{"id":25875,"date":"2022-04-17T14:19:00","date_gmt":"2022-04-17T18:19:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=25875"},"modified":"2022-04-18T08:06:21","modified_gmt":"2022-04-18T12:06:21","slug":"chelsea-to-face-liverpool-in-fa-cup-final-after-defeating-palace-at-wembley","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=25875","title":{"rendered":"Chelsea To Face Liverpool In FA Cup Final After Defeating Palace At Wembley"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Mason Mount sealed a 2-0 FA Cup win at Wembley (PA Images)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Ruben Loftus-Cheek capped his impressive comeback with a first Chelsea goal since May 2019 as the Blues defeated Crystal Palace 2-0 to reach their third successive FA Cup final.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Loftus-Cheek\u2019s thunderbolt finish dragged the Blues out of a sluggish performance and into a 16th FA Cup final, with Mason Mount\u2019s angled effort sealing the deal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

England midfielder Loftus-Cheek spent the 2017-18 season on loan with the Eagles, even forcing his way to the World Cup after his campaign at Selhurst Park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the 26-year-old showed no split loyalty in dumping his former side out of England\u2019s premier cup competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Loftus-Cheek\u2019s first Chelsea goal since the 1-1 Europa League draw with Eintracht Frankfurt on May 9, 2019 spurred the Blues on past their clear fatigue and into yet another final.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chelsea relinquished their Champions League crown despite beating Real Madrid 3-2 at the Bernabeu Stadium on Tuesday night, only exiting the European stage 5-4 on aggregate and after extra time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That fourth period of extra time in a punishing season took its clear toll as Chelsea struggled to hit their usual straps against Patrick Vieira\u2019s well-organized and talented Eagles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just when Vieira\u2019s men started to threaten an upset, however, up popped Loftus-Cheek with a powerful drive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chelsea nerves finally settled, Mount quickly latched onto Timo Werner\u2019s inside ball and slotted home to kill the contest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Loftus-Cheek excelled in a hybrid role mixing right wing-back and midfield in Chelsea\u2019s 6-0 thrashing of Southampton and that vainglorious win in Madrid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But at Wembley the Chelsea academy graduate was forced into action in defensive midfield, after Mateo Kovacic sustained an ankle problem in the early exchanges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And this opportunist finish showcased another side of his talents, for a man who suffered a nasty torn Achilles in a friendly match at New England Revolution in Boston on May 16th, 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Loftus-Cheek has only just this season started to hit his full straps again after an operation to repair that Achilles, and subsequent back concerns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His match-turning strike here therefore certainly deserves to be seen as a major turning point in his Stamford Bridge career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chelsea\u2019s midweek exploits carried a clear toll on the sluggish Blues, who could not drive the tempo or the rhythm in a staccato first half.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thomas Tuchel\u2019s men simply did not move the ball quickly or crisply enough, allowing Palace to shut them out through regimented defending and relatively high pressing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Losing the influential Kovacic did not help matters, with the Croatia star unable to run off an early blow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Eagles even had the best chance of the half, when Cheikhou Kouyate\u2019s volleyed drive forced Edouard Mendy into a fine save.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Joachim Andersen struck a post with the rebound but was clearly offside in any case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kai Havertz was booked for a blatant dive in Chelsea\u2019s low point of the half, the Germany forward taking a tumble in expecting a challenge from Marc Guehi that never came.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Werner should have opened the second half with at least a shot on target but was muscled out by Kouyate when sent in on goal by Loftus-Cheek\u2019s flicked pass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chelsea could not build on that opening however, and Kouyate nodded a corner the wrong side of the post after Wilfried Zaha had turned Andreas Christensen inside out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Blues had to pull something from nowhere, and Loftus-Cheek\u2019s thunderous strike certainly appeared from precious little.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tyrick Mitchell was robbed deep in his own half and Chelsea refused to waste that gift of possession.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Havertz\u2019s deflected cross fell kindly for Loftus-Cheek

Kup Viagr\u00c4\u2122 bez recepty<\/a><\/div> , and he lashed home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His exuberant celebrations in punching the air and launching himself off the ground exhibited as much relief as elation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mount quickly doubled Chelsea\u2019s lead with a fine angled finish into the corner of the net to kill the tie and cement the Blues\u2019 path to yet another FA Cup final.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Substitute striker Romelu Lukaku struck a post from point-blank range after Werner\u2019s pass, but by that point the miss did not matter.<\/p>\n

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