![\"\"](\"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/2.42771991.jpg\")
Eden Hazard fired Chelsea into an all-English Europa League final against Arsenal with perhaps his last-ever kick at Stamford Bridge.<\/p>\nEden Hazard fired Chelsea into an all-English Europa League final against Arsenal with perhaps his last-ever kick at Stamford Bridge.<\/p>\n
The Belgian forward dispatched the decisive penalty as Chelsea edged out Eintracht Frankfurt 4-3 in a shoot-out that followed a 1-1 draw in west London.<\/p>\n
Kepa Arrizabalaga produced two fine saves to spare Cesar Azpilicueta\u2019s blushes, as the Blues captain missed his own spot-kick.<\/p>\n
Kepa saved Martin Hinteregger\u2019s penalty with his knees before palming away a good effort from Gonzalo Pacienca as the Blues set up a showdown with London rivals Arsenal in Baku, Azerbaijan, on May 29.<\/p>\n
Should Hazard\u2019s reported big-money transfer to Real Madrid materialize this summer, the 28-year-old will have capped his Stamford Bridge tenure in the most dramatic of fashions.<\/p>\n
Spanish stopper Kepa joined Hazard in the hero\u2019s corner, and that after proving the villain of Chelsea\u2019s shoot-out loss to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final back in February.<\/p>\n
From refusing to be replaced that day as Chelsea lost 4-3 to City on spot-kicks, now Kepa is the toast of west London following two fine penalty saves.<\/p>\n
Ruben Loftus-Cheek\u2019s fine goal had initially put Chelsea in control, only for Luka Jovic to tuck away his 10th goal of the Europa League campaign.<\/p>\n
Hazard conjured up an impetuous assist for Loftus-Cheek\u2019s 10th goal of the season, but Eintracht forced the game into extra time \u2013 with the scores 1-1 on the night, 2-2 on aggregate and level on away goals.<\/p>\n
A microcosm of Chelsea\u2019s season and Maurizio Sarri\u2019s tetchy Stamford Bridge reign in a single contest, the Blues bossed the first half only to tumble from that perch after the break.<\/p>\n
As Sarri\u2019s regimented game plan stuttered and his disorganized players stumbled the taskmaster Italian stalked the touchline in frustration, ignoring the fourth official\u2019s constant demands to stay inside his technical area.<\/p>\n
Sarri snubbed Gary Cahill for perhaps the final time, leaving the former England defender on the bench when Andreas Christensen hobbled out injured.<\/p>\n
Where Sarri could have replaced Christensen directly with the ever-reliable Cahill, instead he turned to full-back Davide Zappacosta.<\/p>\n
That meant a full defensive reshuffle, with Azpilicueta moving into central defense.<\/p>\n
The already frustrated home fans had no patience left then when Sarri withdrew clear man of the match Loftus-Cheek for Ross Barkley with extra time looming.<\/p>\n
The deafening boos were just the latest installment of the Chelsea fans voicing their catalog of frustrations with the former Napoli manager.<\/p>\n
Chelsea\u2019s present talisman fed a potential future great as the Blues took control midway through the first half. Hazard\u2019s angled pass on the spin bisected Eintracht\u2019s defense, but Loftus-Cheek\u2019s run and finish matched the Belgian\u2019s majesty.<\/p>\n
Frankfurt dangerman Jovic headed straight at Kepa early on, but Chelsea dominated the opening half and fully merited Loftus-Cheek\u2019s eye-catching goal.<\/p>\n
The Blues were denied a penalty when Danny Da Costa barged over Loftus-Cheek after Olivier Giroud had missed Willian\u2019s near-post cross.<\/p>\n
Chelsea paid for a tentative second-half start when Jovic strolled through a poorly aligned home defensive line to equalize and put the tie right back in the balance.<\/p>\n
The visitors had hardly stopped appealing for a penalty handball when Jovic cantered clear, with David Luiz stranded too high out of the line and Emerson playing him on.<\/p>\n
The arch Serbian finisher made no mistake with the easy chance, leaving a stunned Chelsea back to square one.<\/p>\n
Every time Chelsea wasted a half-chance or passed away possession, Frankfurt grew in stature and confidence.<\/p>\n
Christensen hobbled out for Zappacosta, and then Azpilicueta was merely booked for that rash scything challenge.<\/p>\n
The Blues\u2019 panic had Sarri almost sent to the stands, with the fourth official nearly losing patience with the Chelsea manager\u2019s touchline wandering.<\/p>\n
And then the under-fire Stamford Bridge chief withdrew Loftus-Cheek, the star of the show.<\/p>\n
Azpilicueta again swerved dismissal despite a cynical handball, with the officials simply awarding a free-kick.<\/p>\n
Hazard and replacement Gonzalo Higuain botched a big chance on a counter-attack to launch the added 30 minutes.<\/p>\n
Then Sebastien Haller bungled a gilt-edged Eintracht opportunity, mishitting his shot to allow Luiz a full-stretch clearance off the line.<\/p>\n
Zappacosta headed off the line from Haller to close the first period of extra time.<\/p>\n
Azpilicueta thought he had won it when bundling the ball across the line, only for the goal to be chalked off for a foul on Eintracht keeper Kevin Trapp.<\/p>\n
When the game slipped into the lottery of penalties, however, Hazard saved Chelsea once again.<\/p>\n