LONDON: After being stunned by a late equaliser, Chelsea were left bewildered and infuriated over the experimental video referees.

And as frustration grew over the lack of winner against Norwich City in the FA Cup, so did the number of dives by Chelsea players.

Chelsea finished Wednesday’s third-round replay with nine men after Pedro Rodriguez and Alvaro Morata saw red in the frenzied conclusion with the teams locked at 1-1. Chelsea did eventually prevail on penalties against the second-tier visitors, winning 5-3 to advance to the fourth round in the rain at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte was relieved but also seeking answers about the role of video assistant referees and how on-field official Graham Scott was consulting them. Scott certainly didn’t go over to a monitor to assess decisions himself.

“If we want to improve,” Conte said, “we have to wait to check with the person who is watching the game and then [see] if this person is sure 100 percent that it is simulation.” Chelsea had looked all set for the fourth round thanks to Michy Batshuayi’s strike 10 minutes into the second half that ended the west London team’s goal drought of more than five hours.

But Norwich produced an equaliser with almost the last kick of regulation time. Timm Klose crossed from the left flank and Jamal Lewis evaded Davide Zappa­costa to guide a header into the roof of the net.

There was confusion at the start of extra time when Chelsea midfielder Willian was booked for diving rather than being awarded a penalty after being clipped by Klose. Was the decision by referees across west London at the match control centre? It’s unclear.

“The Willian penalty was a big, big mistake,” Conte said. “To avoid a big mistake you have to call the referee and to say, ‘Oh look, maybe this situation this is a doubt. It’s better if you go to watch.’ Otherwise we cut the power to the referee on the pitch, and that is not right.”

The red cards were shown in the final four minutes.

Pedro received a second yellow card for fouling Wes Hoolahan after already receiving a caution for diving. Then Morata was booked for simulation and again for remonstrating.

“If there is diving, it’s right to take a yellow card. I don’t want an advantage,” Conte said. “I’m not happy for the second yellow card to Morata. The second yellow card was for dissent and you must pay attention, to stay calm and make the best decision.”

Conte berated the match officials as the teams prepared for the shootout, when the hosts converted all their kicks but Nelson Oliveira’s miss for Norwich proved costly. Eden Hazard took the penalty that sealed a fourth-round meeting with Newcastle United.

“It is the FA Cup, it is not easy to win the game. We gave everything, at the end of the game we played 9 v 11 so we showed great character,” Hazard said. “We are happy but also sad that we lost two players. Now we can focus on the league.”

Norwich manager Daniel Farke thought the game was there for the taking.

“To be honest it’s big disappointment, some of the lads are sitting with tears in their eyes in the dressing room,” he told the BBC.

Swansea City, the Premier League’s bottom team, also reached the fourth round with Wilfried Bony grabbing the winner in a 2-1 victory over Championship leaders Wolver­hampton Wanderers but it was a grim night for the top flight’s Bournemouth as they were dumped out after an embarrassing 3-0 replay defeat at third tier Wigan Athletic.

Published in Dawn, January 19th, 2018