Late goals from Eden Hazard and Nemanja Matric sealed a 4-2 victory for
Chelsea over London rivals Tottenham Hotspur in a rip-roaring FA Cup
semifinal at Wembley on Saturday.
It was only the fourth time in the competition that a semifinal had
featured the current top two in the top flight and it did not disappoint
as the title rivals produced a sizzling contest.
Brazilian Willian, surprisingly selected ahead of Hazard in the starting
line-up, twice put Chelsea ahead, first after four minutes with a free
kick and then close to halftime from the penalty spot.
Twice Tottenham roared back with Harry Kane heading them level after 18
minutes and Dele Alli making it 2-2 with a superb finish seven minutes
after the break.
Tottenham, who are four points behind Chelsea in the league after a
brilliant run of form, dominated at times but their hopes of a first FA
Cup final since 1991 were sunk late on.
First Hazard, who replaced Willian with half an hour remaining, buried a
low shot past Hugo Lloris after 75 minutes, then Matic's 30-metre
piledriver sank Spurs who have won only one of their last nine matches
at Wembley and have now lost in seven successive FA Cup semifinals.
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