In a dramatic twist, Super Eagles of Nigeria striker, Tolu Arokodare scored for Chelsea in a 4-3 EFL Cup defeat against Chelsea on Wednesday night, October 29.
Chelsea seemed home and hosed, having secured a 3-0 lead. However, Tolu Arokodare pulled one back for Wolves, kickstarting a nervy second-half for the Blues in which they conceded twice more in a 4-3 win.
Jamie Gittens’s wonder strike late in the game secured victory for Enzo Maresca, ensuring they advanced to the next round of the EFL Cup, with Wolves failing in their attempt to use the league cup as respite amid their relegation-bound EPL form.
Key Match Details
Chelsea set the tone early and grabbed the lead in the 5th minute. A loose touch from Tolu Arokodare allowed Jamie Gittens to win it in a dangerous area and tee up Andrey Santos, who curled a first-time effort into the bottom corner from the edge of the box for his first Chelsea goal.
Ten minutes later, Gittens was again central to the action. He burst down the left, beat Matt Doherty and delivered a low cross which Tyrique George met from close range to make it 2–0 (15′).
Chelsea’s third followed a similar script of quick pressing and profit from a turnover: in the 41st minute, Andrey Santos robbed Fernando López, the ball broke to Estêvão, and he dinked a neat finish over José Sá to make it 3–0. The result at halftime flattered Chelsea’s performance but underlined the defensive frailties which have plagued Wolves’ season.
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Wolves were a different team after the break. Three minutes into the second half, Hwang Hee-chan fed Tolu Arokodare, who clipped a low finish past the keeper to pull one back (48′) and spark belief.
The hosts kept probing, and that persistence paid off in the 73rd minute when a long throw-in was flicked on through a sequence of bodies, Marshall Munetsi, then Ladislav Krejčí and Emmanuel Agbadou, before David Wolfe arrived at the back post to smash home his first for the club and make it 3–2.
Drama peaked late. Chelsea were reduced to ten men in the 86th minute when Liam Delap, who replaced Estevao, saw a second yellow and was sent off for a foul after coming on.
Chelsea scored the next goal, despite the numerical advantage, however. In the 89th minute, Jamie Gittens restored Chelsea’s two-goal cushion with a thumping effort that cannoned in off the post after a chaotic Wolves clearance.
Wolves were not done despite what was meant as a killing blow. David Wolfe swept in a stoppage-time goal (90+1′) after a scramble to make it 4-3 and set up a frenetic finale. Chelsea held on as the seconds ticked away, and the visitors survived a late barrage to progress.
