Chelsea reached their third straight FA Cup final with a hard-fought 2-0 win over Crystal Palace at Wembley Stadium on Sunday to set up a showdown with Liverpool in a quadruple-chase.
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Second-half goals from Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Mason Mount propelled Thomas Tuchel’s side to a semi-final victory and a place in the May 14 showpiece match versus Liverpool, which beat Manchester City 3-2 on Saturday.
In their fifth FA Cup final in six years, Chelsea will look to make amends after finishing runners-up to Leicester City and Arsenal in the past two seasons and will also seek to avenge their League Cup final loss to Liverpool in February.
“I am delighted to be part of another FA Cup final,” said Tuchel. “It’s a big competition. I’m very grateful and we’ll be ready.”
After a gap of the first hour, a patient Chelsea side eventually broke Palace’s stubborn resistance in the 65th minute via substitute Loftus-Cheek, who replaced the injured Matteo Kovacic midway through the first half.
Kai Havertz’s cross from the right was swung to former Palace indebted Loftus-Cheek, who made a brutal shot that struck opposing defender Joachim Anderson and flew into the net for the 26-year-old’s first goal of the season.
Mount added a crucial second more than 10 minutes later and sealed the win for Chelsea, hitting Timo Werner’s ball from the edge of the box in front of Andersen with his first touch and goalkeeper Jack Butland with his second.
Patrick Vieira’s castle had defended well enough to stop Chelsea until Loftus-Cheek broke the stalemate and was nearly rewarded for a gritty performance, with Chekhou Kouett coming close twice.
Palace talisman Wilfried Zaha was unable to move his marker Reece James and make an impact, while Eberechie Edge offered little as a replacement for on-loan midfielder Conor Gallagher, who was unable to play against his parent club.
The win was a tonic for eight-time FA Cup winners Chelsea after their Champions League quarter-final exit at Real Madrid on Tuesday, where the holders won the second leg 3-2 after extra time, but on aggregate. Got out 5-4.
This puts them in contention for ending a turbulent season with silverware when Jurgen Klopp faces Liverpool again next month, after an 11-10 loss on penalties in the League Cup final in February after extra time. After a 0-0 draw.
“I think it took a bit of deflection but I’ll take it… It’s long overdue,” Loftus-Cheek said of his target. “It’s been a rough road for me, with injuries and going out on loan.
“We want to bring Liverpool back, it’s as simple as that. I thought the Carabao (League) Cup final was a great game that could have gone either way. We are eagerly waiting for this and hope we will take our revenge.”
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