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WERNER STRIKE HELP STRENGTHEN CHELSEA’S GRIP ON FOURTH SPOT

Timo Werner scored the only goal as Chelsea beat West Ham United to create a three-point gap over their opponents in the race for fourth.

Chelsea created the better of the first-half chances, Werner skewing over after only four minutes and Mason Mount forcing Lukasz Fabianski into a save.

Their persistence paid off two minutes before the break, when Ben Chilwell squared for Werner to score his first league goal since 15 February.

Werner missed a fantastic chance to double the lead 10 minutes after half-time, shooting wide from close range after Fabianski had parried Mount’s effort.

West Ham pushed for an equaliser, their best chance falling to Jesse Lingard, whose shot dropped narrowly wide.

Their hopes of a point were hit by Fabian Balbuena’s red card for a high challenge on Chilwell, awarded after a VAR review.

Chelsea stay fourth with 58 points, a place above West Ham with five matches to play.

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CHELSEA HELD TO GOALESS DRAW BY BRIGHTON BUT BLUES STILL WITHIN UCL SPOT

Chelsea ground out a goalless Premier League draw with 10-man Brighton as the club’s decision to quit the European Super League hung heavy over Stamford Bridge.

Brighton had Ben White sent off for a second booking at the death, having already wasted the game’s best chances through Adam Lallana and Danny Welbeck.

Chelsea leapfrogged West Ham on goal difference back into the Premier League top four – with Champions League qualification regaining full significance now the universally-condemned ESL appears doomed.

Blues boss Thomas Tuchel had predicted calm in the eye of the storm for the Brighton clash, with the Super League dominating all talk and conjecture in the build-up.

Less than 90 minutes before Tuesday night’s kick-off news filtered out that Chelsea were preparing documents to leave the Super League that had only been announced late on Sunday.

Top players would jeopardise international football by playing for clubs in the Super League, and so Chelsea’s squad can easily be forgiven for a rare lack of focus.

A hard-won point still keeps the Blues in the top-four fight however, with all eyes now turning to Saturday’s crucial trip to fifth-placed rivals West Ham.

A breathless day of brinkmanship, recrimination and eventually relief gave way to an evening of stalemate.

Furious Chelsea fans had stormed Fulham Road at tea time, unfurling expletive-laden banners criticising the Blues’ decision to join the ESL.

Police riot vans raced around west London and helicopters circled overhead, while the fans chanted unchecked bile and let off blue smoke bombs.

Two police cordons braced for any clashes, but by the time the officers would have been called into any action news had filtered through of Chelsea’s impending withdrawal.

Technical director Petr Cech pleaded with fans to stay calm on his arrival at Stamford Bridge, and is thought to have told them to give the club time to handle the situation.

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Chelsea reach final to end Manchester City’s quadruple bid

Manchester City’s quadruple dream has been extinguished by Chelsea after losing 1-0 in the semifinals of the FA Cup.

Manchester City’s quadruple dream has been extinguished by Chelsea. Even more concerning could be the injury to Kevin De Bruyne for the ongoing pursuit of a treble.

Chelsea will be back at Wembley Stadium next month for the FA Cup final after a 1-0 victory over City was clinched by Hakim Ziyech on Saturday.

Pep Guardiola will return even sooner next Sunday with City for the League Cup final but with doubts over whether De Bruyne will be fit to face Tottenham.

“It doesn’t look quite good,” Guardiola said. “But we will see tomorrow.”

The influential Belgian playmaker hobbled off with an apparent ankle injury just as City is entering a crunch period of the season.

A 11-point Premier League lead makes collecting that trophy a near-certainty but there is also a first Champions League semifinal with City for Guardiola against Paris Saint-Germain in what remains the priority title for the club.

“We started the game a little bit slow and struggled a bit in the first half,” City midfielder Fernandinho said.

While Guardiola has been in charge almost five years at City, Thomas Tuchel has only been at Chelsea three months.

After picking up the pieces following the firing of Frank Lampard, the German now has a shot at a trophy in the FA Cup final against Leicester or Southampton next month. And like City, Chelsea remains in Champions League contention with Real Madrid awaiting in the last four.

“All the ways are still open, everybody is excited by it,” Ziyech said. “And we cannot wait to play these games.”

The performance against City will offer Tuchel encouragement of silverware. While Timo Werner struggles for goals, assists are less of a problem. It was his 12th of his first season at Chelsea, setting up Ziyech for the close-range finish in the 55th minute in an unguarded net after American goalkeeper Zack Steffen was left stranded.

“Their goal was indecision on my hands and I’ll learn from it,” Steffen said. “You have to keep going and I’m proud of how the boys fought and didn’t give up. The good thing is there is another game in three or four days so we can’t get too low on this one.”

There were no Chelsea fans to witness the goal in person. But they should be allowed back into Wembley for the May 15 final as coronavirus restrictions are eased.

How to get safely back into venues will be assessed at Wembley on Sunday when up to 4,000 locals from the north London district are allowed in to see Leicester take on Southampton if they can produce a negative coronavirus test result.

SHEFFIELD UNITED RELEGATED

With six games remaining, the Premier League lost its first team on Saturday. Sheffield United experienced the joint-earliest relegation in the competition’s history, alongside Ipswich, Derby and Huddersfield after losing 1-0 to Wolverhampton.

Last season both Wolves and Sheffield United finished in the top half of the standings. Wolves have plummeted to 12th this campaign and Willian Jose’s goal confirmed the end of last-place United’s two-season stay in the top division.

“We are now starting from a better position, financially stronger and with much more experience in the squad,” said Paul Heckingbottom, the interim manager since Chris Wilder’s firing by the club’s Saudi ownership last month. “Everyone will be committed to going straight back up.

“It’s everyone’s careers at stake, personal pride. They have to take control of their own performances. The fight and spirit is there, we have just been short. There has been a lot of hurt in the dressing room for a long time.”

NEWCASTLE EYES SURVIVAL

Newcastle moved nine points clear of the relegation zone with a 3-2 victory over West Ham.

Newcastle led through Issa Diop’s own-goal and Craig Dawson was sent off for receiving a second booking in the buildup. Joelinton’s tap-in extended Newcastle’s lead before halftime but it was wiped out by Diop’s header in the 73rd and Jesse Lingard’s penalty after Ciaran Clark handled.

Newcastle recovered its lead through substitute Joe Willock’s powerful header.

“I’m not going to take anything for granted,” Newcastle manager Steve Bruce said. “I’ve always said it’s the accumulation of points, and 35, in my opinion, is not enough, so you won’t get me jumping and hollering at the moment. We’ve still got six games to play.”

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CHELSEA RESIST PORTO TO REACH UCL SEMI-FINALS

N’Golo Kante’s tireless midfield performance steered Chelsea to a first Champions League semi-final in seven years despite the Blues’ 1-0 quarter-final second-leg loss to Porto.

Mehdi Taremi’s stunning overhead kick in second-half added time put the squeeze on Chelsea, but the Blues still progressed to the semi-finals 2-1 on aggregate.

They will now meet either Real Madrid or Liverpool in their first semi-final since losing out to Atletico Madrid in 2014.

Mason Mount and Ben Chilwell’s first-leg goals proved decisive in the end, with Chelsea coasting for much of Tuesday’s second leg in Seville.

Taremi’s late acrobatics planted a seed of doubt, but Porto produced too little, too late – and Chelsea deservedly moved into the last four.

France World Cup-winner Kante was not even meant to start in Spain, but was pressed into last-minute service after a minor injury to Mateo Kovacic.

Kante has only just shaken off his latest hamstring injury and boss Thomas Tuchel wanted him to feature off the bench at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium.

The 30-year-old midfielder cemented Chelsea’s dominance in the tie with a stunning showing at both ends of the pitch, in a performance to delight the regimented Blues.

Tuchel’s men are now able to jet back to London and turn immediate attentions to Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City and former Paris St Germain manager Tuchel’s first concern will be to gauge whether linchpin midfielder Kante is capable of starting at Wembley.

The Blues will desperately want Kante to start against Pep Guardiola’s quadruple chasing City, and will doubtless pull out all the stops to make that happen.

Chelsea ground through a staccato first-half, punctuated by incessant stoppages for fouls.

The beauty of their two-goal advantage meant the Blues were fully entitled to take a measured approach to this encounter.

Edouard Mendy messed up his measurements in a rare misjudgment to hand the Blues a scare, but Jesus Corona wasted the Senegal stopper’s misplaced pass.

Corona collected and eyed up Mendy’s goal, only to scuff wide in a disappointing effort for the Portuguese.

Porto pressed the Blues high in a way Conceicao’s men had oddly opted not to in the first leg. So where the Stamford Bridge men had endless time to build in that 2-0 win first time out, here they were harassed and harried.

The Blues might have been ruffled but they always just about managed to straighten themselves out. Corona flashed high and wide after sneaking in behind Ben Chilwell, to leave Porto frustrated again.

But Mount saw a rasping effort deflected wide by Chancel Mbemba after a good Christian Pulisic raid. And Kante sent Havertz haring through only for the German to be denied twice.

The Blues were by far the happier to turn around with the game still goalless.

Pulisic should have tapped Chelsea into the lead in the second-half’s first meaningful action. Chilwell’s cutback was begging to be slotted home, but Pulisic was just unable to shift his feet and failed to make enough connection to guide the ball into the net.

Kante slid through a fine ball for Mount after Pulisic’s neat spin, but Manafa blocked the England forward’s shot.

Porto threw on dangerman striker Taremi on the hour and the Iran striker forced Mendy into a smart save from a powerful header.

Pulisic raced through for an added-time chance, but could only strike straight at the advancing Agustin Marchesin.

Chelsea were already planning the rest of their busy week when Taremi flicked home from a superb overhead kick.

But Porto could not find another dramatic comeback and Tuchel’s men rightly move through.

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KAI HAVERTZ STARS, PULISIC HITS BRACE AS CHELSEA THRASH PALACE TO MAINTAIN TOP FOUR HOPES

Kai Havertz starred to help Chelsea get their top-four hopes back on track with a comfortable 4-1 win at Crystal Palace.

The Germany international ended his long drought in the Premier League with an early strike at Selhurst Park and caused the hosts constant problems in easily one of his best displays for the club.

Christian Pulisic also impressed and grabbed a brace while Kurt Zouma was on target in the first half for Thomas Tuchel’s men, who moved up to fourth with this routine victory in south London.

Play got under way at Selhurst Park after a two-minute period of silence following the death of the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip on Friday.

Once the action started it was the number two at this Palace who took centre stage, with the booming voice of Roy Hodgson’s assistant Ray Lewington heard prominently during the first five minutes.

It had been a regular feature of football behind closed doors, but an anomaly happened with eight minutes played when Havertz grabbed only his second Premier League goal since a £71million summer switch.

Vicente Guaita made a fine save to deny Christian Pulisic moments earlier before Eberechi Eze was dispossessed deep inside his own half and it proved costly.

Havertz won the ball back and was found by Callum Hudson-Odoi in the penalty area where he produced a fine curled left-footed strike from eight yards to open the scoring.

The composure for the finish had been lacking by the German in previous appearances, with this his second goal from his last 28 club outings after an initial bright start to life at Stamford Bridge.

Former Bayer Leverkusen attacker Havertz was not finished there and within 120 seconds, he had assisted Pulisic to make it 2-0 with a cutback as the winger smashed into the roof of the net from close range.

Both had struggled for goals this term, but it was the American’s second in as many starts while Tuchel saw his players again respond to last weekend’s shock loss to West Brom having beat Porto in midweek.

Havertz almost had a goal of the season contender in the 22nd minute but his volley after a wonderful flick over Patrick Van Aanholt was saved.

It was 3-0 with 30 minutes played, though, when Kurt Zouma headed home a Mason Mount free-kick to ensure Chelsea would finish the night in the top four.

Antonio Rudiger nearly joined his fellow centre-back on the scoresheet prior to half-time, but Van Aanholt cleared his goalbound effort to ensure the damage for the hosts was limited to three at the break.

Ben Chilwell was the next Blues defender to be presented with an opportunity and Tuchel’s high standards were on display when the German threw his hands up in the air following the missed effort by the full-back early into the second period.

With Porto up next on Tuesday, the Chelsea manager was able to withdraw Jorginho after an hour but Palace added some tension to the occasion by pulling a goal back in the 63rd minute.

Jeffrey Schlupp made an immediate impact from the bench and crossed in for Benteke to grab his sixth goal of the campaign with a smart header in what was the Eagles’ first effort of the match.

Normal service was quickly resumed when Gary Cahill made a last-ditch block against his old club to deny Mount, but a fourth goal arrived with 78 minutes played.

Substitute Reece James was afforded too much space on the right by a weary home defence and Pulisic finished off his delivery at the back post to wrap up the scoring.

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CHELSEA PUNISH WASTEFUL PORTO TO PUT ONE FOOT IN UCL SEMIS

A classy goal from Mason Mount on Wednesday helped Chelsea to a 2-0 first-leg win over Porto, whose wasteful finishing could have scuppered their hopes of springing another Champions League upset in the quarter-finals.

Mount’s slick turn and shot in the first half would have been painful enough for Porto, who were the better side for large spells of this first leg in Seville but repeatedly lacked the precision to take advantage.

Instead, their misery was compounded by Ben Chilwell capitalising on a mistake at the back to score a late second that gave Chelsea another away goal and leaves them on the brink of the semi-finals.

They were away goals only in name given both these teams were playing in the unfamiliar Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, where they will meet again next week, just with the home and away roles reversed.

Porto were in the home dug-out, wore their home kit, had a large club banner in the empty stand behind one goal and their anthem was the one that played out before kick-off.

And Chelsea played the part too, delivering a classic away performance of soaking up the pressure and hitting their opponents on the counter-attack, their quality in the final third proving decisive.

Real Madrid could lie in wait for the victors, after they beat Liverpool 3-1 on Tuesday.

Chelsea’s win also goes some way to easing the shock of Saturday’s 5-2 loss at home to West Brom in the Premier League, which ended Thomas Tuchel’s 14-match unbeaten start as coach.

Tuchel decided Thiago Silva’s 29 minutes before being sent off in that game were not enough to hone his sharpness, meaning Andreas Christensen was picked in the back three.

And Antonio Rudiger also returned, despite his training ground scuffle with Kepa Arrizabalaga on Sunday, which Tuchel described as a “serious situation”.

Porto were regarded as the plum draw in the last eight, despite seeing off Cristiano Ronaldo and Juventus in the last 16, their task made harder this time by the suspensions of Mehdi Taremi and top scorer Sergio Oliveira.

But they were the aggressors from the outset, with Chelsea surrendering the ball and the chances.

Porto had six shots to Chelsea’s one before half-time, with Mateus Uribe grazing the top of the net with an early volley and the excellent Otavio almost catching Edouard Mendy out with a corner before Zaidu Sanusi smashed over the rebound.

Chelsea, though, showed them what ruthlessness looked like when Jorginho fired a pass into Mount on the edge of the area inside the right channel. Mount took it on his back foot and twisted away from the sliding Zaidu, before firing a cool finish into the far corner.

Porto kept coming in the second half and kept missing too. Moussa Marega snuck in but his shot was saved by the feet of Mendy before Jesus Corona feathered Luis Diaz through but he took too long. Diaz curled wide after a good run by Wilson Manafa.

Chelsea absorbed them and then hit them with a sucker-punch, Mateo Kovacic’s ball over the top miscontrolled by Corona, allowing Chilwell to steam clear, round the goalkeeper and finish.

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CALLUM ROBINSON SUBJECTED TO RACIAL ABUSE AFTER CHELSEA WIN

Republic of Ireland striker Callum Robinson has been subjected to racial abuse online following his starring role in West Brom’s victory at Chelsea on Saturday.

West Brom have confirmed the matter has been reported to police.

Robinson posted a screenshot of the offensive messages he received on Instagram after the Baggies’ Premier League success at Stamford Bridge.

The 26-year-old had scored twice as relegation-threatened West Brom pulled off a stunning 5-2 win over the fourth-placed Londoners.

A statement from the club read: “West Bromwich Albion have contacted West Midlands Police to report racist social media posts directed at Callum Robinson following Saturday’s 5-2 win over Chelsea.

“The despicable Instagram posts were sent in reply to the Republic of Ireland international after he scored twice in a memorable team performance at Stamford Bridge.

“The club is appalled by the messages and will offer Callum the help and support he may require in response to the incident.

“Albion will continue to confront all forms of discrimination and will assist the authorities with their inquiries, seeking the toughest available legal punishment.

“It is deeply disturbing that scoring two goals in a football match can provoke a reaction of this kind. There is No Room For Racism. Anywhere. Challenge it, report it, change it.”

Robinson is the latest in a long line of footballers to be abused on social media, including Marcus Rashford, Reece James and Baggies team-mate Romaine Sawyers.

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PERREIRA, ROBINSON SCORE BRACE AS WESTBROM STUN 10-MAN CHELSEA IN 7 GOAL DRAMA

Matheus Pereira’s fine brace sparked West Brom’s stunning 5-2 Premier League rout of 10-man Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Thiago Silva was sent off for two yellow cards after just 29 minutes as Thomas Tuchel’s 14-match unbeaten start at the Chelsea helm came to a startling end.

Brazilian forward Pereira took his two goals in first-class fashion before Callum Robinson’s double and a smart finish from Mbaye Diagne sealed relegation-battling West Brom’s first win in four league games.

Christian Pulisic and Mason Mount hit the net for Chelsea but the Blues tasted defeat for the first time since January 19.

West Brom’s comprehensive victory proved their first win at Stamford Bridge since 1978.

Tuchel predicted before kick-off that veteran centre-back Silva would not last the course on his first match since February 4 due to a thigh injury.

But the Blues’ German boss could never have predicted the manner of Silva’s premature exit, a first red card since 2013.

West Brom manager Sam Allardyce admitted in midweek he was “jealous” of Tuchel’s array of top talent at Chelsea.

But the Stamford Bridge chief could be forgiven, on the day at least, for envying the Baggies’ superior finishing power, especially from the hugely-impressive Pereira.

As much as the international break cursed Chelsea, so it blessed the Baggies.

Tuchel had just one full training session with his senior squad to prepare for this Saturday lunchtime kick-off while Allardyce quite clearly capitalised on an extended run without a fixture to drill his West Brom charges.

Silva’s red card undoubtedly changed the course of this match but West Brom deserve huge plaudits for both their tactical discipline and clinical attacking play.

Chelsea’s slow start was eased by Pulisic’s smart reaction to rush first to the loose ball and tap home after Marcos Alonso’s free-kick.

Alonso’s curling effort struck the post but Pulisic stormed in and slotted into the net to put the Blues ahead.

Spain full-back Alonso could so easily have put Chelsea ahead moments earlier when Darnell Furlong headed clear under pressure as he lurked behind him ready to pounce at the far post.

Just as Chelsea looked to cement their control, however, their situation crumbled.

Silva’s big return was over inside half an hour as he was sent off for a second yellow card.

In a near carbon copy of his first booking, Silva was dismissed when battling to recover from a loose Jorginho pass.

Both times the Brazil veteran had too much to do and wound up sliding in late – but the second yellow for his challenge on Okay Yokuslu certainly appeared harsh.

Hakim Ziyech was the luckless fall guy for the red card, sacrificed and subbed off to bring defender Andreas Christensen into the action.

Chelsea switched to a 4-4-1 with Reece James on the wing, Pulisic on the left and Timo Werner up front on his own.

While Chelsea were caught up with recalibrating, though, the Baggies busied themselves with turning the tables.

Goalkeeper Sam Johnstone’s raking pass bisected the new-look Blues defence and Pereira raced through, controlled and then lobbed the stranded Edouard Mendy to put the visitors level.

In a flash Pereira was on the scoresheet again, keeping his cool and sorting out his feet in the area before sliding home another smart finish.

The half-time whistle handed Chelsea a chance to draw breath and further tweak their new set-up, with the visitors leading 2-1.

Mason Mount replaced Pulisic at the break, with the dependable academy graduate having only been on the bench after three straight matches with England during a draining international break.

Alonso’s low effort was deflected onto the post to open the second half after Johnstone had flapped at James’ hoisted cross.

Mateo Kovacic saw a drive deflected over the bar, then Kurt Zouma hooked high and wide from a corner.

Chelsea’s designs on restoring parity evaporated when Furlong capped a fine West Brom move with a dangerous cross which Robinson turned home in style in the 63rd minute.

Five minutes later, Diagne drilled home a fourth as the 10-men hosts started to unravel but then all of a sudden Mount slotted home to make it 4-2.

Werner could – and should – have taken on Johnstone and scored but opted instead to play in Mount, who made no mistake.

The last word belong to West Brom, however, with Robinson on target again, lifting over Mendy for his second of the day in stoppage time.

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NGOLO KANTE SENT BACK TO CHELSEA FROM FRANCE CAMP DUE TO INJURY

Chelsea have suffered a big injury setback with N’Golo Kante sent home from the France camp after sustaining a hamstring injury on international duty.

The 29-year-old played the full 90 minutes of France France’s 1-1 draw with Ukraine on Wednesday but reported discomfort following the 2022 World Cup qualifier.

He underwent tests on Thursday, which revealed a minor hamstring injury and will now miss France’s matches against Kazakhstan and Bosnia on Sunday and Wednesday.

The French FA said in a statement that head coach Didier Deschamps had decided to send Kante back to Chelsea after consulting with medical staff.

“Kante will not be replaced,” the FFF added. “It is therefore a group of 25 players who will fly to Kazakhstan on Friday morning.”

Kante has started four of Chelsea’s last five league games and manager Thomas Tuchel will hope to have him fit in time for their Premier League match against West Brom on April 3.

A statement from Chelsea added: “Kante had clinical and radiological examinations on Thursday which revealed a small lesion, and he is heading back to Chelsea today.”

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CHELSEA BEAT SHEFFIELD UNITED TO REACH FA CUP SEMIS

Chelsea coasted into the FA Cup semi-finals with a 2-0 win over Sheffield United courtesy of Oliver Norwood’s own goal and a late Hakim Ziyech strike.

Christian Pulisic spurned two big chances to put the much-changed Blues out of sight, teeing up some tense closing exchanges as the Blades awoke from an hour’s submission to start to threaten.

David McGoldrick nodded wide when unmarked deep in the Chelsea area, a miss that proved a key reprieve for the Blues.

And replacement Ziyech capped a fine last-gasp counter-attack to seal victory and place in the last four.

Even amid a circumspect performance Chelsea still merited victory, extending boss Thomas Tuchel’s club record-breaking unbeaten start to 14 matches

Toothless for 60 minutes, the Blades’ only early bite came amid a string of needless tackles, many off the ball, and a handful directed at Pulisic.

Had the visitors invested as much energy reserved for the dark arts in attempting to carry out their game plan in that opening hour, the tie could have been very different.

Instead Chelsea were allowed to meander to a victory as low key as it was routine, escaping several late wobbles to ease into the last four.

Boss Tuchel made nine changes from the 2-0 Champions League win over Atletico Madrid on Wednesday, with Billy Gilmour handed a rare start in midfield.

The German was not happy with the performance, making a host of changes just past the hour mark in a bid to inject some impetus into the Blues’ showing.

But the demanding boss will certainly be content with the result, especially with widespread rotation helping to manage the fixture glut.

Chelsea took the lead without even registering a shot on target.

Chilwell’s drilled ball into the area deflected off Norwood and into the Blades midfielder’s own net.

A cagey first half yielded precious few chances and the visitors entirely wasted the point of their 4-4-2 formation

A tactical switch designed to exploit space behind Chelsea’s wing backs, the Blades never even sought those areas let alone raided the flanks.

Chelsea were perfectly happy to play the ball in front of the passive Blades, who also made a clear purpose of not pressing their opponents.

Pulisic should have doubled the lead when sneaking in, but could not dink the ball high enough to beat the onrushing Aaron Ramsdale.

The United States forward wasted another glorious chance straight after the interval, seemingly stunned to stroll past two defenders and still have bags of time when through on goal.

All that time created the chance for thought and, rather than smash his laces through the ball, Pulisic went for placement but scuffed his strike, allowing Ramsdale to bat away to safety.

McGoldrick missed a gilt-edged chance for the Blades – their best opening – as Chelsea’s foot came too far off the gas.

Oliver McBurnie then stung Kepa Arrizabalaga’s palms from distance as finally the Blades made Chelsea work.

Rhian Brewster flashed wide when latching on to a second ball at the death, but Chelsea held on – and even had time for Ziyech to seal their progress.