Chelsea's David Luiz scores last place in Carabao Cup in shootout win over Spurs | Soccer

When the last kick has been delivered, it is up to the Chelsea players to run from the center line for the victory scrum. David Luiz scored the decisive penalty. The Tottenham players were on their knees and it will be the team of Maurizio Sarri who will try to face Manchester City in the final of the Carabao Cup.

On both legs, they will feel they deserve nothing less. Chelsea has certainly responded with much force to Sarri's critics after their defeat by Arsenal on Saturday. At half-time, Fernando Llorente led 2-0 on offense to lead the game to a dramatic final, when the group of players could withstand nervousness at 12 yards.

Christian Eriksen first played for the Spurs and placed his shot in the bottom right corner of Kepa Arrizabalaga's net. Erik Lamela, the team's next penalty shooter, went to the other side and beat the Chelsea goalkeeper again. Still, Willian, with a fake run, had scored for Chelsea between the two. César Azpilicueta's efforts were magnificent, he managed to get the corner after a long pbad, then Eric Dier freed himself from the line of Spurs players to start the long march from the center, in the hope of A little joy. he met during England's penalty shoot-out against Colombia at the World Cup.

The decisive sentence of Dier in Moscow was not particularly well taken. It was better, however, than the one he hit over the crossbar and Chelsea never regretted it. Jorginho scored his next penalty with a little unorthodox skip. When Luca Moura saved the kick, it allowed David Luiz to confirm Chelsea's place at Wembley on February 24, when Gonzalo Higuaín would no longer be eligible to make his debut against Spurs. , should be fully integrated into a team that, based on this evidence, can accept the criticism of his manager better than expected.

Against Arsenal, Sarri thought that his players lacked conviction and lacked the strength of the personality to do anything. Yet the idea that Chelsea could be so pbadive in this semi-final, given all the conflicts they've had with the Spurs in recent years, was never realistic. David Luiz endured the pain for most of the match after suffering a quick blast from Dier. Or, perhaps, consider the moment when N'Golo Kanté's low and low shot went through Moussa Sissoko's legs to deceive Spurs goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga, who brought the total score to 1-1.

There was no pumping of the marker's fists. His teammates rushed to kiss him but he watched them all. Kanté pointed to the ball, pointing out that he wanted someone to get it back – and quickly. He wanted the game to resume with the Spurs in retreat, and at those times it almost sounded like a spin of imagination that Sarri could question the competitive courage of his players.

Along the way, Eden Hazard could have the impression of proving her point of view. Sarri is right if he considers that Hazard is not the clbadic leader, in terms of the rolling of his sleeves, and his style, which lead his teammates in the manner of John Terry. There are different forms of leadership, though, and Hazard's performance was a reminder of why he is still Chelsea's most promising player.

Playing on the left, with a permission to walk, he was in his strongest position, escaping his opponents, cutting in the background and taking charge of his case to enter the penalty area. For Chelsea's second goal, the ball went from left to right, from Hazard to Pedro to the overlapping Azpilicueta. The cross came in low and Hazard gave the impression that one of the awkward throws gave Chelsea an overall lead for the first time.

For the Spurs, the first 45 minutes were a test and a stark reminder of their poor performance when Harry Kane was absent from Mauricio Pochettino's side. Dele Alli and Son Heung-min were all absent and there is no doubt that Chelsea, who was trying to catch up on the first leg 1-0, was encouraged by the fact that his opponents had been denied # 39; key players, especially when Pochettino also left out Hugo Lloris, his first-choice goalkeeper. The Spurs could have done with Kane, in particular, during the penalties.

The Spurs always had the interest of trying to get rid of the only thing that was always blamed on them: they never won a trophy at the time Pochettino. This gave rise to a convincing match: two of the main protagonists of the Premier League have beaten it all, in the spotlight, with high volume and the underlying meaning, in the stands and on the ground, that these teams and their supporters are really not too fond of each other.

The Spurs waved until five minutes into the second half, Llorente's goal changed the complexion. Danny Rose, who had replaced injured Ben Davies, provided the center of the left. Llorente had David Luiz nearby, but the position of the Brazilian's body was totally wrong. Llorente kept his eyes on the ball six meters away and headed for the goal, which once again equalized the match.

After that, both sides went in search of a winner and, for the first time, the Spurs threatened to take it away. Giroud could have restored Chelsea's lead in one minute and put a wide header at the save. Hazard lost another worthy opportunity, but with Spurs becoming more dangerous, Llorente lost a good opportunity thanks to Eriksen's brilliant straight benefit. Llorente apologized to Pochettino when he was replaced and, once again, Tottenham had to think about what could have been.