Timo Werner guides Chelsea to FA Cup fightback win over Luton Town

Timo Werner had a goal and two assists as Chelsea twice came from behind to beat Luton Town 3-2 in their FA Cup fifth round match at Kenilworth Road on Wednesday night and book passage to the quarterfinals.

The result comes on an eventful day for Chelsea, whose owner Roman Abramovich announced before the match that he would be selling the club he bought in 2003. Chelsea have won the FA Cup five times under Abramovich.

News of Abramovich's decision, amid growing calls for him to be hit by sanctions after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, had the packed crowd abuzz before kickoff.

The vocal Chelsea fans were silenced early on as Reece Burke staked Luton Town to a 1-0 lead in the second minute, his fine glancing header from a corner kick beating Kepa Arrizabalaga at his far post.

- Olley: Abramovich's money once again the difference for Chelsea

- ESPN+ viewers' guide: LaLiga, Bundesliga, MLS, FA Cup, more

- Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich announces plans to sell club

The Championship side suffered an injury blow shortly after scoring when goalkeeper Jed Steer went down while running down a ball in into the area and was replaced by Harvey Isted.

A Luton Town turnover at midfield allowed Chelsea to equalise before the half-hour mark after Werner laid the ball off for an onrushing Saul, who curled a first-time shot past Isted to make it 1-1.

It was the first goal for Saul in his 21 games played since joining Thomas Tuchel's side on loan from Atletico Madrid last summer.

The hosts struck again before half-time with another top-notch goal, as Luton Town played quickly out of the back and sprang Harry Cornick in behind the Chelsea defence for a clinical finish past to give his team the lead at the break.

Michael Regan/Getty Images

---

Werner drew Chelsea level in the 68th minute with a composed finish after settling a perfectly weighted ball over the top of the Luton Town defence from Ruben Loftus-Cheek.

The visitors took the lead for good 10 minutes later through Romelu Lukaku, who poked home from close range after Werner rolled the ball right to his feet in front of the Luton Town goal. It was Lukaku's first goal for Chelsea of the 2022 calendar year.

Luton's squad has a combined value of less than £20 million compared to Chelsea's near £1 billion and Chelsea's three scorers alone were signed for a total of around £160 million.

Lukaku was bought twice with Abramovich's money. He left for £28 million to Everton in 2014 and then came back for more than three times that figure.

Such eye-watering figures are why Abramovich's announcement on Wednesday sent shockwaves through English football.

Manager Tuchel, who just over a year ago became the 11th full-time manager in the Abramovich era, said he had found out the news not long before the kickoff.

"We heard the rumours throughout the day and the TV is on in the hotel and the guys talk about it, so yeah it is big news," Tuchel said after the match.

Asked if it was the right decision, Tuchel added: "I think every decision he takes is the right decision. It's his choice, it's his club, and it's not on me to comment."

Despite all the distractions, the game itself was a classic Cup tie with Luton, a club on the up again after tough times, giving Chelsea a mighty scare.

Information from Reuters was used in this report.