/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/50946623/609175382.0.jpg)
Leicester welcomed a formidable Chelsea side to the King Power Stadium on Tuesday for a English League Cup Third Round match that ended 4-2 in favor of the visitors.
Up 2-0 after 35 minutes, Claudio Ranieri’s side got a pair of scrappy goals from forward Shinji Okazaki who was able to twice poke the ball just past Asmir Begovic to build the Foxes’ lead. Both attempts were cleared just after crossing the line but it was enough to put the home side into a very good position.
Chelsea were not to be denied however as the Blues notched a pair of goals on either side of halftime - a headed effort from Gary Cahill in stoppage time and a ripped volley from Cesar Azpilicueta in the 49th.
It remained that way through the rest of the 90 minutes with the home side dropping down to 10 men after Marcin Wasilewski’s second yellow for an unnecessary shove/elbow on Diego Costa right before full-time.
Looking to redeem himself in his manager’s eyes, outcast Cesc Fabregas made the difference in extra time, as he put 10-men Leicester to the sword with a pair of goals only two minutes apart. The first, a wonderful passing move from Chelsea was easily dispatched to Ron-Robert Zieler’s right. On his second, Fabregas finished a bouncing ball in the box to extend the score to 4-2.
With Manchester United at Old Trafford up next for the Foxes, the match could certainly be considered a disappointment. However, one less competition to be stretched by may be a blessing in disguise for the ever-evolving squad.