Sunderland 2–1 Chelsea (AET)

Two last gasp goals, one two minutes from normal time, the other in extra time, saw Chelsea eliminated from the League Cup.

A pretty woeful display from the Blues saw them exit with little more than a whimper while a less than half-full Stadium of Light celebrated into the night.

Jose Mourinho gave Petr Cech, Ramires and Juan Mata the night off while Branislav Ivanovic sat out the game thanks to a somewhat convenient fifth yellow card of the season, obtained against Crystal Palace on Saturday.

Sunderland called for a penalty just after the half hour: a Andrea Dossena cross, ricocheting off Cesar Azpilicueta's calf and on to his arm.

But referee Anthony Taylor pointed to the corner flag in what looked to be a good call.

The half was a tired and forgettable 45 minutes: everything the three-goal first period of a fortnight back was lacking.

A late hesitant attempt on goal by Samuel Eto'o went begging when he seemed to fall on the ball – something which summed-up his half.

There were too many poor performers in evidence to name them all but special mention should go to Kevin De Bruyne – who seemed to be a spectator.

It took Chelsea 41 seconds form the re-start to grab the long-awaited breakthrough.

Cesar Azpilicueta put in a cross from the right, which found Frank Lampard tussling with Cesar Azpilicueta not more than a yard from goal.

Somehow the ball ended up in the net. And while the initial call was to award Lampard his 209 Chelsea goal; the revised shout was to allow Cattermole and astonishing sixth own goal in 11 games.

The game slipped back into its torpor, and Chelsea missed a series of chances to stretch the lead: notably Eto'o again failing in a one-on-one.

And so it turned to sub and ex-Chelsea Fabio Boroni to turn in a rebounding Jozy Altidore shot through David Luiz' legs on 88 minutes.

Extra time was a tense affair with the few chances falling largely to the home side. Notable was a header on goal from sub Ki Sung Yueng – saved acrobatically by the 41-year-old Mark Schwarzer.

The game looked to be headed for spot kicks, until Yueng picked-up a flicked-on Phil Bardsley cross on 118 minutes – and put it into the corner of the net.

The result frees up space in the Blues' January schedule. But that definitely was not the plan.

With Arsenal and Liverpool up next, improvements are needed.