Chelsea survived a last gasp equaliser and 2 red cards to see off Norwich City 5-3(1-1) in the penalty shootout of the third round of FA Cup.
After being stunned by a late equaliser, Chelsea was left bewildered and infuriated over the experimental video referees.
As frustration grew over the lack of winner against Norwich in the FA Cup, so did the number of dives by Chelsea players.
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Chelsea finished Wednesday’s third-round replay with nine men after Pedro Rodriguez and Alvaro Morata saw red in the frenzied conclusion with the teams locked at 1-1. Chelsea did eventually prevail on penalties against the second-tier visitors, winning 5-3 to advance to the fourth round in the rain at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte was relieved but also seeking answers about the role of video assistant referees and how on-field official Graham Scott was consulting them. Scott certainly didn’t go over to a monitor to assess decisions himself.
Antonio Conte’s side finished extra-time down to nine men after late red cards for Pedro and Alvaro Morata at Stamford Bridge.
They had been forced into the extra period when Jamal Lewis’s last-gasp equaliser cancelled out Michy Batshuayi’s strike but their reserve goalkeeper Willy Caballero made the crucial save from Nelson Oliveira in the 5-3 shoot-out win to send the Blues through to host Newcastle in the fourth round.
It was a first win in 2018 for Chelsea, who had drawn their four previous matches in all competitions this year.