Djordje Petrovic was the shootout hero as he fired the starting pistol on the race to be Chelsea No1.
The 24-year-old Serb made a brilliant save from Matt Ritchie's penalty – Newcastle’s fourth - to send the Blues into the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup.
Petrovic used all of his 6ft 6in frame to claw away Ritchie’s strike and spark wild celebrations at Stamford Bridge after the match had finished 1-1.
Following his moment in the spotlight, the Chelsea squad mobbed the £14million signing from New England Revolution.
Robert Sanchez watched on knowing he has a real fight on his hands.
Chelsea make it through to the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup! 🔵🏆 pic.twitter.com/ueL1YWVQZj
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) December 19, 2023
Sanchez has made mistakes since joining from Brighton in the summer, particularly in his distribution and when claiming crosses, and could lose his place in the long-term.
In contrast, Petrovic has looked assured, in both his distribution and marshalling of his defence, but he had not faced many shots before the shootout.
At Everton, he was beaten by Lewis Dobbin just moments after replacing Sanchez, who had come off with a knee injury. Sheffield United mustered just one shot on target at the weekend and he faced just two shots against Newcastle during normal time.
Petrovic was helpless to prevent Callum Wilson from opening the scoring after calamitous mistakes from Levi Colwill, Thiago Silva and Benoit Badiashile.
Attacking trio Raheem Sterling, Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson struggled to find an equaliser, with striker Christopher Nkunku looking rusty on his long-awaited debut from the bench. Mykhailo Mudryk then pounced on a woeful header from Kieran Trippier to equalise in the 92nd minute.
In the shootout, Petrovic faced more shots than he had done all season. Trippier missed the target before the keeper saved Ritchie’s effort as the Blues won 4-2 in the shootout.
There was nothing special about the Chelsea performance but the outpouring of emotion after the final whistle was anything but normal.
Stand-in captain Gallagher summed up the mood, saying: "It's the best feeling I've had in a Chelsea shirt so far. I don't think we've had enough of those feelings in those kinds of games.”
Blues boss Mauricio Pochettino screamed “vamos” down a television camera lens, while Enzo Fernandez was crying, having come off ill, and the entire squad, including unused substitutes and injured players, did a lap of honour.
Pochettino hopes the celebrations help build a brotherhood missing from his group.
"I am pleased because when you see the whole squad, the players who were injured or not involved in the game but happy in the middle of the pitch, it shows we are a healthy group," he said.
"With time, it is about creating a team to compete, increasing the competition [within the squad] and being where Chelsea should be."
That togetherness gives a glimpse of a better future.
As does an increased battle for starting places, typified by Petrovic’s fight to take the first-choice spot from Sanchez.
