Romelu Lukaku scored the winner to secure Chelsea’s place in the FA Cup quarter-finals with a battling 3-2 win at Luton Town after Blues owner Roman Abramovich announced he was selling the club.
Abramovich confirmed he had put Chelsea up for sale, saying the decision is “in the club’s best interest.”
However, Thomas Tuchel’s side started slowly on the pitch on Wednesday.
Saul Niguez cancelled Reece Burke’s second-minute opener against a much-changed Blues side.
But Harry Cornick restored Championship side Luton’s lead in the first half at Kenilworth Road.
Timo Werner equalised before teeing up Lukaku with 12 minutes left.
This win ensured Chelsea’s place in the last eight, which Chelsea will play on March 19.
Burke glanced a header into the top-right corner from Luke Berry’s corner after just 102 seconds – the fastest goal Chelsea has conceded in all competitions this season.
Tuchel’s side levelled things up after 27 minutes when the ball fell kindly for Saul to curl into the bottom-right corner before substitute goalkeeper Harry Isted expertly denied Saul, Kenedy and Romelu Lukaku within a frantic four-minute period.
After Malang Sarr’s unconvincing offside trap, Luton regained the lead, allowing Cornick to finish past Kepa Arrizabalaga following Carlos Mendes Gomes’ through ball.
Chelsea boasted 82 per cent possession in the first 15 minutes after the interval.
But they did not score the 68th minute when Werner poked past Isted after a Loftus-Cheek long pass.
Werner turned provider for the winning goal when he found space inside the area.
And he drilled across for Lukaku to apply the finish with a sliding tap-in.
What does it mean? Blues remain hunting domestic silverware.
Chelsea, who had won just one of their last 13 visits to Luton, were unconvincing and conceded more than one goal in the first half for just the third time this season, having previously done so against Zenit and Liverpool.
The Blues recovered after the break as Luton failed to register a second-half attempt at goal.
Chelsea is in contention for trophies after faltering in the EFL Cup final against Liverpool on Sunday.
Redemption for Rom?
Lukaku has come under scrutiny following an underwhelming performance against Crystal Palace and was subsequently dropped for clashes with Lille and Liverpool.
However, he delivered the crucial strike in the closing stages with his 15th goal in the FA Cup – since the striker’s first goal in the competition in March 2014, no player has scored more times (joint-level with Kelechi Iheanacho, 15).
What’s next?
Chelsea returns to Premier League action at Burnley on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Luton visits Middlesbrough in the Championship.
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