Saul Niguez canceled out Reece Burke's opener before Harry Cornick restored Luton's lead and then second half goals from Timo Wrner and Lukaku sealed Chelsea's win.
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Chelsea defeated Luton Town 3-2 courtesy of Romelu Lukaku’s late goal in the FA Cup fifth round fixture at Kenilworth Road on Wednesday. Roman Abramovich confirmed his intentions to sell Chelsea an hour before the kick-off, amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The Blues fell behind inside the opening two minutes as Reece Burke headed home to give a dream start to Luton. Saul Niguez equalised on 27 minutes before Harry Cornick restored Luton’s lead five minutes before the interval. But second-half goals from Timo Werner and Lukaku sealed Chelsea’ passage into the quarter-finals.Â
Also read: Liverpool vs Norwich: Minamino nets double as the Reds win 2-1 to enter FA Cup quarter-finals
Well done lads! ??? Next round ? @EmiratesFACup @ChelseaFC https://t.co/UOyXehYqXm
— César Azpilicueta (@CesarAzpi) March 2, 2022
Luton took an early lead courtesy of a brilliant header from Burke. The English defender broke free from his marker, rose high to get on the end of the corner and headed home past Kepa into the far corner.Â
Luton goalkeeper Jed Steer suffered an injury as he fell awkwardly on the Turf under no contact from anyone else. The Aston Villa loanee was carried off on a stretcher after lengthy treatment, bringing Harry Isted into the fray.Â
Chelsea grew in confidence as the game progressed and leveled the score when Gabriel Osho conceded possession in the middle of the park, allowing Mount to steer forward, pass it to Werner to cut inside from right and then the ball fell to the path of an on-rushing Saul on the edge of the box. The Spaniard made no mistake as he struck the ball cleanly into the bottom corner with his right-foot.Â
Few minutes later, Saul could have had his second, when Mason Mount picked his run on the left side of the box, but Isted quickly came off his line to close the gap and deny the 27-year-old. Isted was having a busy game since coming on as he made yet another very good save to deny Lukaku.
Luton put their nose in front once again, against the run of play. Carlo Mendes Gomes played a perfect overhead pass to release Cornick on goal. The 26-year-old forward made no mistake as he kept his composure and slotted the ball past an onrushing Kepa into the far bottom corner. Â
Chelsea equalised for a second time on 68 minutes, when Ruben Loftus-cheek played a perfect overhead pass from the back to pick Werner’s run inside the box, the German international controlled with his thigh before slotting past an on-rushing Isted. Werner then turned provider again, as he delivered a perfect low cross for Lukaku to prod home and complete the comeback and settle the tie.
