In the FA Cup final, Chelsea FC will face Liverpool after Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Mason Mount saw off Crystal Palace 2-0 on Sunday at Wembley.
KAMPALA | NOW THEN DIGITAL — After beating Crystal Palace 2-0 at Wembley on Sunday, Chelsea will face Liverpool in the FA Cup final. Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Mason Mount scored both goals in the second half.
- Mason Mount put the result beyond doubt with his own fine finish, securing Chelsea’s date with Liverpool in the final at Wembley on 14 May.
- The final will be Chelsea’s fifth in the last six years as they aim to redeem themselves after losing to Arsenal and Leicester, respectively, in 2020 and 2021.
- Chelsea FC will attempt to win their 16th FA Cup final for the ninth time and first time since 2018.
- In his career, Thomas Tuchel has won the Champions League, Club World Cup, and UEFA Super Cup, but the Blues haven’t won a domestic trophy.
- Read also: West Ham United and Olympique Lyonnais drew 1-1 in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League quarter-final.
At Wembley, Thomas Tuchel’s side had to work hard to break Palace’s stubborn resistance, but Loftus-Cheek’s ferocious strike secured a third consecutive FA Cup final appearance.
Mason Mount put the result beyond doubt with an excellent finish of his own, securing Chelsea’s place in the final at Wembley on 14 May.
This will be Chelsea’s fifth FA Cup final in the last six years as they aim to make amends for losing to Arsenal and Leicester in the last two finals.
Taking part in the 16th FA Cup final, Chelsea FC hopes to win the competition for the ninth time and for the first time since 2018.
After a painful Champions League quarter-final exit at Real Madrid on Tuesday, where Chelsea scored three times to overturn a 3-1 first-leg deficit only to go out after extra time, Saturday’s victory was a welcome tonic.
Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has won the Champions League, Club World Cup, and UEFA Super Cup during his reign, but he has yet to win a domestic trophy.
After British government sanctions were imposed on Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich after the invasion of Ukraine, three consortiums are vying to buy Chelsea. The Blues might have a new owner by the time they return to Wembley.
With the win over Crystal Palace, they remain in contention to conclude a troubled season with silverware. However, Liverpool, who beat Manchester City 3-2 in Saturday’s semi-final, will be a far tougher opponent.
Due to his players’ fatigue after the enervating loss in Madrid, Tuchel only made three changes. Thiago Silva, N’Golo Kante and Loftus-Cheek were left on the bench.
In the Premier League this season, Chelsea had beaten Crystal Palace twice without conceding a goal but looked flat in the first half.
What Chelsea did during the game
Chelsea found it difficult to impose themselves against a Crystal Palace side that was tigerish in their tackles and well-drilled with their low defensive block.
Tuchel’s men failed to create a chance until 25 minutes from time, and even then Kai Havertz’s looping header was easy for Palace keeper Jack Butland.
Moments after losing Mateo Kovacic to injury, Chelsea introduced Loftus-Cheek against the team he once played on loan for, and Tuchel remained impatient after Chelsea’s failed acrobatic effort at volleying Timo Werner’s cross.
Palace was nearly rewarded for their hard work just before half-time, when Cheikhou Kouyate’s drive was parried by Edouard Mendy, and Joachim Andersen hit the rebound into the post from close range.
Chelsea dominated possession in the second half, and Kouyate came close again, heading just wide from Eberechi Eze’s corner.
Palace failed to persuade Conor Gallagher’s parent club to grant him special permission to play against Chelsea, and he was thus unavailable to face the Blues.
Palace was robbed of the ability to carry more of a threat because of that, and, to their credit, Chelsea never lost their patience, eventually taking the lead from their second shot in the 65th minute.
Havertz received a pass from Loftus-Cheek in the Palace area, and the German provided a pass back to the midfielder, who drilled a superb shot past Butland.
At last, Chelsea had a spring in their step, and Mason Mount sealed the victory in the 76th minute. He took Werner’s pass in stride before slotting it past Butland.
