Blackburn Rovers *3-3 Chelsea: Blackburn Shock League Leaders Chelsea After Penalty Shootout

By Lewis Jones

Blackburn 4-3 Chelsea: Line-up & Stats
League Cup

It probably was a blessing in disguise that Sam Allardyce was not in the dug-out for an entertaining League Cup quarter final between Blackburn and Chelsea at Ewood Park. Allardyce is recovering at home following heart surgery and his blood pressure would have been through the roof as Blackburn came through an enthralling game on penalties against the league leaders.

Youngster Gael Kakuta was the unfortunate Chelsea player who's  penalty miss finally gifted Blackburn the victory.

Carlo Ancelotti went from hero to zero as his gamble to use all three substitutes at half-time first suceeded, then backfired. The Italian's changes made an instant impact as they came back from a goal down to lead 2-1, but a late injury in normal time to Soloman Kalou left the Blues with ten men, handing the momentum to Blackburn. Which they duly took, as Benni McCarthy thought he had won it in extra time from the penalty spot, but Chelsea incredibly struck level in the 120th minute to take the game to penalties through Paulo Ferreira.

Chelsea made eight changes to the side that defeated Arsenal at the weekend, most notably the match-winner from that game Didier Drogba was named among the substitutes, reiterating the fact that Carlo Ancelotti was taking the League Cup seriously.

Stand in manager Neil McDonald named a strong line up as Rovers looked to extend their unbeaten home run to eight games. The major absentee was instrumental midfielder David Dunn who missed out with a calf injury.

In the wake of Harry Redknapp's post match comment's on Tottenham performance last night, which questioned the importance of the League Cup and that the game lacked a quarter-final atmosphere, this game was the total opposite.

Both sides from the off had eyes on winning the game which made for an open, enthralling encounter.

Croatian Nikola Kallnic, who started the game like a man with something to prove, went close early on for the home side after great link up play with Jason Roberts.

Kallnic went one better minutes later as he gave Rovers a shock lead. Unusual hesitant Chelsea defending was seized upon by Pascal Chimbonda who broke down the right flank and squared the ball for the on-rushing Kallnic who slid the ball past Hilario.

Kalou had a great chance to level things minutes later but somehow put a point blank header wide from a Joe Cole centre.

The direct front trio of Kallnic, Roberts and McCarthy were causing all sorts of problems for a somewhat sloppy Chelsea back-line who failed to get to grips with the physical front three. Brett Emerton and Roberts both went close after defensive errors by Paulo Ferreira, who endured a nightmere first half.

Chelsea rarely threatened throughout the first period despite playing some incisive short passing, with the impressive Cole at the heart of anything positive.

Cole went close just before half tme with a mazy run which left Chimbonda seeing stars. The finish did not match the run however, as he smashed the ball into the side netting when he really should have worked former England teamate Paul Robinson.

Ancelotti was clearly not happy with his side's first half showing and played his hand at half time by introducing all three of his substitutes. Youngsters Gael Kakuta and Jeffrey Bruma were introduced, but it was the third substitute who signalled the managers intent, Didier Drogba.

Within minutes of his arrival the in-form striker drew the visitors level. Throughout the first half Chelsea decided against firing balls into the box due to the lack of an aerial threat. The first time the ball was sent into an attacking wide area in the second half, Malouda didn't waste anytime in pumping the ball into the box and Drogba was there to head home the equalilizer.  

The game was turned on its head minutes later as Michel Salgado who had been a constant menace for Rovers in the opening period, gave possession away to Yuri Zhirov who played in Kalou, he raced through a static Rovers defence and calmly slotted the ball past a helpless Robinson.

With Chelsea in total control of the game, yet another defensive lapse gave Blackburn an equalizer with one of their first attacks of the second half. A high cross into the box by Emerton was comically dealt with by Hilario and Kallnic caused a nuisance of himself as the ball dropped over the line.

With the game on a knifedge, both sides had chances to win the game in the closing stages. Drogba's powerful drive was palmed away by Robinson and Kallnic once again posed a threat as his shot from inside in the area was pushed to safety from Hilario.

Ancelotti's gamble of using all his subs at half time came back to haunt him, as Kalou had to leave the game with a groin injury.

Blackburn nearly stole the game deep into injury time as McCarthy thought he broke the offside trap and fired into the bottom corner, but  the linesman had his flag raised to dampen the celebrations.

Blackburn started extra time in the same vein, putting severe pressure on the ten men, and it only took 90 seconds for Blackburn to take a deserved lead. Zhirkov brought down lively substitute David Hoilett in the box. McCarthy stepped up and confidently struck the penalty to give Rovers the lead.

It was always going to be an up-hill struggle for the remainder of the game for the visitors. Drogba had a penalty claim turned down and Kakuta went close.

However, the league leaders are made of steel and the visitors made it to the top of the hill. With the game seemingly over, Chelsea's hero came from the most unlikely of sources. Frustratingly for Rovers, young Hoilett had two wonderful chances to seal the victory before Ferreira popped up in the 120th minute at the back post to take the tie to penalties with a composed finish.

Ballack missed Chelsea's first attempt, but was cancelled out by Kallnic who had his spot kick saved by Hilario. After all the subsequent penalties was scored, Kakuta caved under the intense pressure which put Blackburn through to a semi-final clash with Aston Villa.