CHELSEA 4 TOTTENHAM 2

BY AYODELE ODUMADE AT WEMBLEY STADIUM

Chelsea dispatched a brave Tottenham team who were grieving the loss of their Youth Coach Ugo Ehiogu to reach yet another FA Cup Final.  The personnel may be different but since the Semi Finals were moved to Wembley in 2008, Chelsea have won every single all of those they have been involved in. This was Tottenham’s seventh straight semi final loss.

When the team sheet was handed to the press eyebrows were raised as it showed that Diego Costa and Eden Hazard were left out of the team after their now show at Old Trafford on Easter Sunday.  That however was to prove a masterstroke at the end as they both came on along with Cesc Fabregas to finish off a tired Spurs side.

The game had barely got underway when Toby Alderweireld fouled Pedro on the edge of the Spurs area.  He was booked and from the resultant free kick Willian curled the ball past Hugo Lloris who was rooted to his spot to give Chelsea the lead.

In the 14^th minute Pedro broke down the right wing and crossed to Michy Batshuayi who saw his header saved on the line by Lloris.  Spurs were clearly shaken and took a while to get into the game.

However they soon settled down and started probing.  In the 18^th minute Christian Eriksen put a fine cross into the Chelsea area and Harry Kane lost his marker, Nathan Ake, as he got the faintest of touches on the ball with a header to send it past Thibaut Courtois to level the score. That was the first goal Chelsea had conceded in the FA Cup in 325 minutes.

After the half hour mark, Jan Vertonghen whipped a cross into the area but Eric Dyer’s header was just wide of the post.  Spurs won outside the Chelsea area and Erikson hit a shot but it was at a comfortable height for Courtois to save.

Victor Moses drove into the Spurs area and was brought down by Heung-Min Son and the referee awarded a penalty, which was slotted home by Willian to restore Chelsea’s lead.

Chelsea led 2-1 at the break. 

Spurs regrouped and when Eriksen dinked a delightful chip into the area. Dele Alli who managed to get in between David Luiz and Marcos Alonso, guided the ball past Courtois to restore parity for Spurs for the second time.

Antonio Conte made changes as he brought on the heavy mob in Diego Costa and Eden Hazard for Batshuayi and Willian.  Shortly after the Blues had a corner and Spurs failed to clear their lines. It fell to Hazard who rifled a low shot which nestled in the bottom left corner of the net to restore Chelsea’s lead for the third time. 

With just 13 minutes of the game remaining Chelsea had another corner, which eventually fell to Nemanja Matic on the edge of the area and he lashed a ferocious shot past Lloris to make it 4-2 and effectively extinguish Spurs dream of winning the FA Cup for the first time in 26 years.

Costa should have made it five but his header lacked conviction and was easily cleared by the Spurs defence.

In added time Spurs were awarded a free kick, which Harry Kane hit and appeared to be creeping into the net until Courtois recovered and grabbed the ball on the line and with that went Spurs chance to try and rescue the game.  Chelsea now await the winner of the second semi final between Manchester City and Arsenal tomorrow but they will be confident of winning as they has also won all the Finals they have been involved in at the new Wembley.

Some said if Spurs win it could give them the momentum required to overhaul the four point lead Chelsea hold over them in the league but it was not meant to be.   After this highly entertaining and bruising cup-tie, the focus now shifts back to the Premier League during midweek.  Spurs have no time to feel sorry for themselves as they must go to Crystal Palace and keep their run going in the league, as only maximum points will suffice for them. 

Mauricio Pochettino said: “ I would like to congratulate Chelsea. We dominated the game though.  We were unlucky. They scored from the only corner we conceded. The goal for 4-2 was amazing and there is nothing to say. I am proud of my players. We gave all.  It is true we lost but we gave everything. We are out of the FA Cup but we will try again next season. This will have no impact on the league. Tomorrow we will work again. ”

Antonio Conte said:” To reach the final of this competition in my first season is a great achievement for me. England must be proud to have this type of game with such intensity.  I saw two very strong teams, a really good game not only for Chelsea but also for Tottenham We need our fans on Tuesday to push from the start.”