Chelsea through to EFL Cup semifinals as Kieran Trippier hands Mauricio Pochettino a much-needed win

The Blues forced penalty kicks and survived from the spot to make the last four

LONDON -- Had Kieran Trippier not so spectacularly misjudged his header, what might the conversation be around Chelsea on Wednesday morning? Clinging onto a top half berth with only one realistic shot at European qualification left, the grumbles over Mauricio Pochettino would have been inevitable. At a club like this, breathing space tends to be filled rather quickly but with the Blues through to the EFL Cup semifinals, there is a little more cause for optimism on the horizon.

A display that was so pedestrian as to be remarkable even from this many-faced Chelsea team need not cause major ructions. There is much to be learned but perhaps more time to take in those lessons. From Callum Wilson's 15th-minute opener until a nondescript Malo Gusto cross bounced in front of Trippier, Chelsea did not look like a side at all capable of testing Newcastle's diligent backline, no matter the possession they hoarded. A cavalcade of attacking talent including debutant Christopher Nkunku was getting nowhere at agonizing pace until Newcastle's right back, so reliable until a month ago, misjudged a header back to Martin Dubravka and Mykhailo Mudryk poked home.

An added time equalizer took them to a penalty shootout where Trippier would do Chelsea another favor, extending his unusual streak of errors by drilling his penalty well wide of Djordje Petrovic's goal. The former New England Revolution goalkeeper would spring well to his left to deny Matt Ritchie and the Blues, so laborred once more, moved within three games of the first trophy of the post-Roman Abramovich era.