Chelsea 2-0 Luton Town: Carabao Cup Match Report

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso started with a 4-2-3-1 formation with Mike Penders in goal, then a back four of Malo Gusto, Josh Acheampong, Maxence Lacroix and Josue Chavaria, then two holding midfielders in Valentin Barco and captain Reece James, then three attacking midfielders in Estevao, Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers, with Danny Welbeck up front.

Luton Town manager Jack Wilshere, back at the Bridge as a visiting boss, started with a 4-2-3-1 formation with Josh Keeley in goal, then a back four of Harrison Ashby, Hakeem Odoffin, George Johnston and Joe Johnson, then two holding midfielders in Benny Benagr and captain Liam Walsh, then three attacking midfielders in Emilio Lawrence, Kasey Palmer and Gideon Kodua, with Callum Marshall up front. Luton Town were backed by 4,000 fans who had made the trip down from Bedfordshire to west London and were in fine voice in the Shed End all evening.

Chelsea kicked off the first half with Morgan Rogers making his home debut following his summer move from Aston Villa.

Chelsea started well and took the early play to Luton Town, but the Hatters did not let Chelsea have it all their own way in the opening exchanges. Valentin Barco, Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer linked up well when the home side came forward, and Danny Welbeck saw a right-footed shot from inside the box blocked in the 16th minute.

A Chelsea free kick in the 19th minute saw Reece James strike a right-footed effort from 20 yards that was pushed away by an excellent save from Josh Keeley to deny the Blues an opener. Chelsea forced another corner in the 25th minute at the Shed End, but it came to nothing as Luton Town cleared the danger.

Luton Town played very well to stifle Chelsea in the opening half an hour. Liam Walsh and Kasey Palmer, together with Emilio Lawrence and Gideon Kodua, were linking neatly for the Hatters. Emilio Lawrence forced a corner in the 36th minute, which was worked to the back post where Chelsea half cleared to Benny Benagr, whose left-footed shot was blocked by Maxence Lacroix a minute later.

Chelsea pressure in the 40th minute forced another corner that came to nothing. A Luton Town free kick in the 43rd minute, taken by Liam Walsh deep into the Chelsea box, was headed goalwards by Hakeem Odoffin but well saved by Belgian goalkeeper Mike Penders. A Cole Palmer left-footed shot inside the box on the stroke of half time was deflected behind for a corner.

The teams went in level at 0-0 at half time. Luton Town replaced Gideon Kodua with Jake Richards at the interval.

Luton Town kicked off the second half, and Chelsea took the lead almost immediately through a close-range header by Danny Welbeck from an assist by Malo Gusto to make it 1-0 in the 50th minute. Joe Johnson was booked for a foul on Estevao in the 56th minute.

Jack Wilshere replaced Emilio Lawrence and Benny Benagr with Isaiah Jones and Harry Fox in the 61st minute. Cole Palmer saw a left-footed curling shot from outside the area clip the top of the Luton Town crossbar in the 64th minute with Keeley beaten.

Xabi Alonso brought on Jorrel Hato, Romeo Lavia and Pedro Neto for Reece James, Malo Gusto and Morgan Rogers in the 67th and 68th minutes, and Joao Pedro replaced Danny Welbeck in the 73rd minute. Luton Town sent on Devante Cole and Nahki Wells for Kasey Palmer and Callum Marshall in the 78th minute.

Chelsea made it 2-0 in the 79th minute when Estevao crossed into the six yard box and Hakeem Odoffin, under pressure, put through his own goal to seal the win. Jamie Gittens came on for Estevao in the 80th minute. In the 89th minute Josh Acheampong headed just wide but was flagged offside, and Romeo Lavia struck the post in the first minute of stoppage time. Chelsea deserved the win, but Luton Town gave a good account of themselves.

The winners now play Leeds United at home on 8/9 September in the Carabao Cup third round.