Holders Chelsea came from behind to beat Leicester 4-3 in their Carling Cup fourth round tie at Stamford Bridge!
Lampard hat-trick inspires Chelsea win
Two goals in the last three minutes saw holders Chelsea come from behind and beat Leicester 4-3 at Stamford Bridge in their Carling Cup fourth round tie.
Leicester had looked on course to secure a famous victory as Carl Cort put them ahead with just 16 minutes remaining.
But Andrei Shevchenko levelled on 87 minutes before Chelsea claimed victory after a goalmouth scramble. Both Shevchenko and Juliano Belletti were credited with the goal before it was finally awarded to Frank Lampard - who with that sealed his hat-trick.
Gareth McAuley had put Leicester ahead after just six minutes - but stand-in captain Lampard struck twice to give Chelsea a half-time lead.
DJ Campbell then came off the bench to level on 70 minutes before Cort scored and the late drama unravelled as Chelsea claimed their quarter-final berth.
A night of high drama began when McAuley rose unchallenged to head home a cross from Matt Fryatt after the City striker had collected a quick free-kick from Shaun Newton.
Claudio Pizarro, who had replaced Didier Drogba in attack, was the first Chelsea player to try his luck with a speculative 25-yard effort in the 17th minute and moments later the home side were level.
Level
The scorer was Lampard who finished off a fine three-man move to haul Chelsea level.
Lampard then struck for a second time when Scott Sinclair's low cross bobbled loose to the England midfielder and he side-footed a volley home from eight yards in the 30th minute.
Chelsea continued to press for further goals as coach Avram Grant's new attacking style began to get the better of the Championship side.
Chelsea lost right-back Paulo Ferreira just after half-time with what appeared to be an injury to his right ankle. He was replaced by winger Florent Malouda.
In the 56th minute though Chelsea should have made it 3-1 when Lampard and Pizarro combined before the Peruvian's shot was saved by Marton Fulop.
Seconds later Pizarro put Sinclair through on the edge of the six-yard box but the youngster's effort was pushed on to the upright by the City keeper.
In the 69th minute Leicester managed to stun Chelsea again when substitute Campbell headed Levi Porter's chip over the advancing Carlo Cudicini and into the net.
Late drama
Chelsea's hold on the Carling Cup became even more precarious in the 74th minute when Cort put the Championship side in front.
Alan Sheehan's free-kick was missed by everyone except Cort at the far post and he swept the ball home to the delight of the travelling fans.
But Shevchenko levelled for Chelsea in the 87th minute and in the dying seconds the winner came as Lampard sealed his treble.
Pizarro's shot-come-cross deflected off the bar and came for Lampard whose header was later adjudged to have crossed the line - although Shevchenko made sure by smashing home the rebound.
