Chelsea goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic became their Carabao Cup hero on Tuesday night, months after missing out on a move to Manchester United.
United were dumped out of the Carabao Cup by Newcastle United in the fourth round, slumping to a miserable 3-0 home defeat in November.
Newcastle’s reward was a quarter-final clash against Chelsea, and it looked like they would be heading through.
Callum Wilson put Newcastle in front but Chelsea levelled it up in injury time, sending the game straight to penalties.
Kieran Trippier fired wide before Chelsea stopper Djordje Petrovic came up with the winning moment, saving Matt Ritchie’s spot kick to send the Blues through.
Djordje Petrovic the hero after Manchester United interest
Petrovic’s name may ring a bell for United fans.
The Mirror suggested in March that United had joined Liverpool in the race to sign Petrovic from New England Revolution.
Reports in June highlighted United’s continued interest in Petrovic and there were even suggstions that United were priced out of a move for the Serbian.
United wanted Petrovic as competition for Andre Onana but weren’t willing to pay the £13.6million Chelsea forked out over the summer.
Petrovic has so far served as backup to Robert Sanchez, waiting patiently for a chance to shine.
Known for his penalty-saving ability in Major League Soccer, Petrovic produced Chelsea’s winning moment with a flying save to deny Ritchie.
Petrovic was mobbed by teammates as Chelsea head into the last four – and he may be glad he didn’t join United after all.
Altay Bayindir waiting for his Petrovic moment
If Petrovic had joined United, he would have likely found himself in exactly the same position as Altay Bayindir.
The Turkish stopper signed for United in a deal worth just £4.3million, leaving Fenerbache for Old Trafford.
Bayindir was a much cheaper addition than Petrovic but hasn’t even been able to make a single save for United.
Christmas is almost here and Bayindir still hasn’t made a single appearance for United and is stuck on the bench behind Onana – even after some high-profile mistakes from the Cameroonian star.
That could have been Petrovic, but he has instead made himself a Chelsea hero with that penalty save and is really pushing to take the number one spot from Sanchez.
Bayindir will ultimately hope to have his big moment in the near future, with Onana potentially heading off to the Africa Cup of Nations.
That should give the Turkey international a chance to shine, and he will be looking to take his opportunity just like Petrovic.
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