Chelsea, their hold on the FA Cup already a distant memory, found some solace last night. Ruud Gullit's players reached the semi-finals of the English League Cup by a now-familiar route, defeating a stubborn and skilful Ipswich Town side on penalties after the First Division team had come from 2-0 down to force extra time.
Now Chelsea will have to beat Arsenal over two legs to reach Wembley again. On the evidence so far, and whoever wins a semi-final which will bring together £57 million worth of talent, it may be a tortuous process.
Watched by Bobby Robson, who once led to them to success both at Wembley and in Europe, Ipswich came desperately close to bringing about Chelsea's second downfall in four days. However, once the tie went to penalties the identity of the eventual winners was never seriously in doubt. Frank Leboeuf, Gianfranco Zola, Roberto Di Matteo and Mark Hughes put their kicks away with a worldly-wise efficiency. James Scowcroft and Mauricio Taricco watched their shots saved with a weary resignation.
With sharper finishing Chelsea would surely have ended the business within 90 minutes. Yet while Chelsea were hardly the sad sack of a side swept out of the FA Cup by Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on Sunday theirs was a fitful, at times disparate performance.
Two minutes past the half-hour Chelsea did not so much take the lead as have it handed to them. Richard Wright is a highly promising goalkeeper for the England under-21 team but he stranded himself in coming for a long ball from Frank Leboeuf. Graeme Le Saux centred simply and Flo launched himself between Cundy and Venus to head into an empty net.
As the first half ran into stoppage time Ipswich looked done for when Chelsea scored an excellent second goal. Zola allowed a ball from Gullit to run to Flo before sprinting past the defence to gather the Norwegian's pass and set up a tap-in for Le Saux.
Ipswich's response, however, was admirably prompt. Taricco found Mathie in space and in range and after De Goey had pushed out his shot a little feebly the Argentinian followed up to score.
Ipswich flung themselves forward as the second half began and drew level in the 61st minute. Taricco's well-delivered pass released Stockwell on the right and from his low centre Mathie drove the ball into the net.
Ipswich Town: Wright, Stockwell, Taricco, Williams, Mowbray, Venus (Tanner 98), Dyer, Holland, Mathie (Petta 80), Scowcroft, Cundy. Subs not used: Bracey. Booked: Cundy. Goals: Taricco 45, Mathie 62.
Chelsea: De Goey, Leboeuf, Lambourde, Wise, Le Saux, Di Matteo, Granville, Myers (Gullit 20), Flo (Hughes 90), Sinclair, Zola. Subs not used: Clarke. Booked: Leboeuf. Goals: Flo 32, Le Saux 45.
Referee: P A Durkin (Portland).
