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 2-0 Crystal Palace
85 mins: In among all the second goal celebrations, Romelu Lukaku also came on for Kai Havertz. I did not spot that and, in fairness, he has barely touched the ball since.
N’Golo Kante also came on for Jorginho.
Chelsea 2-0 Crystal Palace
83 mins: Thiago Silva comes on for Andreas Christensen. The Dane has been very impressive this afternoon.
Chelsea 2-0 Crystal Palace
82 mins: Chelsea are beginning to string some neat passes together now. Werner finds Ziyech at the end of a flowing move and the Algerian curls a decent effort into the arms of Butland from the edge of the area.
The Chelsea supporters making all the noise now.
Palace break again and Ayew has space to slide Benteke through the middle but decides to take the shot on instead. It deflects off James and back onto Ayew for a goal kick. Poor.
Chelsea 2-0 Crystal Palace
80 mins: That may well have been the opportunity for Palace to get back into the game. They may not get another one better than that before the final whistle.
Chelsea 2-0 Crystal Palace
78 mins: OH, HOW WAS ANDERSEN MISSED?!
Palace have a corner which is flicked on by Ayew and Andersen is all alone at the back post but he heads over from three yards!
Had to score.
GOAL! Chelsea 2-0 Crystal Palace (Mount, 76)
76 mins: THAT COULD WELL BE THE MATCH!
Just as Palace begin to open up in search of an equaliser and they are undone by a lovely Chelsea move.
Mount plays a neat one-two with Werner before his first touch takes him away from his marker and he slots home a sumptuous finish to perhaps put the game to bed.
Chelsea 1-0 Crystal Palace
74 mins: Olise is straight on the attack as he looks to slide Zaha in down the right channel but James gets across to clear.
Ayew then brilliantly slides Zaha in but six yards from goal he can’t find a way to get a shot off as Christiansen watches him all the way. Then they work it over to the other side but Olise is doubled up on and can’t stand a cross up.
Palace committing men forward now.
Chelsea 1-0 Crystal Palace
73 mins: Here come two Crystal Palace changes. Michael Olise and Christian Benteke replace James McArthur and Jeffrey Schlupp.
Chelsea 1-0 Crystal Palace
72 mins: You imagine we may well see Michael Olise in the next few minutes. Palace boss Vieira needs to roll the dice.
Loftus-Cheek fouls Schlupp with an ugly-looking scissor challenge in the middle of the park. Gets away with a simple talking to from ref Anthony Taylor.
Chelsea 1-0 Crystal Palace
70 mins: With England manager Gareth Southgate watching on, Ruben Loftus-Cheek has just opened the scoring in an FA Cup semi-final.
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