Pedro keeps Chelsea in the hunt

LEICESTER, United Kingdom: Pedro Rodriguez came off the bench to keep Chelsea’s chances of silverware this season alive with an extra-time winner in a 2-1 victory at Leicester on Sunday to reach the FA Cup semi-finals.

Alvaro Morata’s first goal since Boxing Day on his return to the Chelsea starting line-up put the visitors on course to bounce back from their Champions League elimination at the hands of Barcelona in midweek.

However, Jamie Vardy’s equaliser 15 minutes from time made them do it the hard way in an extra 30 minutes.Yet, for all Antonio Conte’s complaints this season about his side’s strength in depth, the Italian was able to call on Pedro to turn the game in Chelsea’s favour when he headed home former Leicester favourite N´Golo Kante’s cross.

And Conte hailed his players’ physical and mental strength to shrug off their Champions League disappointment.“After a game like Barcelona game - don’t forget we spent a lot of energy — to play 120 minutes tonight with this weather it wasn’t easy,” said Conte of his side’s resolve in freezing conditions.

Chelsea had lost three of their past four matches to fall behind in the race for a top-four finish in the Premier League as well as their European exit.But they will fancy their chances of reaching the final for the second time in as many years under Conte after drawing Premier League strugglers Southampton in the last four.

Yet, the biggest plus of all for Conte going forward may be Morata’s return to form after a torrid time in 2018 as both form and fitness have deserted Chelsea’s £70 million club record buy from Real Madrid.