Chelsea move onto the FA Cup final after defeating Tottenham, 4-2, on Saturday afternoon at Wembley Stadium.
Antonio Conte tested the integrity of this side, as injuries, a league fixture on Tuesday and other factors forced him to bench three of the usual starters — Gary Cahill, Diego Costa and Eden Hazard.
Conte had Thibaut Courtois return between the posts after missing the United match last weekend. Azpilicueta and David Luiz welcomed a new face to the back three, as Nathan Ake replaced Cahill, who spent some time in the hospital this week. N’Golo Kante and Nemanja Matic roamed centrally with Victor Moses and Marcos Alonso on the outside. Pedro, Willian and Michy Batshuayi made up the front three.
The Blues got off to a frenetic start, as it took all of five minutes to take the lead after a brilliant flick from Batshuayi saw Pedro in towards goal. Pedro pushed the ball ahead just outside the 18-yard-box and was fouled by Toby Alderweireld, who received a yellow card for his troubles. Willian stepped up and smashed the free-kick around the wall and past Hugo Lloris.
Tottenham equalised through Harry Kane 13 minutes later, but Willian converted a penalty won by Moses in the 43rd minute to give Chelsea a 2-1 halftime lead.
Dele Alli made it two-all after a phenomenal early cross from Eriksen.
The game got turned on its head in the 75th minute when Cesc Fabregas entered the game, 14 minutes after Costa and Hazard came on for Batshuayi and Willian.
The Blues won a corner in the 76th minute and Hazard found himself all alone at the top of the box. After the ball was deflected out to him, Hazard smashed it through traffic to make it 3-2.
Hazard set up Matic four minutes later on a wonder strike by the Serbian that won the match and perhaps won the league as it could prove to be a pivotal blow to Spurs’ Premier League title hopes.
Here’s what we learned from the win.
