Kepa Arrizabalaga made another blunder and Timo Werner missed a penalty but Tammy Abraham s hat-trick got Chelsea past Luton Town with a 3-1 victory at Stamford Bridge.
Abraham s quickfire double put Chelsea in control early in the FA Cup fourth-round tie on Sunday, as last season s runners up seemed to be heading for a comfortable success.
Yet Kepa, brought in as one of seven changes made by Frank Lampard from Tuesday s defeat at Leicester City, enabled Luton to haul themselves into the contest when he failed to keep out Jordan Clark s effort.
Abraham s third goal 16 minutes from time ultimately set up a fifth-round trip to Barnsley, though Werner s woeful run in front of goal continued when his late spot-kick was saved.
3 Tammy Abraham is the first player to score an FA Cup hat-trick for Chelsea since Oscar v MK Dons in January 2016, and first Englishman to do so since now-manager Frank Lampard v Macclesfield in January 2007. Magic.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe)
Chelsea beat Luton 2-0 in their previous meeting in 1994 – the year they made their first FA Cup final appearance since 1970 – and the Blues were ahead by that scoreline inside the first 17 minutes.
Abraham got them both, the striker sweeping in from Werner s deflected cross before he met a right-wing Reece James delivery to head home his second.
Luton s record signing Simon Sluga denied Christian Pulisic in the 28th minute but at the other end, Kepa – the world s most expensive goalkeeper – did little to dispel doubts over his quality when he allowed Clark s strike to slip underneath him.
Pulisic s personal battle with Sluga continued after the break, with Luton s goalkeeper again coming out on top as he blocked the forward s close-range effort.
Harry Cornick would have drawn Luton level were it not for Kepa s reactions, the Spain international pulling off a fine stop at his near post.
Abraham spurned one glorious chance to seal his hat-trick but had it just 82 seconds later, tapping in from Callum Hudson-Odoi s cutback.
Werner had the opportunity to help himself to a much-needed goal after being brought down inside the box by Clark, only for Sluga to deny Chelsea s out-of-form striker in the 86th minute.
What does it mean? A reprieve for Lampard
Chelsea just cannot string a run of wins or quality performances together in the Premier League, but at least they can hope to put together a cup run.
The Blues have now progressed from 52 of their past 54 FA Cup ties against sides from a lower division, though one of the teams they lost to in that run – Barnsley in 2008 – are their opponents in the next round.
Abraham back on track
Abraham managed a game-high six attempts on goal and really should have had his hat-trick when he headed Hudson-Odoi s cross wide – though the pair linked up again to superb effect a minute later.
The 23-year-old had not scored since Boxing Day but is the first player to score an FA Cup hat-trick for Chelsea since Oscar in January 2016, and first Englishman to do so since Lampard in January 2007.
Werner s woes continue
While Kepa s miserable streak of errors continued – after letting in Luton s goal, the former Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper s save percentage of 58.8 per cent was the lowest of any Premier League goalkeeper with at least 20 appearances since the start of last season – Chelsea have another big-money signing in similarly troublesome form at the other end.
Werner scored in the last round against Morecambe but has gone 11 league games without a goal and his tame penalty rather summed up yet another frustrating display for the ex-RB Leipzig star.
Key Opta Facts
Chelsea have reached the fifth round of the FA Cup in 21 of the past 23 seasons, failing only in 2010-11 and 2014-15.
Since Roman Abramovich took over Chelsea in 2003, the Blues have won more FA Cup games than any other club (65).
Abraham scored the third hat-trick of his professional career in all competitions, with each coming in a different competition (Championship v Nottingham Forest in 2018, Premier League v Wolves in 2019, FA Cup v Luton on Sunday).
What s next?
Chelsea are back in Premier League action against Wolves on Wednesday, with Luton taking on Blackburn Rovers in the Championship on Saturday.
