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 0-0 Crystal Palace
38 mins: Oh, that is shameful from Havertz.
The German gallops into the penalty area and goes down after skipping beyond Guehi. There was absolutely NO contact and referee Anthony Taylor brilliantly spots it.
He books Havertz. Deservedly so.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
38 mins: Chelsea have been warned. That was the best opportunity of the game and it fell to a Palace shirt.
Thomas Tuchel will want to see more from his own side in the final third. They have been very quiet so far.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
36 mins: BEST CHANCE OF THE GAME!
Eze sends the free-kick in from the far side and when Christensen heads it away to the edge area Kouyate volleys it goalward but Mendy gets down smartly to parry it away.
Andersen follows it up with an effort of his own which Mendy is equal to as well, but the Palace man was offside anyway.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
36 mins: Schulpp and Mateta double up on Jorginho and snatch the ball off him midway inside the Chelsea half. Schlupp tries to instantly slide through Zaha but Rudiger cuts it out.
Chelsea are still a little disorganised here though and Palace earn a free-kick which Eze is preparing to send into the box.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
34 mins: Chelsea probing, searching for a way through this stubborn Palace defence.
Jorginho tries to find Azpilicueta out wide but Schlupp quickly comes across to hack it away from danger.
Chelsea then work themselves into a decent area as Jorginho lays it off for Mount on the edge of the box... only for the England international to sky his effort over the top.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
31 mins: Werner does excellently down the left as he outpaces Ward before sending a cross to the back post for Azpilicueta. The Spaniard is there to meet it but barely makes any contact with the ball as he slices it harmlessly away for a goal kick.
The game finally heating up a bit now.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
30 mins: Andersen intercepts another through ball towards Werner. This time he can only turn it behind for a corner to Chelsea.
James sends it into the box and Ward powers it behind for another corner. Take two, Mr James.
In it comes again and this time it’s Zaha who scoops it away. Palace then try to break but the pass through to the onrushing Zaha is too far in front of him.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
28 mins: A glimpse of goal! Almost a chance for Palace. Eze clips the central free-kick over the high Chelsea line and for a moment it looks like Andersen is going to meet it, but Mendy just gets there ahead of the centre-back.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
28 mins: The Palace fans in fine voice at Wembley. Safe to say it isn’t for anything that has happened on the pitch so far. There really has been very little to shout about.
Eze draws a foul from Mason Mount. The Chelsea midfielder needs to be a little careful, that’s a few free-kicks he has given away already.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments