Standup9ja: Chelsea beat Tottenham, await Arsenal or Man
City in FA Cup final
Chelsea quest for silverware on two fronts continue as the
Blues booked an FA Cup final date in May by emerging victorious in a game of
six goals at Wembley.
Willian struck twice in the first half from a free-kick and
a penalty but saw both goals cancelled out courtesy of Harry Kane and Dele Alli
either side of the interval. With the scores level going into the final 15
minutes, Chelsea impact from the bench made the difference, Cesc Fabregas’s
corner finding Eden Hazard and Hazard finding the bottom corner from the edge
of the box. Nemanja Matic then fired into the top corner from distance to give
the Blues breathing space and ensure their return to north London for the final
next month.
Antonio Conte made five changes to the side that lined up at
Old Trafford last weekend. Thibaut Courtois returned in goal having recovered
from an ankle injury while Nathan Ake made his third FA Cup start of the season
in place of Gary Cahill, who missed out with illness.
Ake lined up alongside David Luiz and Cesar Azpilicueta, the
latter wearing the captain’s armband for the first time and leading the Blues
out at Wembley. Michy Batshuayi and Willian replaced Diego Costa and Eden
Hazard, who started on the bench.
Mauricio Pocchetino matched Chelsea 3-4-3 despite being without
both his first-choice wing-backs, Heung-Min Son starting on the left and Kieran
Trippier on the right.
Players, staff and supporters from both sides joined for a
minute’s applause before the action got underway to mark the sad and sudden
passing of Ugo Ehiogu this week, the former Tottenham defender who had returned
to the club and was coaching their Under-23 team. Both teams also wore black
armbands as a mark of respect.
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