Chelsea, Fulham into League Cup semis after shootout wins

LONDON :Chelsea and Fulham booked their place in the semi-finals of the League Cup on Tuesday when they followed up 1-1 draws with penalty-shootout wins over Newcastle United and Everton respectively, with Middlesbrough also making the last four.

Chelsea beat Newcastle 4-2 on penalties, at Stamford Bridge after substitute Mykhailo Mudryk kept the Blues alive with a 92nd-minute equaliser, while Fulham defeated Everton 7-6 in their shootout. Middlesbrough beat League One side Port Vale 3-0 to cruise into the last four.

Liverpool face West Ham United to decide the last semi-final spot on Wednesday.

Newcastle had appeared set to snatch a 1-0 win in west London until Kieran Trippier, on as a substitute, failed to cut out a Malo Gusto cross and allowed Mudryk, also on as a sub, to slot home, levelling the tie at 1-1 and taking it to penalties.

England defender Trippier turned a bad night into a disastrous one when he fired Newcastle's second penalty wide before Matt Ritchie saw his effort saved athletically by Chelsea's Djordje Petrovic, making only his second start in goal for the Blues.

"Trips is an incredibly strong character," Newcastle manager Eddie Howe told reporters.

"When he's given us so much, now's our turn to support him and look after him the other way and that's what we'll do."

Chelsea had gone behind in the 16th minute when Callum Wilson, surrounded by Chelsea defenders, pounced on an error by Benoit Badiashile who got the ball caught in his feet allowing Wilson to flick his finish past Petrovic.

The hosts dominated possession throughout the game but struggled to break down a well-drilled Newcastle defence.

They brought French forward Christopher Nkunku off the bench for his first competitive appearance for the