Chelsea booked their place in the FA Cup final after they beat London rivals Tottenham Hotspur 4-2 at Wembley Stadium on Saturday, writes DYLAN APPOLIS.
Mauricio Pochettino reshuffled his side slightly from their 4-0 win over Bournemouth last time out, with Victor Wanyama replacing Ben Davies in a switch that saw Eric Dier being deployed in a back three alongside Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen. Tripper replaces Kyle Walker at right-back.
Antonio Conte handed a rare start to Nathan Ake at the back, while Cesar Azpilicueta returned to the defence after featuring as a wing-back against Manchester United. Michy Batshuayi, Pedro and Willian led the attack, while Diego Costa and Eden Hazard dropped to the bench.
The Blues started on the front foot and broke the deadlock in the fifth minute when Willian’s well-struck free-kick evaded Hugo Lloris and went into the far corner.
Spurs responded well and levelled matters in the 15th minute when Christain Eriksen whipped a cross into the near post, where Harry Kane showed an extraordinary bit of invention to get low and flick his header into the far corner.
After a brief spell of Spurs dominance following the equaliser, Chelsea got a foothold on the game and started to see more possession of the ball.
The Lilly Whites nearly took the lead in the 36th minute when Jan Vertonghen swung a cross towards Eric Dier, but the defender could only direct his header across the face of goal.
Chelsea were awarded a penalty in the 42nd minute when Victor Moses was brought down in the box by Heung-Min Son. Willian stepped up to take the penalty and made no mistake from the spot-kick to send Lloris the wrong way.
The Blues went into the half-time interval with a 2-1 lead.
Spurs came out firing in the second half and drew level for the second time when Dele Alli latched on to a cross from Eriksen, before the midfielder slotted the ball into the roof of the net with a superb first-time finish to make it 2-2.
Pochettino’s side had another goal-scoring opportunity in the 65th minute after Victor Wanyama found himself in some space before firing an effort at goal, but his strike from 30 yards out went high over the target.
The Blues then restored their lead in the 75th minute when substitute Kyle Walker failed to clear a Chelsea corner effectively as the ball dropped straight to Eden Hazard, before drilling the ball into the bottom-right corner from the edge of the box.
Nemanja Matic then added a fourth five minutes later after the Serbian midfielder latched on to a pass from Hazard, before thumping a ferocious left-footed effort off the underside of the bar from 25 yards out to make it 4-2.
Chelsea nearly made it 5-2 in the 86th minute when Cesc Fabregas picked out Diego Costa, who was completely unmarked six yards out from goal with a chipped cross from the right, but his header flew harmlessly out for a goal-kick.
Kane had a chance to pull a goal back in stoppage-time after the England striker drilled his free-kick low and hard, and it squirmed under the body of Courtois, but somehow the backspin on the ball prevented it from going over the line before the Chelsea keeper dropped gratefully on the ball.
Conte’s side will play Manchester City or Arsenal in the FA Cup final.
Photo: Backpagepix
