe and his team were still applauded by their travelling fans, but this has been a bruising period, literally and metaphorically.

Chelsea goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic celebrates after saving Matt Ritchie’s penalty in the shoot-out at Stamford Bridge

The Blues won 4-2 on penalties against Newcastle, with Ritchie seeing his effort from the spot kept out by Petrovic

Petrovic is congratulated by his jubilant Chelsea team-mates following his save from Ritchie in the penalty shootout

Callum Wilson had put Newcastle ahead in the 16th minute of the game but his side were unable to hold on to the leadd

A late equaliser from substitute Mykhailo Mudryk sent the game to penalties, with Chelsea going on to prevail

It was a hugely frustrating night for Kieran Trippier, who made an error for the goal and also missed in the shootout

MATCH FACTS AND PLAYER RATINGS

CHELSEA (4-3-3): Petrovic 6; Disasi 6 (Maatsen 78min), Silva 5.5, Badiashile 5, Colwill 5 (Gusto 46, 6); Gallagher 6.5, Caicedo 6; Palmer 7, Fernandez 5 (Broja 32, 6), Sterling 6.5 (Mudryk 78); Jackson 6.5 (Nkunku 69, 6).

Scorer: Mudryk 90+2. Booked: Caicedo, Sterling, Gallagher, Mudryk.

Manager: Mauricio Pochettino 6.

NEWCASTLE (4-3-3): Dubravka 7; Krafth 6.5 (Trippier 46, 6), Lascelles 7.5, Botman 6 (Burn 46, 6), Livramento 7; Miley 7, Guimaraes 7, S Longstaff 7; Almiron 6, Wilson 7, Gordon 6 (Ritchie 52, 6).

Scorer: Wilson 16. Booked: Wilson, Guimaraes.

Manager: Eddie Howe 7.

Referee: Jarred Gillett 6. Att: 38,058.

Premier League defeats at Everton and Tottenham were followed by a home loss against AC Milan, when they crashed out of the Champions League and overshot the safe landing of the Europa League. 

And now this, exiting a competition Howe admitted was their best chance of silverware.

There is mitigation — injuries, bans and cup ties in which they always draw No.13. They had beaten both Manchester clubs to get this far and the Champions League Group of Death that proved a killer also included PSG and Dortmund. Oh, and they’ve got Sunderland to come in the FA Cup third round.

All of a sudden, crossing the Tyne feels as much like swimming the Channel, given the ever-increasing magnitude of the fixture. Without Europe and the Carabao Cup, darkness would descend on Newcastle’s season if all went wrong at the Stadium of Light.

That remains unlikely, of course. They are more than good enough to beat Sunderland, evidenced by the spirit of a performance here in which captain Jamaal Lascelles was a colossus at the back.

This was also one of VAR’s better games. It was not in use, you see. And so when Moises Caicedo ran his studs down the back of Anthony Gordon’s calf inside 90 seconds — referee Jarred Gillett showed a yellow card — those privy to a replay waited for a VAR referral that was never coming.

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Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino is jubilant as he celebrates with his players after the penalty shootout victory

Gary Neville quickly returned his one-word verdict: ‘red’. But without the technology, the Chelsea midfielder survived.

It was the same just before half-time when Chelsea’s Levi Colwill landed his studs on the shin of Emil Krafth. Again, those at Stockley Park would have surely advised red. Colwill, however, was not even booked.

Only when it’s not there do we perhaps appreciate VAR more.

Not that the pair being on the pitch did Chelsea any favours when, from Colwill’s errant pass to Caicedo, Newcastle broke through Wilson and scored the opener after 16 minutes. They were not the only players in blue left with a red face. Thiago Silva could have tackled the Newcastle striker but didn’t.

Christopher Nkunku made his long-awaited debut for Chelsea and was amongst the scorers in the penalty shootout

It was a hugely positive night for Mudryk who managed to score in the shootout in addition to his late equaliser

Trippier is consoled by his Newcastle team-mates after his miss in the penalty shootout during the Carabao Cup clash

IT’S ALL KICKING OFF! 

It’s All Kicking Off is an exciting new podcast from Mail Sport that promises a different take on Premier League football, with a show every Monday and Thursday this season.

It is available on MailOnline, Mail+, YouTube , Apple Music and Spotify

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Benoit Badiashile did tackle but then gave the ball straight back to Wilson, who clipped gratefully past Petrovic from eight yards.

It was a calamitous concession, especially given Wilson had twice lost control of the ball.

From that point, Chelsea took control. They had 80 per cent possession before the break and that showed itself in chances for Cole Palmer, whose blast was saved, and Raheem Sterling, whose close-range steer was blocked on the line by Bruno Guimaraes.

The direction of travel remained the same entering the second half and Nicolas Jackson spun and slammed narrowly wide shortly after the restart. 

He was soon needed at the other end when making up fully 15 yards and chasing down Gordon, who was in the clear.

Mudryk, on as a substitute, sent the game to penalties when he scored with an impressive finish in the closing stages

Wilson demonstrated impressive composure to put Newcastle in front in the 16th minute during the Carabao Cup clash

It was enough for the Newcastle winger to wave to the bench and ask to be replaced.

Having lost that race, his was done, and who can blame his hamstrings for feeling the strain after featuring in every game bar one this season. On came Matt Ritchie.

But it was another substitution that raised the roof at a time when Chelsea had fallen flat. Christopher Nkunku injured his knee in the final pre-season friendly having looked the brightest of Chelsea’s summer signings. 

This was his debut and, memorably for him, the French forward was among their spot-kick scorers.

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