Luton were knocked out of the FA Cup in the fifth round by eight-time-winning giants Chelsea yesterday evening as the Hatters went ahead twice against the world champions.
Both Luton and Chelsea made changes to their starting elevens. With Luton having an important game at the weekend, Nathan Jones made a number of changes to the side, seeing Dan Potts and Peter Kioso making starts for Luton. Despite a number of changes, Chelsea lined up with a £150 million attacking duo of Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner.
A dream start for Luton saw them go a goal ahead with just two minutes on the clock. Luke Berry playing his first game in a month, found the towering header of Reece Burke who sent every Hatters fan in the ground three rows forward after he scored his second goal for Luton.
Just before the first fifteen minutes played, Luton loanee Jed Steer picked up a worrying injury as he had to be stretchered off, coming into his place was young goalkeeper Harry Isted for his third Luton appearance. Isted was tested a few times before Chelsea's equalizer but he handled them well. But when Saul Niguez placed his shot in the back off the net in the twenty-seventh minute there was nothing Isted could do: the Spanish international curled the ball past the substitute putting, the Blues level.
Isted was then forced into an impressive double save just after the restart, keeping Saul out this time around, as well as Chelsea midfielder Kenedy who saw his effort tipped over the bar. But he was really tested when the Belgian record signing Lukaku blasted a shot into his path, which again he kept out of his net.
Although Chelsea seemed in control after their first goal, Luton displayed a piece of beautiful football to put them back in the lead. The four pass frenzy saw Mendes Gomes placed a perfect ball into the path of Harry Cornick, who calmly placed his shot into the net past Kepa Arrizabalaga. Cornick left Chelsea defender Malang Sarr with no chance in catching him after the Blues defender attempted to step up and leave Cornick offside, the move proved costly as Luton scored their second, making Kenilworth Road erupt in celebration.
(Liam Smith Photography)
Going into the halftime team talk Luton were 2-1 up against the World Champions as they dared to dream of a huge cup upset.
After a handle of substitutions from both sides, Chelsea's Timo Werner found himself with just Isted to beat. Whereas the German striker has been struggling this season, he made no mistake this time around as he clinically slotted his shot past Isted. Chelsea were back in the tie after the equalizer.
Just ten minutes later Lukaku put Chelsea ahead for the first time in the game when he tapped in the ball from Timo Werner's excellent cross. With ten minutes to go, the tired Hatters pushed on and looked for an equalizer but Chelsea were able to see the game out and book themselves a ticket to the next round of the Cup.
It was a passionate, impressive, and brave performance from Luton, who lost to Chelsea in a valiant manner. They should be proud of their efforts.
FULL TIME: Luton Town 2-3 Chelsea FC
Next Match: Middlesbrough (A) - A very important match for Luton's play-off push
VIEWS SPORTS Man of The Match: Harry Isted-
A brave performance from the young keeper to play against such a huge team in such strange circumstances with a lack of experience, but he made a great effort and made some key saves.
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