The Leicester fans are looking pretty jaded now, but there is a definite silver lining to tonight's result and that is that they can now focus on the Premier League and indeed a very manageable Champions League group alongside Club Brugge, Porto, and Copenhagen. Not bad for the team who were bottom of the league two Christmases ago!
116'
Four minutes to go here and it is unlikely the referee will add on too much injury time after extra-time has finished, as the whole of the stadium has been begging for it pretty much since the second Cesc goal nearly burst the net. Leicester gave it everything they had, but Wasilewski really does have a lot to answer for.
114'
Alonso goes down the left wing completely unopposed and swings a waist-high cross to the front post. Fabregas goes for his hat-trick goal by opening up his right foot on the volley, but it is not the Spaniard's best and the attempt flashes wide of the left-hand post. He probably should have left it for Hazard running in behind!
112'
Leicester, of course, have Manchester United to face this weekend so will not be wanting to use up too much energy. After all, this game was pretty much over after Fabregas smashed in that fourth Chelsea goal.
110'
Another Chelsea booking here and it seemed inevitable that Luiz would see yellow with Vardy running and buzzing around him looking for any mistakes. It is a clumsy foul in the end for the Brazilian, who accepts his punishment without too many protests.
109'
David Luiz gets yellow.
108'
Fair play to Leicester, as they are still giving it everything despite the circumstances. Vardy in particular is still fairly fresh compared to the majority of his team-mates, so you would certainly not bet against him chasing down every single speculative pass over the top until full time.
104'
Luiz lets the ball run all the way back to him instead of going to meet it which isn't advisable when Vardy is sprinting forward menacingly. The Brazilian gets away with it this time, though, as he sweeps a pass wide to his fellow central defender, Cahill.
103'
B. Chilwell gets yellow.
102'
There are just showing signs that Leicester are starting to lose their discipline at bit now as Chilwell, who has been fairly composed all night, goes in late on Azpilicueta bombing on from the right wing. Ranieri has a word with his player just to calm things down.
Minute
Description
100'
This is like a training exercise for Chelsea at the moment and the only negative for them is that they still need to play another twenty minutes of extra-time. They won't exactly have to expel too much energy, but they would rather have got the job done the right side of the end of the 90 minutes.
98'
This is now a massive mountain to climb for Leicester, and not just due to their two-goal deficit. That red card for Wasilewski has meant that Chelsea have been able to dominate the match effortlessly since gaining the man advantage, with Fabregas in particularly prospering in the newly generated space available to him.
96'
How about that! They couldn't be separated after 90 minutes but it only took ONE minute of extra-time for Fabregas to pop up, and he scored a second only moments later!
94'
Cesc Fàbregas has scored a goal for Chelsea!
GOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLLLL FOR CHELSEA! AND IT IS FABREGAS AGAIN! Hazard bursts towards the byline and flashes a cross into the box which is cleared high into the air. The World Cup winner reaches the loose ball and sends a firebolt into the roof of the net! Four-two.
92'
Cesc Fàbregas has scored a goal for Chelsea! Assist by E. Hazard.
GOOOOOAAALLLLLL FOR CHELSEA! Only moments into extra-time! Diego Costa causes yet more problems with his physicality in the final third as he holds up possession well before laying in to Fabregas, who lashes a quite brilliant finish into the top left corner! Three-two.
91'
Extra-time is under way!
90' +2
Four minutes of added time have been allocated by the referee and Ranieri goes and makes his last change of the match, naturally a defensive one to the red card. Entering the action is Daniel Amartey to replace Demarai Gray, who has showed glimpses of real pace and quality on occasion tonight.
90' +1
D. Amartey enters the game and replaces D. Gray.
90'
LEICESTER ARE DOWN TO 10 MEN! Wasilewski, who picked up a yellow in the first half, stupidly takes out Diego Costa with a forceful forearm to the face right in front of the referee, and the dugout. That could actually have been a red, but he gets his marching orders after a second yellow.
89'
M. Wasilewski gets a second yellow card and is sent off.
E. Hazard enters the game and replaces Pedro.
88'
After a small delay and Costa naturally moaning about that tackle from Drinkwater, David Luiz finally steps up to hit the free-kick. The Brazilian uses that signature technique with the inside of his boot to drive an attempt up and over the bar, but Zieler sees it JUST over the bar. Decent attempt there.
87'
D. Drinkwater gets yellow.
86'
Just about the most obvious yellow card you will see in all of the League Cup fixtures tonight as Drinkwater extremely cynically brings down Diego Costa as the Spain international opens up his stride ominously towards the Leicester goal during a Chelsea counter-attack. Free-kick to the visitors 30 yards out.
84'
Double save from Zieler! Luiz pops a fantastic free-kick up and over the Leicester defence from just about the edge of his own box. Diego Costa is the target and the striker collects to feet before twisting and turning and rifling a strike at goal, which is saved! He picks up the rebound and goes for another attempt to the near post from pretty much the byline, only to be denied again!
83'
N. Matić gets yellow.
We have our first Chelsea booking of the match now and it is brandished to Matic for kicking away at Gray.
82'
IMPORTANT SAVE FROM ZIELER! Already Diego Costa has twice been able to get in behind the Leicester defence and does so a third time here, albeit at a much tight angle. He attempts to squeeze a half-volley low into the bottom corner, only to be thwarted by the perfectly positioned German goalkeeper.
81'
Another Chelsea change as Nathaniel Chalobah comes on for Batshuayi.
80'
N. Chalobah enters the game and replaces M. Batshuayi.
Vardy running up against David Luiz doesn't exactly inspire confidence for Conte and Chelsea here, as on this occasion the substitute barges and bullies the Brazilian off the ball on the edge of the box, only for Cahill to come in and save his team-mate with an important tackle.
78'
Moses eats up the space down this right-hand side and again cuts into a more central area before driving into the penalty area with pace, skipping past the challenge of Chilwell as he goes. He reverses a teasing cross back into the danger area, but Wasilewski is on hand to make the vital interception.
76'
J. Vardy enters the game and replaces A. Musa.
Within the space of a minute for Leicester, Andy King misses an absolutely SITTER at the back post from a yard out following a knockdown from Ulloa, then Jamie Vardy enters the pitch to replace Musa for the last 15 minutes or so of the action.
75'
L. Ulloa enters the game and replaces S. Okazaki.
Claudio Ranieri makes his opening substitution of the match now as he introduces Leonardo Ulloa in place of two-goal hero, Okazaki, who has ran himself into the ground for the Foxes so far this afternoon. He has earned a rest, but will likely be perturbed he can't back that elusive Cup hat-trick!
73'
Moses, who has probably been one of Chelsea's bright sparks tonight, runs into space again before flighting a pass into the chest of Batshuayi, who subsequently attempts to lay into the path of the oncoming Diego Costa. Really good interception from Drinkwater, though.
71'
OH A SITTER FROM DIEGO COSTA MOMENTS AFTER COMING ON!! The former Atletico Madrid man piles plenty of pressure on the Leicester defence and actually runs in behind to retrieve a loose ball before gliding through on goal one-on-one with the goalkeeper, but only succeeds in placing a curled attempt inches wide of the post! Still 2-2.
69'
BATSHUAYIIII! HOW CLOSE WAS THAT?! The Belgian already looks better after Costa's introduction as he uses the space created by his team-mate to collect possession with his back to goal and swivel sharply before driving a left-footed strike aimed towards the top left corner. JUST the wrong side of the post!
67'
Diego Costa enters the game and replaces R. Loftus-Cheek.
First change of the match now and it does indeed see Conte introduce Diego Costa to the action. The Spain international typically comes on to the pitch to a chorus of boos from the opposition fans, and he will replace the ineffectual Loftus-Cheek, which means the Blues will now operate with two up top.
66'
Marcos Alonso certainly has it in his locker to score from long-distance, but on this occasion the Spaniard fails to pose a threat to the Leicester goal as his attempt from 30 yards or so goes high and wide into the stand. That was never bothering Zieler in between the sticks.
64'
Musa has caused plenty of problems with his pace so far this evening but on this occasion just looks a bit flat on his heels when chasing for a ball down the left wing with Cahill. The Englishman actually comes out on top in this particular mini-battle, so perhaps the former CSKA Moscow man is another candidate for withdrawal for the Foxes.
62'
A bit of a lull in the game at the moment as both sides are struggling to create in the final third. It looks more than likely that both Conte and Ranieri will look to make changes sooner rather than later, with Loftus-Cheek and Batshuayi the most likely candidates for Chelsea and Gray the most likely for Leicester.
60'
An hour into proceedings now and we are no closer to finding out who will proceed to the next round of the Cup. As this is a knockout competition we will of course have extra time and penalties if Leicester and Chelsea cannot be separated aftter 90 minutes, but nobody wants that at this early stage of the campaign with fitness levels still getting to scratch!
58'
Speaking of the Chelsea bench, the visitors really do have some quality to bring on if required and if Conte feels the need. The likes of Hazard and Willian are in the dugout at the moment. while Diego Costa would also love relish being introduced to the battle, particularly with a duel with Wes Morgan on the cards!
56'
Loftus-Cheek had that little floury of quality in the first half but for the most part tonight it has been poor. Indeed, as he receives the ball down the left he takes a poor touch and allows possession to roll out for a throw-in, which actually results in Conte having a small look behind him at his substitute's bench.
54'
Okazaki has been a massive thorn in the side of Chelsea so far tonight, and not with the two goals he superbly bagged. On this occasion, just when Leicester are under plenty of pressure, he displays a lovely bit of strength and movement to win a free-kick on the halfway line, taking all the sting out of the game in the process.
52'
M. Wasilewski gets yellow.
The ascendancy is certainly with Chelsea at the moment and Conte is extremely animated on the touchline to try and catalyse more moves forward. League Cup clashes don't always tend to delivery at this stage of the season, but this has been a cracker, folks!
50'
GOOOOOAAAALLLLL FOR CHELSEA! CONTE'S MEN ARE BACK ON LEVEL TERMS! A speculative cross into the box is cleared to around 25 yards out from the hosts, and Azpilicueta meets the ball with an absolutely STUNNING volley into the top right corner past the goalkeeper! He nearly burst the net - 2-2!
49'
César Azpilicueta has scored a goal for Chelsea!
48'
A poor corner-kick from Leicester is cleared easily by Chelsea which allows the visitors to counter at pace through Pedro. The Spaniard releases Batshuayi down the left wing and the striker takes on the opposition defence before going for a strike on goal, but it is blocked on the edge of the box. Disappointing in the end.
46'
We are back under way in this League Cup clash! All to play for in the next 45!
45' +2
G. Cahill has scored a goal for Chelsea! Assist by Cesc Fàbregas.
Assist Francesc Fàbregas i Soler
Goal Gary Cahill
45' +1
GOOOAAAAAAAAALLLL FOR CHELSEA! A LIFELINE FOR THE BLUES! Fabregas curls a lovely corner to the back post and Cahill gets beyond Morgan to glance a header back across goal into the bottom corner! Two-one!
45'
One minute of added time allocated by the referee here and the Chelsea players will be hoping it feels as long as possible because you get the feeling that Conte is really going to let them have it at the break. They have been very, very poor.
43'
OH HOW HAS BATSHUAYI NOT SCORED! Moses pops up down the right flank this time and whips a cross along the six-yard box which just goes a little longer into space than expected. Pedro latches on to it, though, and reverses a fantastic pass back into the danger area, but the former Marseille man is not ready for it and allows it to run underneath him!
41'
Just wide from Gray! The former Birmingham City winger goes on a marauding dribble down the wing and shifts back inside on his right foot past Azpilicueta before lashing a powerful strike on goal. Begovic has this one covered, though, and comfortably ushers behind for a goal-kick.
39'
Moses goes on a signature run deep down the right flank and cuts inside with pace before passing into the feet of Fabregas, who in turn goes to flash the ball in to Batshuayi, but the Belgian is beat to the ball by the proactive Morgan, who comes in with a great tackle on the edge of the box.
37'
Loftus-Cheek attempts to take the game to Leicester here shortly after he witnesses his side go 2-0 down. The young Englishman, holds the ball up well and swivels to face goal before going for a rasper of a strike on goal, but unfortunately for Chelsea it blazes harmlessly wide.
35'
GOOOOOAAAAAAAAALLLL! GOOOAAALLLL FOR LEICESTER! Pedro poorly clears into midfield and the ball is collected by King, who takes an assured touch before lifting a delightful pass over the top of the Chelsea defence, for Okazaki, who once again gets the better of Begovic with a scuffed striker bouncing over the oncoming Chelsea goalkeeper! Two-nil!
34'
S. Okazaki has scored a goal for Leicester City! Assist by A. King.
Goal Shinji Okazaki
Assist Andy King
33'
Much, much better from Loftus-Cheek this time as he collects possession with his back to goal near the corner flag before showing an impressive bit of strength to shake off the attentions of Chilwell and Schlupp. He hits the byline but just takes a little too long to get the cross in, which means the left winger can concede the corner with a slide tackle.
31'
Loftus-Cheek, who has been extremely quiet on a rare start in this League Cup encounter, receives the ball to feet but opts for the safe pass just a few yards to the right for Moses rather than going for a more penetrating through ball. It kept possession, yes, but it results in Leicester getting back into positions at the back.
29'
Again, Leicester are more than happy to allow Chelsea possession in areas where they can remain comfortable at the back. Both Musa and Okazaki are real firecrackers in terms of their pace, too, so as Conte's men come closer and closer towards the byline there is plenty of space created in behind to sprint in to.
27'
A decent period of sustained possession from Chelsea at the moment with Azpilicueta, Moses, and Cahill all involved, but unfortunately for the visitors all the passes are coming in areas which are of no threat to Leicester's goal. The front four need to work a little bit harder.
25'
Azpilicueta is actually featuring on the right-hand side of defence tonight which favours his right foot, however after spending so much time playing on the opposite side of the backline for Chelsea he appears unsure of his positioning. Not exactly ideal when dealing with the direct running of Schlupp.
23'
The King Power faithful are liking what they are seeing from their players at the moment, particularly Okazaki who is just a complete burst of energy each and every time he receives possession up top, and even when he isn't on the ball himself to create space for team-mate. He has been a real thorn in Chelsea's side so far.
21'
Quite worrying for Conte is that there does not appear to be any cohesion at all between the forward players for the London outfit. This is summed up rather woefully by Loftus-Cheek and Pedro both attempting to latch on to a loose ball inside the Leicester box, only to get in each other's way to concede the goal-kick.
19'
Chelsea were asking for that to happen as even though they have had plenty of the ball, they have looked so shaky defensively, especially when dealing with pace. As for Begovic and Azpilicueta, well, they better get those mistakes out of their system pretty quickly as Leicester sniff blood!
17'
S. Okazaki has scored a goal for Leicester City!
GOOOOAAAAAAAALLLLLLLL FOR LEICESTER! An awful mistake from Begovic! Gray collects possession down the right wing and whips a dangerous cross to the back post, which Azpilicueta fails to deal with with an awkward chested touch. The ball bounces high into the air and looks easy for the Chelsea goalkeeper to claim, but he somehow allows Okazaki to sneak in and net with a looping header! One-nil!
Goal Shinji Okazaki
15'
Another set-piece opportunity for Chelsea here as they are awarded the corner down the left wing. Fabregas is the man tasked with it as the cross is floated ominously towards the back post, but Leicester survive as Luiz sends a harmless header high and wide over the crossbar.
13'
A small penalty appeal for Leicester here as Musa utilises his electric speed to burst in behind the Chelsea defence with authority. Luiz and Cahill do really well to recover, though, and the Englishman just manages to nick the ball away before the striker can pull the trigger on goal, so no spotkick given.
11'
We haven't seen too much from Chelsea's main attacking transfer of the summer, Batshuayi, here, who hasn't received too much service into the final third. The Belgium international did net two goals in the last round of the League Cup, though, so he will be looking for similar fortune tonight.
9'
A penalty shout for Chelsea here as Wasilewski rises high inside the box to commandingly head a cross away, but not before allowing the ball to bounce off the top of his hand. He gets away with it, and celebrates by completely taking out his own team-mate, King, during an aerial challenge.
7'
A positive start to proceedings from Chelsea here, who have arguably got the stronger named line-up this evening. Ranieri has opted to rest such players as Mahrez, Vardy, and Slimani, but Conte still has some really big-hitters out there, no one more so that World Cup winners, Fabregas and Pedro.
5'
GOOOOOAAAAAAAAAALLLLL FOR CHELSEA! WAIT! NO! OFFSIDE! Chelsea manage to get the ball in the back of the Leicester net early doors here as Pedro glides in behind the defence before rounding the goalkeeper to score, but the celebrations are short-lived as the linesman raises his flag. That looked tight...
3'
Naturally, a number of starting XI changes have been made by both Conte and Claudio Ranieri tonight, so it will be interesting to see if the players coming in, and indeed the players who kept their place, can gel positively.
1'
We are under way at the King Power!
TEAM NEWS...
The last clash between the two sides featuring this evening took place in May of last year at the tail end of last season when Leicester were already dramatically crowned champions against all odds. On that occasion, the match ended in a tight 1-1 draw, with Danny Drinkwater and Cesc Fabregas getting on the scoresheet for their respective outfits.
Leicester and Chelsea had very contrasting fortunes in this past weekend's Premier League action. The Foxes secured a comfortable and composed 3-0 victory at home to Burnley on Saturday afternoon, with new signing Islam Slimani bagging two headers, but Antonio Conte's men did not fair as well and were on the wrong side of a 2-1 defeat to Liverpool at Stamford Bridge. That was actually the Italian boss' first loss at home in a league match since January 2013 when he was in charge of Juventus.
Good evening football fans! Welcome to LIVE coverage of the League Cup encounter between Leicester City and Chelsea from the King Power Stadium.
This midweek round of fixtures gives Premier League outfits another chance in the season in to test their metal in a domestic cup competition, and tonight's match is certainly the pick of the bunch as it features the current champions of England's top-flight, and indeed the team they usurped to the title.
End of 90 minutes at King Power. There has been nothing to separate Leicester City and Chelsea so far as we end regulation time at 2-2, with extra time coming up shortly. We will play another 30 minutes and potentially nerve-crunching penalty kicks!
End of the first half in extra-time. Chelsea already have this sewn up.
The second period of extra-time is under way.
Full-time at the King Power. It took 120 minutes, but Chelsea eventually progress in the League Cup after a 4-2 extra-time win over Premier League champions, Leicester, who actually took a two-goal lead through Shinji Okazaki. Antonio Conte's men rallied before and after the break and got back on level terms through Gary Cahill and Cesar Azpilicueta, and with Marcin Wasilewski receiving a stupid yellow, this allowed them to go on and win comfortable through a Cesc Fabregas double. Thanks for joining us, see you next time!
Half-time at the King Power. A really entertaining clash between Leicester and Chelsea so far as the hosts lead 2-1 at the break. A Shinji Okazaki double put Ranieri's men ahead for the comfortable lead, but the visitors now have a ray of hope thanks to Gary Cahill, who netted with a header just moments before the half-time whistle. A deserved lead for the Foxes, but GAME ON in the second period.
Commentary
More…