Alvaro Morata was Chelsea’s last gasp hero and villain after an incredible grandstand finish at Stamford Bridge.

Supersub Morata grabbed the injury time winner to break Bournemouth’s hearts in a dramatic end to the Carabao Cup quarter final.

But Chelsea hero Morata was then booked for celebrating as he put the ball up his shirt and then ran to celebrate with the fans.

Spoilsport referee Lee Mason gave him a fifth yellow card and that rules Morata out of Chelsea’s trip to Everton on Saturday which is a massive blow for Antonio Conte’s men.

It was a sting in the tail for Chelsea and Morata but nowhere near as cruel as for Bournemouth who hauled themselves level in the 90th minute - only to still blow it.

Alvaro Morata scores the winner less than a minute after the Cherries equalised (
Image:
AFP)
Morata celebrates his winner (
Image:
PA)
Bournemouth's players look dejected (
Image:
PA)
Chelsea celebrate at full-time (
Image:
PA)

Bournemouth midfielder Dan Gosling equalised to the delight of the travelling fans but they went through a rollercoaster of emotions as Chelsea raced up the other end and won it.

It was a fabulous end and shows there is life in the League Cup - no matter what guise it takes - with nights like these.

Chelsea’s mix of fringe players and youngsters were given their chance but it was still left to their big guns to go and win it as Morata and Eden Hazard came off the bench to be heroes.

Chelsea fans celebrated wildly at the final whistle and Antonio Conte also went through a torturous range of emotions on the touchline.

From nervously hanging on to Willian’s opener to then fearing they had blown it before the delight of Morata’s winner.

Willian opened the scoring for Chelsea on Wednesday night (
Image:
Action Images via Reuters)
Cesc Fabregas in action with Bournemouth's Andrew Surman (
Image:
Action Images via Reuters)
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte looks on (
Image:
Action Images via Reuters)

But it now leaves Chelsea just 180 minutes and a two legged semi final with Arsenal from Wembley and another trophy in the cabinet for Conte.

Conte rested and rotated and yet will be particularly pleased with 17-year-old defender Ethan Ampadu who was comfortably man of the match.

Wales international Ampadu made sure Jermain Defoe will not forget him either with a brutal challenge after just one minute and 20 seconds.

Defoe was left writhing in agony and only lasted until the 17th minute and, rather worryingly, Howe believes the England striker has suffered ankle ligament damage.

That could rule Defoe out of the festive programme and would be a major blow even if his replacement, Jordon Ibe, was outstanding in a central role and was a key figure in their fightback.

Defoe goes down (
Image:
Action Images via Reuters)
Bournemouth's Dan Gosling celebrates (
Image:
PA)

Chelsea went ahead after just 13 minutes when their misfit trio - Michy Batshuayi, Kenedy and Willian - combined on the opener. Batshuayi is the £32m striker who can barely get a game, they tried to offload Kenedy in the summer and Willian has lost his regular starting place.

Batshuayi’s reverse pass found Kenedy, his back heel set up Cesc Fabregas and the Chelsea midfielder laid on a precision cross for Willian to fire home at the back post.

You expected Chelsea to go on and win it easily from there but to Bournemouth’s great credit, with Ibe driving them forward, they dug deep and got even better after the restart.

Bournemouth had plenty of play and pressure but just could not create many chances apart from Ibe firing just wide and then Chelsea’s stand-in keeper Willy Caballero denying Callum Wilson.

But eventually the pressure told as Morata’s poor headed clearance only went as far as Ibe, his lay-off set up Gosling and the Bournemouth midfielder curled a beautiful shot into the top corner with just seconds remaining of the 90 minutes.

While Bournemouth’s bench and fans were still celebrating, Chelsea went in search of a winner and Hazard led the charge up the other end.

Hazard provided a back heel, Morata barged his way into the box and then forced him a winner in the 91st minute as the winners were ahead for less than a minute.

Earlier in the season, Conte probably felt nothing was going his way. After this last gasp drama, he must at last feel the tide has turned.

poll loading

Who'll win the Carabao Cup this season?

8000+ VOTES SO FAR