Chelsea beat Tottenham 4-2 in an FA Cup semifinal at Wembley Stadium on Saturday, April 22. Here are all the highlights from the match.
Saturday’s FA Cup semifinal was supposed to pit the two best sides in England against one another. That idea went by the wayside somewhat when Chelsea manager Antonio Conte named Eden Hazard and Diego Costa on the bench, and Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino went for an experimental 3-4-3 formation with Heung-min Son and Kieran Trippier at wing-back.
What the team sheets lacked in familiarity, however, the teams made up for with an excellent, end-to-end match. The Blues took the lead within four minutes after a move that spanned almost the entire length of the pitch and resuled in a free-kick 25 yards out, which Willian curled in.
Tottenham responded well, equalizing in the 18th minute when Harry Kane converted Christian Eriksen’s cross with a wonderful flicked header into the bottom corner. Spurs dominated the first half after that, with Eric Dier and Eriksen both going close, though Thibaut Courtois wasn’t forced into any exceptional saves.
Chelsea re-took the lead shortly before halftime, when Moses drew a foul from Son to win his side a penalty. There was a hint of a dive from the Blues’ wing-back, but Son went to ground unnecessarily early, and gave him an obvious opportunity to go to ground. Willian finished the penalty comfortably to Hugo Lloris’ right.
Tottenham started the first half as well as they’d played most of the first, pegging Chelsea back in their own half with the intensity of their pressure off the ball. They equalized for the second time in the match in the 52nd minute, with Eriksen the provider again. The Dane played an exquisite cross into the path of Dele Alli, whose finish was equally impressive.
Conte finally turned to his big guns on the hour mark, when Costa and Hazard came on for Michy Batshuayi and Willian. They rewarded their manager quickly enough, Hazard rifling home from the top of the box in the 75th minute to give Chelsea their first lead of the match they wouldn’t relinquish.
Nemanja Matic put the result beyond doubt in the 80th minute, finishing from 25 yards with a shot of astonishing power and accuracy. Lloris could only watch as the ball kissed the cross bar on the way in.
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Highlights
"WILLIAN! A magnificent free kick from the Brazilian gives Chelsea the early lead vs Tottenham. What a start! #FACup https://t.co/HIheUsCSHo— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) April 22, 2017"
"Harry Kane ties it up for Tottenham with a brilliant diving header into the far corner. All square on @FOXTV! #FACup https://t.co/4dlxarHxnt— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) April 22, 2017"
"Have another look at the penalty decision and goal to give Chelsea a halftime lead. #FACup https://t.co/gaJ1HbTpkR— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) April 22, 2017"
"What a ball from Eriksen! What a volley from Alli! Spurs equalize a second time against Chelsea. #FACup #CHETOT https://t.co/Mpm4sEsyeK— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) April 22, 2017"
"Eden Hazard comes off the bench to give Chelsea a late lead in the #FACup semifinal. Is that the final blow? #CHETOT https://t.co/QSZa2st3MW— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) April 22, 2017"
"You cannot strike a ball any better than Nemanja Matic just did. 😱 😱 😱 #FACup #CHETOT https://t.co/rUgILaVBy6— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) April 22, 2017"
The FA Cup final takes place at Wembley on Saturday, May 27. Chelsea will play the winner of Sunday’s semifinal between Arsenal and Manchester City.