Anelka 70, 87 (pen)       Taylor 32

                                                                                                                                    Ameobi 49, 90

Chelsea exited the Carling Cup after a remarkable tie that had everything, right up until Shola Ameobi’s brilliant last-minute winning header for Newcastle United.

The Blues had to play the last 28 minutes with ten men after Salomon Kalou and Yossi Benayoun both pulled up injured when Chelsea had already made two substitutions.

But in that time they levelled from 3-1 down, only to fall to Ameobi’s last-minute heartbreaker.

Patrick Van Aanholt side-footed Chelsea ahead on six minutes from Gael Kakuta’s pass, after defensive errors involving Toon debutant Sol Campbell.

Newcastle levelled on 27 minutes when Shane Ferguson’s low far-post cross was met on the right-foot volley by Nile Ranger.

Five minutes later, Toon were ahead when Ryan Taylor’s free-kick flashed past Chelsea’s poorly-positioned defensive wall.

And on 49 minutes, Ameobi intercepted a loose Paulo Ferreira pass and curled a right-foot shot past Chelsea keeper Ross Turnbull’s left hand.

The loss of Kalou and Benayoun somehow inspired Chelsea. Nicolas Anelka made it 3-2 on 70 minutes with a fine right-foot finish from Van Aanholt’s cross.

And the Frenchman casually rolled in an 87^th-minute penalty equaliser after Alex fell in the area under no obvious challenge, before Ameobi delivered the knock-out blow.