Chelsea 4 Tottenham Hotspur 2 (at Wembley Stadium)
So my featured game in the Semi Finals was the much awaited London Derby between Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur.
As well as their well known rivalry the two clubs sat one and two in the Premiership so it had all the ingredients of being a terrific contest. Prior to the game the players and officials gathered around the centre-circle and linked arms as Wembley broke into applause to remember Ugo Ehiogu, the Spurs U23 boss who died suddenly in the days leading up to the game, RIP Ugo.
It certainly showed how the footballing family comes together in moments like these but it was soon back to business for both sides and it didn't take long for the opening goal and it came in the fifth minute as Willian, in the side for Eden Hazard, bent a free-kick over the wall and beyond Hugo Lloris' reach and give the Blue half of Wembley a perfect start.
It almost got even better four minutes later when N'Golo Kante cut a ball back for the unmarked Michy Batshuayi, but the Chelsea forward hesitated just long enough for Mousa Dembele to pinch the ball from his feet as Spurs were looking far from comfortable in the early exchanges.
But in the 17th minute that all changed as Tottenham hit back thanks to a brilliant bit of improvisation by Harry Kane as Christian Eriksen sent in a cross from the right and Kane stooped to flick a header into the far corner. It was a great header and it was very much game on.
With ten minutes of the half remaining and with Chelsea really under pressure, Marcos Alonso gave away a free-kick 30 yards from goal, right by the edge of the pitch. Eriksen fired it in and Kante heads behind. The corner was cleared but Jan Vertonghen picked up the ball and delivered a fine ball to Eric Dier, who flicked a header just wide of the far post.
But four minutes before half time a moment of madness saw Son Heung-min slide in on Victor Moses and the Chelsea man tumbled to the floor for a penalty. Willian made no mistake, firing into the back of the net as Hugo Lloris dives the wrong way, and Chelsea took a slender lead into the break. Tottenham could feel unfortunate to be behind. They were the better side after a slow start.
Half Time Chelsea 2 Tottenham Hotspur 1
Spurs knew they had to take the game to Chelsea at the start of the second period and seven minutes into it they found a leveller once again when a unbelievable ball in from Eriksen found Dele Alli who produced a wonderful finish beyond keeper Thibaut Courtois and we were all square again.
Moments after Spurs were screaming for a penalty after Alli looked to be fouled but this was not given but were Spurs on the front foot and looking the likelier to score again. Chelsea therefore looked to change things and brought on Diego Costa and Eden Hazard to replace Batshuayi and Willian on the hour mark.
As the game reached it final twenty minutes Spurs were still on the front foot and still looking the more menacing although Chelsea remained solid in defence. But then with fifteen minutes to go a fifth goal arrived in this pulsating tie and for all of Spurs dominance they fell behind as a corner found it's way out to Hazard who took aim and fired into the bottom corner and Chelsea had the lead again.
And then five minutes later came the goal of the game as Nemanja Matic hit an unstoppable left footed blockbuster from way out into the top corner after the ball had been laid back by Hazard and Chelsea suddenly had a two goal lead and were cruising.
Hazard almost made it five with six minutes to go, rounding Lloris before squaring to Alonso whose effort was blocked, and then two minutes later a ball in by Cesc Fabregas saw Costa head well wide in what was a great chance, but Chelsea were cruising towards a Wembley final.
Deep into stoppage time a Kane free kick squirmed under Courtois but the backspin kept it from going over line, which kind of summed up Spurs day overall. So Chelsea reach the final and the double was still well and truly on.
Full Time Chelsea 4 Tottenham Hotspur 2
Here are some photos of the game, thanks to both clubs for those:-
Now the other Semi Final took place a day later at Wembley Stadium and it pitted another London side in the shape of Arsenal against Manchester City, here is what happened:-
Arsenal 2 Manchester City 1 (AET)
Alexis Sanchez’s extra-time winner saw Arsenal come from behind to reach a record 20th Emirates FA Cup Final. So often City’s hero, Sergio Aguero edged his team into the lead on the hour-mark, but Arsenal’s leveller came from the most unlikely of sources – left-back Nacho Monreal hitting only his third goal for the Gunners and his first since March 2015. Arsene Wenger’s team had grown into the game after a tepid first half and got their winner when Sanchez lashed in from close range to set up a derby date with Chelsea back at Wembley on 27 May.
So Arsenal come from behind to stun Man City and set up an all London affair at Wembley on May 27th.
The Emirates FA Cup Final (at Wembley Stadium, kick off 17:30)
Arsenal Vs Chelsea (Live on BBC One & BT Sport 2)
Can Chelsea end the season as double winners or can The Gunners end a pretty ordinary season with a Trophy, we shall find out on May 27th.
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