Hello, and welcome to The42‘s coverage of today’s FA Cup semi-final.
There’s all to play for at Wembley, as Chelsea and Tottenham go head-to-head for an FA Cup final spot. Kick-off is 5.15pm (live on BBC One), and we’ll be providing you with updates here.
As always, we’d love to hear your thoughts on the game. You can tweet us @the42_ie, or leave a comment below.
The teams are in as the fans flood into Wembley.
CHELSEA: Courtois, Azpilicueta, Luiz, Ake, Moses, Kante, Matic, Alonso, Willian, Batshuayi, Pedro.
Subs: Begovic, Zouma, Terry, Chalobah, Fabregas, Hazard, Costa.
TOTTENHAM: Lloris, Trippier, Dier, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Wanyama, Dembele, Son, Eriksen, Dele, Kane.
Subs: Lopez, Davies, Walker, Wimmer, Sissoko, Nkoudou, Janssen.
As the clock runs down and kick-off edges nearer, here are a few match facts to get you in the mood:
- Of the last 16 meetings between the sides in all competitions, Spurs have won on just two occasions. Of those, they beat them 2-0 in January.
- The last time they both met in the FA Cup was in 2012, at this stage. Chelsea won 5-1, and went on to lift the title.
- Tottenham’s last FA Cup win over Chelsea was in 1982. They’ve lost six FA Cup semi-finals in a row.
- Mauricio Pochettino’s side are on an impressive run at the minute though — eight consecutive wins in all competitions — their best winning run since 1960.
And here’s an article which Spurs fans will want to feast their eyes on:
After an era of food poisoning and false dawns, are Tottenham finally the real deal?
Less than 10 minutes to go…
Can Tottenham do it? Without Hazard or Costa starting, how will Chelsea fare?
The teams are out on the pitch, and the atmosphere is electric.
Of course, the passing of Tottenham U23 coach Ugo Ehiogu is being acknowledged accordingly. The two teams are wearing black armbands, and a minute’s applause is being conducted in his memory.
We’re underway.
Spurs have started on the front foot with an early corner, but the Chelsea defence takes care of it with ease.
Pedro attacks at lightening pace and earns his side a free-kick just outside the box. Alderweireld takes him down, and gets a yellow card.
GOAL! Chelsea 1 Tottenham 0
Willian with a super strike on the free-kick, and it’s only taken them four minutes to grab the lead.
The game is well and truly alive. ‘Antonio, Antonio’ is ringing out around the grounds, and the Chelsea fans are happy. Spurs are keeping in touch how and ever, and attempt to come straight back at the Blues.
Spurs are more in control, playing the ball nicely around the middle. They create a chance but it’s easily dealt with.
Meanwhile, at the other end Kanté is running at defenders. Batshuayi is called for offside, and Spurs are off with the free-kick.
Ake has started the game very strongly for Chelsea, pulling the strings at the back. Dele Alli is starting to come into the game at the other end, playing a ball over the top but Ake has it covered. Chelsea look well in control at the minute, with Pedro running directly at the defence.
Chelsea’s Batshuayi gets away from his marker and has a headed attempt from close range. It’s not a great effort though, and Lloris gets to it. He was called for offside in the end.
Kane has a shot at the other end, but it takes a deflection and goes out for a corner.
GOAL! Chelsea 1 Tottenham 1
Kane gets on the end of Eriksen’s cross, with a subtle but brilliant header. We could be in for a classic FA Cup semi-final here.
Tottenham are playing with momentum now, and have won a free-kick following a late challenge from Alonso. All eyes are on Kane in the box, but Chelsea deal with the threat accordingly.
Since Spurs have leveled the game, they’re looking the more dangerous side.
David Luiz looks to be in trouble. It didn’t look intentional from Alli, but he seemed to have stood on his ankle.
Luiz is back on his feet, and up and it again. We thought we might see John Terry for a few minutes, but not at this stage.
Spurs are on the attack again, and Harry Kane goes down in the box. There are shouts from the fans for a penalty, but there looked to be no contact and the referee rules it out. Kane doesn’t appeal either.
Son gets down the line but his cross is cut out for a corner following some excellent defending by Azpilicueta. Nothing comes off the resulting corner, but Spurs are on top at the minute.
Eriksen in the middle and Alli on the right is working a treat for Spurs. Chelsea’s tempo has definitely dropped from the opening minutes, and they’re giving Spurs quite a lot of time on the ball.
Luiz fouls Kane and Tottenham have a free kick, which they play around with in the middle.
Another free to Spurs, and Eriksen whips it in before Kanté intercepts for a corner.
The cross into the box is helped on by Alderweireld and Wanyama comes close. On the next attack, Dier makes a good run as the ball is played back in. He flicks it towards goal but sends it wide. Spurs could easily be one up.
Chelsea finally create a chance at the other end, but it’s nothing too dangerous. The Premier League leaders are struggling to deal with Spurs. Alli nearly gets in one-on-one with Courtois but Luiz clears his lines.
Possession in the Chelsea defence breaks down, and Eriksen has a pop but it’s straight at Courtois.
David Luiz is down again, this time holding his head after a slight clash with Eriksen as the both go for the ball in the air. He’s back up, and it’s tit-for-tat with each side ruling out each other’s attacks.
PENALTY for Chelsea!
Son slides in on Moses and gets it wrong. Martin Atkinson points to the spot…
GOAL! Chelsea 2 Tottenham 1
Willian makes it two, both for him and for Chelsea. He cooly hits the penalty and Lloris goes the other way.
Lloris handles the ball outside the area, but gets it back into the box and gets away with it unnoticed. Spurs can count themselves lucky after that one.
We’re now in the first of two minutes of added time.
Willian’s second goal has brought a new lease of life to Antoni Conte’s side. There’s more intensity in their game, and they’ll be happy to see this half out in the lead.
HALF TIME: Chelsea 2 Tottenham 1
Chelsea are lucky to be ahead, but it’s been an exciting half of football. Willian is on form from the spot — he’s scored a penalty and a stunning free kick — and Harry Kane hit a fine header between the two.
The second half should be interesting….
Forgot to mention that before the break, Alonso was shown a yellow card for kicking the ball away after a free was awarded around the middle. It was only a matter of time before his name was scribbled in the book.
The teams are back out on the pitch, and ready to get the second half underway.
Chelsea get the ball rolling, and there have been no changes made to either side.
Kane is caught and goes down for a free kick in midfield, but nothing comes of it. Meanwhile, David Luiz tackles Alli near the Chelsea box but nothing is awarded. Pochettino turns to the dugout in disgust.
Kane heads down the right flank and flies past Matic. He set himself up perfectly for the cross but there’s no one in the middle. The ball goes out for a corner, but that goes to waste.
GOAL! Chelsea 2 Tottenham 2
Deli Alli finds the net against Chelsea again to add to Kane’s first. A super ball is played into his path by Eriksen, and somehow he connects with it and finds the back of the net, firing first-time past Courtois.
Another spectacular goal, as the Tottenham fans get noisy and chants in his honour ring out.
There are calls for a penalty as he goes to ground in the box. Ake dives in, but Atkinson waved for play to continue.
This really is an FA Cup thriller. It didn’t look like the start of the second half would live up to how the first began, but Spurs have well and truly delivered.
The tackles are flying in. Pedro and Willan both run at the Spurs defence, but they win it back and are on the counter-attack.
Diego Costa and Eden Hazard are getting ready to come on. What a duo to have as impact subs in a game like this.
Hazard replaces Willian, much to the goalscorer’s disappointment, while Diego Costa comes on for Michy Batshuayi. They receive a warm welcome, and are immediately on the ball and attempting to influence the game.
Son finds Alli down the left, who looks for Eriksen in the area. The ball lands at Kane’s feet but he can’t direct it and Courtois cleans up. Wanyama also has an effort, but it goes wide.
Kyle Walker looks set to enter play. The game has settled slightly.
The game has turned into more of a tactical battle, no one obviously wants to make a costly mistake. Kane does well on a run up the left, but he’s eventually closed down. Chelsea are finding it hard to keep possession.
Son leaves the field as Walker is introduced. He immediately goes to the right-hand side, while Trippier moves to the left.
Tottenham are playing the ball around nicely, and are in pursuit of a third goal.
Walker runs at Marcos Alonso, who does well to knock it out for a corner. The corner flashes right across the face of the Chelsea goal, and the second ball comes in from the left to Wanyama. He can’t pick out a white shirt though.
Moses is running at speed at the Tottenham defence, but he’s tripped by Alli. It seems to be a tactical foul, but he’ll take the yellow card rather than a potential goal.
Chelsea bring in their third, and final substitute if the game finishes at 90 minutes. Cesc Fabregas comes on in place of Pedro.
GOAL! Chelsea 3 Tottenham 2
A Chelsea corner is broken down, but Hazard is on the edge of the box unmarked. The ball falls to him, he takes a touch and drills it into the back of the net.
It’s Chelsea’s first shot on target of the second half, and Conte’s introductions from the bench have already reaped their benefits.
Spurs will feel hard done by after being on top for the majority of the second half so far, but that really should have been dealt with better. They’ve already done it twice, can they pull another back?
Pochettino is going to roll his dice now, as Georges-Kevin Nkoudou comes on for Wanyama.
GOAL! Chelsea 4 Tottenham 2
Matic tears the roof off the net. He couldn’t have hit it sweeter, and there was no chance of any keeper saving it. Matic has never scored a goal for Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, but he’s hit an absolute beauty at Wembley.
That should be it. Matic’s goal should seal his side’s place in the FA Cup final. All of a sudden, Chelsea have come to light and they look to be on their way to the final.
There’s still time though, but a lot of the life has been sucked out of Spurs. It’s do-or-die.
Chelsea could have five! Hazard skips around Lloric, but his final effort is weak and Alderweireld gets back to clear his lines.
You can’t help but feel for Spurs at this stage. Chelsea’s power from the bench has well and truly knocked them.
Costa nods wide as he gets on the end of Fabregas’ cross. Spurs have an attack but look out on their feet now.
David Luiz has been named Man of the Match. He’s been solid in the Chelsea bench. A nice present following his birthday yesterday.
We’re into four minutes of added time.
Spurs fans are streaming towards the exits. Deli Alli has just earned a free 25 yards out. Kante sees yellow for the challenge.
So close!
Kane drills the ball at Courtois who gets behind it, but the power nearly sends it over the line. There’s a backspin on the ball and the Chelsea keeper does well to keep it out.
Chelsea 4 Tottenham 2
The final whistle sounds to bring huge cheers from the Chelsea fans. It’s all over, and it’s Chelsea who return to Wembley for the final.
What a game of football.
Chelsea have reached their first FA Cup final since 2012, as Tottenham’s 26-year wait continues. It’s their seventh FA Cup semi-final loss in a row.
The league and cup double dream is certainly alive.
And that’s all from us.
Thanks for following our live coverage, you can catch a full match report on The42 the coming minutes.
Have a nice evening.
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