Luton Town 2-3 Chelsea: Romelu Lukaku scores Blues winner in FA Cup

Chelsea survived a scare towards Championship facet Luton Town to achieve the FA Cup quarter-finals in a tie overshadowed by proprietor Roman Abramovich’s determination to promote the Stamford Bridge membership.

Chelsea’s gamers had been unaware of the developments earlier than Abramovich made them public in his assertion, and Reece Burke made their night time extra uncomfortable when he put the Hatters in entrance with a header following a nook after solely two minutes.

Luton misplaced goalkeeper Jed Steer to an ankle harm after solely 14 minutes, and Chelsea had been degree earlier than his alternative Harry Isted had been on the sector that lengthy – with Saul Niguez steering dwelling a cool end.

Harry Cornick raced clear to revive Luton’s lead earlier than half-time however Chelsea turned up the stress after the break to prevail regardless of an unconvincing efficiency.

Timo Werner completed coolly after accumulating Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s lengthy move in the 68th minute, then crossed for Romelu Lukaku to slip in and put Chelsea forward for the primary time 10 minutes later.

Chelsea make arduous work of it

Confirmation Abramovich was leaving Chelsea was the speak of Kenilworth Road earlier than, throughout and after a extremely eventful FA Cup tie.

It was a massively important second in the membership’s historical past, although there was an air of inevitability given occasions in Ukraine.

Whether or not the information was nonetheless sinking in with Chelsea’s gamers, they made probably the most sluggish of begins and had been behind inside two minutes towards a vigorous Luton facet.

Manager Thomas Tuchel had rung the possibilities after defeat on penalties by Liverpool in the Carabao Cup remaining on Sunday – even giving Kenedy his first begin for the membership in 1,505 days.

And it confirmed as they struggled for rhythm, even after Saul’s equaliser – falling behind as soon as extra earlier than Werner and Lukaku noticed them by way of.

Those targets needs to be a confidence enhance for each strikers given their struggles to determine themselves, and Tuchel wanted them with Chelsea in bother towards lower-division opposition.

This night time, nevertheless, was all concerning the plots and sub-plots surrounding Abramovich’s departure, at any time when that shall be, and the temper of Chelsea’s gamers on the remaining whistle was certainly one of reduction quite than celebration.

Luton deserve large credit score

This was a throwback to Luton’s higher days in the highest flight as a packed, compact Kenilworth Road carried all of the substances for an FA Cup shock.

And Nathan Jones’ Hatters did their finest to supply it as they took Chelsea all the way in which, main twice earlier than operating out of steam and falling to their guests’ larger high quality.

Luton confirmed why they’re in the Championship play-off locations as they carried out with actual verve and vitality that bodes effectively as they push for promotion to the Premier League.

There shall be disappointment in defeat but in addition nice credit score as a result of they matched their opponents for lengthy intervals, even threatening a shock till Werner and Lukaku stepped as much as rescue Chelsea.