Chelsea 2-1 Plymouth Argyle (aet): Alonso rescues European champions from FA Cup shock

Chelsea escaped an FA Cup shock at Stamford Bridge on Saturday as they beat Plymouth Argyle 2-1 after extra time.

Thomas Tuchel, absent from the game after a positive COVID-19 test, saw his side battle back from an early Macaulay Gillesphey header through the unlikely duo of Cesar Azpilicueta and Marcos Alonso.

Azpilicueta’s stylish finish drew the Blues level but it was not until the 16th minute of the additional period that Alonso struck to send them into round five.

Plymouth nearly forced a shoot-out but Ryan Hardie’s penalty was comfortably saved by Kepa Arrizabalaga in a dramatic finish, the Chelsea keeper sparing the blushes of Malang Sarr. 

Loves saving penalties. pic.twitter.com/DgryzWM00Q

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) February 5, 2022

The visitors, whose last win over Chelsea was in the EFL Cup 42 years ago, had previously gone 13 consecutive FA Cup ties against top-flight teams without going through since they beat West Brom in 1983-84.

Their travelling fans were understandably in raptures when Gillesphey outmuscled Romelu Lukaku to glance in Jordan Houghton’s cross in just the eighth minute to put them ahead.

Luck then played its part in preserving Plymouth’s lead, Mateo Kovacic and Callum Hudson-Odoi each hitting the crossbar and the former rifling a low shot off the left-hand post.

Chelsea got their equaliser four minutes before the break, though, Azpilicueta backheeling home Mason Mount’s low cross from the right.

The Spain defender repeated the trick just before the hour mark, but he was clearly offside following a header from Lukaku, who had earlier failed to meet a teasing Mount cross.

Chelsea could not turn dominance of the ball into many meaningful chances, though, and Kepa Arrizabalaga had to be alert to block an effort from Hardie, who was through on goal.

Michael Cooper then flew to his right to tip over a Mount strike as Plymouth stayed resolute against an attacking quintet of Lukaku, Mount, Ziyech, Timo Werner and Kai Havertz to force the extra 30 minutes.

Just before the extra-time interval, Chelsea finally put a clinical move together, Havertz playing a one-two with Werner before squaring for Alonso to side-foot home.

That looked like being the end of the drama but, in the 117th minute, Hardie won a penalty from Sarr only to see his poor attempt saved by Kepa.
 

What does it mean? Blues make heavy work of first game in crucial month

The FA Cup is one of five competitions in which Chelsea will play in February: they are in the Club World Cup next week, have Premier League matches and a Champions League last-16 first leg to come, and they face Liverpool in the EFL Cup final on February 27.

Playing 120 minutes against lower-tier opposition was not the way Tuchel will have wanted to start that run, although he will at least be relieved that they eventually got the job done.

Azpilicueta takes command

Azpilicueta had seven of Chelsea’s 41 shots, the most of anyone except Ziyech (eight).

The defender’s three attempts on target represented the highest total on the pitch and his delightful finish got the Blues back into the match as their star-studded attack offered a worrying lack of potency.

Lukaku looks lost

This was an opportunity for Lukaku to improve on a run of just one goal in six games in all competitions. After 120 minutes on the pitch, he had only two shots to show for his efforts.

Instead, he was marshalled quite comfortably by defenders playing two tiers below him. He won only one of 10 duels and completed 15 passes, the lowest of any starting Chelsea player.

What’s next?

Chelsea head to Abu Dhabi for the Club World Cup, while Plymouth are at Crewe Alexandra in League One on Tuesday.