League football paused again on Tuesday night to allow for the resumption of the EFL Cup, with the Premier League’s toughest sides entering the tournament at this third round stage.
Lincoln City meet Chelsea in a competitive fixture for the first time since the 1910/11 season, where they met twice in the second-tier league campaign. Today, they find themselves two leagues apart, with Lincoln City playing in the fifth tier of English football as recently as 2017. That season saw the Imps reach the FA Cup Quarter-Finals stage in a run which included dumping out Premier League Burnley.
That season sparked a period of success and momentum for Lincoln City who find themselves currently placed third in League One and ten matches unbeaten in all competitions.
Meanwhile for Chelsea, the London club have endured a rollercoaster few years which has seen a change of ownership, several manager replacements and huge spending before reacquainting themselves with Champions League football this season – although they come into this encounter on the back of defeats to Bayern Munich and Manchester United.
The home side got this encounter underway in a packed LNER Stadium, and immediately fed off of the energy to threaten the Chelsea box. Hamer utilised his long-throw to panic the defenders before the ball dropped to Montsma who struck the post barely a minute in. An early sign of Lincoln’s intent to challenge these Chelsea defenders and make it a not-so-easy day at the office.
The early Lincoln pressure continued into the 12th minute, when Draper rushed Gusto in his own penalty box, causing the fullback to slip and Draper to trip over him, appealing for a penalty. Referee Matt Donohue waved away the claims and replays confirm the forward was looking for contact.
Chelsea failed to assert their dominance on the match as it was Lincoln who created the bigger chances and came closest to opening the scoring in this third-round tie.
The breakthrough came in the 42nd minute, as Fernandez played a risky longe-range ball to Chalobah in his own third, which Varfolomeev anticipated nicely and laid down to teammate Robert Street, who calmly dispatched past a helpless Jorgensen. A shock for the Club World Cup Champions yet fully deserved given the context of the match so far.
Chelsea failed to respond in the next 6 minutes and the League One side found themselves a goal to the good as Matt Donohue blew for half-time. Enzo Maresca’s Blues dominated the first-half only in possession, as they were unable to use their 77% of the ball to create any significant opportunities. Meanwhile Michael Skubala’s side led 9-3 in shots, 2-0 in shots on target and accrued an xG of 1.09 to Chelsea’s 0.37.
Even so, a mammoth task would remain for the Imps to try and replicate that first-half performance and knock out one of England’s most successful football clubs.
There were no changes for either side at the break, despite both clubs resting a number of usual first-teamers.
Enzo Maresca’s faith in his starting XI was almost instantly repaid as Chelsea equalised merely two minutes into the restart – a rocket from Tyrique George who picked up the ball and smashed it in off the post from outside of the box.
Things went from bad to disaster for the home side, as Chelsea took the lead only two minutes on from equalising. Facundo Buonaotte linked up nicely with George, as goalscorer became assister this time, to deliver Chelsea the lead. The Argentine slipped between several Lincoln players who should have done better to prevent him from poking home.
Two goals for the Blues within 6 minutes of the restart, and a harsh reminder of the quality of their opponents for the Imps, who had done so well in the first-half to put themselves in front.
Michael Skubala’s side did well to compose themselves in the following 10 minutes, registering a few more shots and further testing a shaky-looking Jorgensen before Garnacho made way for Estevao in the first change of the game with 30 minutes left on the clock.
Lincoln’s best spell of the second half would ensue as they found it easier to keep the ball with Chelsea happier to sit back more after taking the lead. The 70-minute mark saw further changes as Chelsea replaced Gittens, Fernandez and George with Neto, Cucurella and Mheuka while Lincoln made their first four changes of the match, bringing on Hackett, Bayliss, Obikwu and Collins for House, Varfolomeev, Street and Draper.
With just under 10 minutes of normal time left to play, it was Chelsea who found the next big chance as substitute Neto slipped in Buonaotte who forced Jeacock to make the save with his foot.
Lincoln continued to push for the equaliser, as Jorgensen spilled another cross but the task proved to be too much for the League One side as Matt Donohue signalled full-time.
Embed from Getty ImagesLincoln were well and truly competitive bar five minutes at the start of the second half which cost them their chance, although they will now turn their attention back to League One, where a playoff place has to be the target.
Ultimately it was a match which will concern Chelsea fans, despite their progression to the fourth-round of the EFL Cup. They did however get the job done, and will find out their opponents on Wednesday in their quest for another trophy.
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