Chelsea exited the Carabao Cup with a whimper as they were beaten 2-0 by Newcastle at St James’ Park.
Enzo Maresca made 11 changes from the side won beat the Magpies 2-1 at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, and paid the price as his second-string were outfought by the hosts.
The goals that sent Newcastle into the quarter-finals came within three minutes of each other midway through the first half, with Alexander Isak rolling under goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen after a poor pass out by Benoit Badiashile was seized upon by the hosts’ high-press.
No sooner had Newcastle fans finished celebrating Isak’s opener than their side were 2-0 up. Isak’s cross from the left deflected off Christopher Nkunku and was then flicked on by Joe Willock before Axel Disasi bundled into his own net.
Newcastle had warned Chelsea of their threat on the counter-attack as early as the second minute when Anthony Gordon squared for Joelinton and the Brazilian struck the post when he ought instead to have scored.
Chelsea, all at sea defensively, were at their most threatening in attack when Joao Felix got the chance to run at Newcastle. He had two shots well blocked, but became frustrated in the second half as his team-mates struggled around him.
Willock blazed over just before the break, William Osula struck the post in the second half, and Sean Longstaff had a third goal rightly disallowed for offside for Eddie Howe’s dominant side.
Attention returns to Premier League matters for Chelsea, who face Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday before hosting Armenian side FC Noah in the Europa Conference League next Thursday.
