Carling Cup - Burnley Home 12 November 2008 - 1-1 AET (4-5 on Penalties)

Burnley Heap More Spot Kick Misery on Chelsea

By Alan McGuinness

Burnley stunned Chelsea at Stamford Bridge this evening, winning 5-4 on penalties to extend the Blues’ seemingly endless penalty curse and progress into the 5th Round of the Carling Cup.

Luiz Felipe Scolari - who had no doubt seen the damage Arsenal’s youngsters had done against Wigan the night before - chose to field an experimental side which was spearheaded by Didier Drogba, starting his first game since his return from injury.

6 changes from the weekend win at Blackburn were made in all, and Wayne Bridge was a surprise choice as captain in the absence of both Frank Lampard and John Terry, who were both on the bench.

Alex had a chance to hit a free-kick at goal, but his effort was poor and Wayne Bridge’s follow up was little better.

Controversy then occurred when Burnley’s Danish keeper Jensen appeared to handle the ball outside of the box in trying to prevent a Drogba shot. The referee saw nothing untoward and the game went on.

Defender cum-midfielder Juliano Beletti was forced off with an injury after 25 minutes, and his replacement - Frank Lampard - help set up Drogba for the game’s opening goal with 27 minutes on the clock.

The Ivorian ran on to Lampard’s pass, leaving two defenders trailing in his wake before finishing with aplomb.

Branislav Ivanovic almost doubled the home side’s lead before half time, but saw his diving header come back off the crossbar.

Chelsea sat back as the game moved towards the middle of the second half, and substitute Akinbiyi made them pay.

Ex Manchester United midfielder Chris Eagles forced Cudicini to parry his shot and Akinbiyi was on hand to put the ball in and send Burnley’s travelling fans into raptures.

The goal gave Chelsea a much needed wake up call, and they probed and pressed in an attempt to avoid extra time and - potentially - penalties.

Substitute Franco Di Santo had two chances to decide the game in 90 minutes, but he shot wide from outside the area and headed the ball into the arms of Jensen.

Extra time it was to be, and Chelsea continued to press in an attempt to avoid the lottery of penalties. Lampard had the ball in the back of the net, but was judged to have been offside.

An injury to Franco Di Santo meant that the Blues had to play the majority of extra time with 10 men, but parity was restored towards the end when Burnley’s captain Steven Caldwell was shown his second yellow card for hauling down Florent Malouda.

But, probe as they did, Chelsea couldn’t find a way through, and for the first time since that fateful night in Moscow, the club were to be involved in a penalty shootout.

Wayne Bridge was the first player to crack under the pressure leaving Elliot with the chance to make himself a hero, but he missed his kick, sending the shoot out into sudden death.

Nigerian midfielder John Obi Mikel’s penalty was saved by Jensen, and with that Burnley had knocked Chelsea out of the Carling Cup.

Scolari’s side might be playing a more attractive brand of football, but it appears as if some old habits die harder than others.