Chelsea vs Crystal Palace LIVE: FA Cup result, final score and reaction today
Relive all the action from the semi-final at Wembley
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.
Loftus-Cheek’s thunderbolt finish dragged the Blues out of a sluggish performance and into a 16th FA Cup final, with Mason Mount’s angled effort sealing the deal.
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.
But the 26-year-old showed no split loyalty in dumping his former side out of England’s premier cup competition.
Loftus-Cheek’s 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. Relive all the action below:
Chelsea 1-0 Crystal Palace
68 mins: Palace need to come out and play a little more now. They have had a couple of decent opportunities, but with 20 minutes remaining they are suddenly chasing the game.
Chelsea will look to pick them off on the break. Could be an exciting finale.
GOAL! Chelsea 1-0 Crystal Palace (Loftus-Cheek, 65)
65 mins: THERE’S THE BREAKTHROUGH!
Havertz probes down the right-hand side and when the ball is cut back to Ruben Loftus-Cheek his venomous effort takes a nick off the leg of Andersen before flashing past Butland.
That chance all came from an unfortunate slip from Tyrick Mitchell. The finish may have deflected, but it was still a sweet strike.
Loftus-Cheek’s first goal for three years.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
65 mins: Jorginho tries another deft chip over the top of the Palace defence but puts too much on it and Butland can watch it tamely drift out of play.
The intensity is ramping up as the match wears on and it is still level.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
63 mins: Jorginho sends a long pass into Mount’s chest but as he is bearing down on goal Mitchell follows him all the way and manages to clear before the England international can get a shot off.
Opening up. Finally.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
61 mins: Zaha lifts the tempo of the match!
The Palace winger leaves Christensen in knots before sending a dangerous cross into the middle which James has to head behind for a corner.
Eze delivers the set-piece... OH KOUYATE! Well, he had a chance in the first half but this is a better one. Eze crosses in to Kouyate but the midfielder sees the ball come off his shoulder rather than his head and it drifts wide from eight yards out.
The Palace supporters have come alive. Some good moments for Vieira’s men.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
59 mins: It does feel a bit like both teams have been sedated since they arrived at Wembley this afternoon.
Can someone just confirm to me that this is in fact an Emirates FA Cup semi-final and not an Emirates Cup clash?
A real pre-season friendly feel to it.
Chelsea continue to play the ball around without any sort of intensity or threat.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
57 mins: Palace will be happy with how the game has gone up to now, but eventually they are going to have to try and score themselves. Either that or take their chances with penalties.
Chelsea are dominating the ball now, so Palace need to counter them with something which keeps Thomas Tuchel’s back line on their toes.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
55 mins: Here comes the change for Palace. Jean-Philippe Mateta makes way for Jordan Ayew.
Interesting change from Vieira. Clearly feels like they will cause Chelsea problems with a more fluid front three.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
53 mins: Rudiger tries his luck with an audacious attempt from 35 yards out but it’s a mile wide of the Palace goal.
Jordan Ayew is getting ready to come on as Vieira blinks first with the tactical changes.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
51 mins: Best move of the game from Chelsea.
After several minutes of build-up play from the Blues it’s Loftus-Cheek who provides the killer pass in behind for Werner.
The German scampers in between Andersen and Kouyate but the latter just does enough to usher him off the ball and Butland can gather.
VAR took a look at a shove on Werner from Kouyate but nothing came of it.
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