That’s it from me. Thanks for your company and emails - goodnight!
Thomas Tuchel’s verdict
“It’s been a very challenging week physically and mentally. The performance was very controlled, very serious. We took very good care of their counter-attacks. It was the kind of match where, maybe if you lose 1-0 from a set-piece, you have the feeling, ‘Did we invest enough?’ But it’s very hard to invest because the opponent is prepared, they played a new system, they changed system twice. It’s very, very hard and you cannot lose focus for one second. And if you win the game you say, ‘We were very patient and very controlled’, and we were.
“Ruben Loftus-Cheek was excellent. He was very, very strong against Southampton and Madrid and would have deserved to start, but honestly we expected a back four and we wanted more of a classic wing-back position. We also wanted Azpi on the field as our captain, but we knew Ruben could make an impact from the bench. We’re very happy with him at the moment. He is always like this in training but sometimes he has hidden his potential in matches.
“I’m happy to be part of another FA Cup final. It’s a huge competition; I’m very grateful and we will be ready.”
Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s post-match thoughts
“It’s been a tough road for me, with injuries and going out on loan. But I always wanted to play for Chelsea and I’ve played quite a lot this season so I’m happy. I think the goal took a little deflection, but I’ll take it! The noise was incredible and I’m overjoyed.
“It looked a bit slow in the first half so I wanted to bring a bit of energy. The reason why I’m still here is because of my mentality despite all the injuries – I keep going no matter what, and I’ve said for many years that my time would come.
“We want to get Liverpool back, simple as that. I thought the Carabao Cup final was a fantastic game that could have gone either way. We’re looking forward to it, and hopefully we’ll get our revenge.”
“So it’s Chelsea vs Liverpool again,” writes Bilal. “How often has it happened that the same teams have contested the League and FA Cup finals in the same season?”
The last time it happened, and I think the only time, was when Arsenal beat Sheffield Wednesday in both finals in 1992-93.
Full time: Chelsea 2-0 Crystal Palace
Peep peep! Chelsea will play Liverpool in next month’s FA Cup final after a hard-fought win over Crystal Palace. After a quiet, attritional first hour, the substitute Ruben Loftus-Cheek gave Chelsea the lead after a mistake from Tyrick Mitchell. Mason Mount’s classy second goal ensured that Chelsea reached the FA Cup final for the fifth time in six seasons. Palace can have no complaints, but nor should they have any regrets.
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90 min: Lukaku hits the post! Werner scurries into the area on the left and puts it on a plate for Lukaku, who somehow hits the post from seven yards. Ziyech’s follow-up is blocked desperately on the line, I think by Guehi.
89 min The player of the match is Timo Werner, who made the second goal and troubled Palace all day with his movement.
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88 min The match is petering out. Palace have given everything but Chelsea are heading for yet another FA Cup final.
85 min Meanwhile, Palace bring on Luka Milivojevic for Cheikhou Kouyate. And Rudiger is going to continue.
84 min Rudiger is down with what looks like a thigh or groin problem. Chelsea have used all five substitutions, though they will get a sixth if this goes to extra-time.
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82 min Chelsea make their fifth substitution - Thiago Silva comes on for Andreas Christensen.
81 min Ziyech shoots straight at Butland from long range.
78 min: What a chance for Andersen! Palace should be back in it. Olise’s inswinging corner from the right was helped on by Ayew, and looped towards the unmarked Andersen beyond the far post. But he jumped too early and headed over the bar from four yards.
77 min A triple change for Chelsea: N’Golo Kante, Hakim Ziyech and Romelu Lukaku replace Jorginho, Mount and Havertz.
Mason Mount has made it 2-0 with a lovely finish. Werner, on the left side of the area, made the goal with a nice square pass to Mount, just inside the penalty box. He took it neatly in his stride, escaping Andersen in the process, and opened his body to sidefoot the ball into the far corner. That’s a fine goal.
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GOAL! Chelsea 2-0 Crystal Palace (Mount 76)
Chelsea will be coming back to Wembley next month.
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74 min Ayew plays a clever pass into the area for Zaha, who takes it away from the outrushing Mendy. The angle is too wide for a shot so he hits a cross on the turn instead, and eventually the attack peters out.
72 min A double change for Palace: Christian Benteke and Michael Olise replace James McArthur and Jeffrey Schlupp, so Patrick Vieira is going for it. And why not.
71 min Here’s Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s goal.
E M P H A T I C ⚡️
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) April 17, 2022
⌛️ A first @ChelseaFC goal since May 9, 2019 for @RLC - and what a time to get it! #EmiratesFACup | #ITVFootball pic.twitter.com/aE0k2EBz2f
70 min Palace are readying Christian Benteke.
69 min All of a sudden Chelsea have a bit of a strut on. It’s a long way back from here for Palace, who have been in counter-attacking mode all afternoon.
67 min That’s Loftus-Cheek’s first goal for Chelsea in three years, it says here.
Actually, it took a deflection, not that Loftus-Cheek will care. After Mitchell was caught in possession, Havertz’s cross from the right hit Guehi and bounced towards the edge of the area. Loftus-Cheek ran onto the ball, twisted his body and slapped a shot that hit Andersen and flew into the net.
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GOAL! Chelsea 1-0 Crystal Palace (Loftus-Cheek 65)
Ruben Loftus-Cheek gives Chelsea the lead with a sizzling finish!
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63 min Azpilicueta’s dangerous cross is headed away well by Andersen in the six-yard box. Palace have defened admirably.
61 min: What a chance for Palace! Eze’s inswinging corner is shouldered just wide by Kouyate, who mistimed his attempted header. With a clean connection he would probably have scored.
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60 min Zaha beats Christensen on the right and angles a deep cross that is headed behind by Azpilicueta.
60 min “This,” says Ian Copestake, “could go on forever.”
59 min Chelsea are completely dominating possession, with around 70 per cent in the match, but they still haven’t created a clear chance. It’s been an attritional game.
57 min I say 3-4-3; really it’s a 5-4-1.
56 min It looks like Palace have switched to a 3-4-3, with Ayew wide on the right, Eze wide on the left and Zaha the lone striker.
54 min A change for Palace - Jordan Ayew replaces Jean-Philippe Mateta.
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53 min A Palace free-kick is headed up in the air by Kouyate and claimed under the bar by Mendy.
52 min Rudiger hoofs well wide from distance.
51 min Loftus-Cheek takes a return ball from Jorginho and stabs a clever through pass towards Werner, who is eased away from the ball by Kouyate in the six-yard box. Good defenduing.
49 min Mount blazes over from distance.
48 min Chelsea have picked up where they left off at half-time, moving the ball from side to side in pursuit of an opening. Nothing doing so far.
46 min Peep peep! Chelsea begin the second half.
“If Chelsea are the designated home team,” asks Gary Byrne (and others), “why are they wearing yellow?”
I have no idea. You’re welcome!
Half-time reading
Half time: Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
Peep peep! An uneventful half comes to an end. Chelsea dominated possession, but Palace came closest to scoring when Cheikhou Kouyate’s volley was pushed away by Edouard Mendy. See you in 15 minutes for the second half.
45 min There will be two added minutes.
42 min More importantly for Palace, at this stage, they have looked really solid defensively. The only saves Jack Butland has had to make have been relatively comfortable.
40 min There have been some promising breaks from Palace, usually involving Zaha, but their final pass has either been ill-conceived or poorly executed.
39 min “In last year’s final Tactics Tom did similar stuff with James at centreback to counter the threat of Vardy and that didn’t work,” says Yash Gupta. “Plus this positional switch took away attacking impetus from Chelsea’s right-hand side. If anything Palace have a decent chance.”
38 min Havertz is booked for diving in the Crystal Palace area after a challenge from Guehi. Chelsea wanted a penalty but replays showed it was a brilliant and brave decision from Taylor.
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38 min “This,” says Joe Pearson, “is not nearly as fun as yesterday’s semi.”
36 min Zaha is fouled by James on the left wing, which allows Palace to send their centre-backs forward. Eze’s inswinger is headed away to the edge of the area by Christensen, and Kouyate hits a crisp volley that is pushed away by Mendy, diving to his left. Anderson slams the rebound off the post from close range, though he was offside so it wouldn’t have counted. But Kouyate’s would have done.
33 min Mount shoots over the bar from the edge of the D. Chelsea are struggling to break down this well-organised Palace defence.
31 min At the other end, Werner runs Kouyate and curls a very deep cross to Azpilicueta, who slices a scissor kick miles wide.
30 min Palace break dangerously from a Chelsea corner. Zaha slips Loftus-Cheek on the halfway line, forcing the last man Christensen to come across and intercept. He can only give the ball straight to Ward, who overhits his through ball to Zaha.
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25 min: Chelsea substitution Yep, Loftus-Cheek replaces Kovacic in midfield.
25 min Rudiger’s hopeful ball into the box is headed straight at Butland by Havertz. He was stretching, and under pressure from Guehi, so it wasn’t much of a chance.
23 min Ruben Loftus-Cheek is getting ready to come on. It looks like he’ll replace Mateo Kovacic, who is limping slightly. I think he twisted something when he slipped on the edge of the Palace area earlier in the game.
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21 min Nothing much to report. Lots of endeavour from both sides but no clear chances yet.
17 min The match has settled into the expected pattern of Chelsea possession and Palace counter-attacks.
15 min James’s inswinging corner is headed away by McArthur.
14 min Havertz releases Werner on the left of the area. His cutback is put behind for a corner by McArthur, the first of the game...
11 min Kovacic runs dangerously to the edge of the D but then slips. Chelsea are starting to dominate possession.
10 min Mount’s cross-shot from the left bounces awkwardly in front of Butland, who nonetheless holds on comfortably.
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9 min Patrick Vieira will be pleased with this start. Palace have looked comfortable, with no sign of any big-match nerves.
7 min Zaha turns James near the halfway line and reverses a good pass towards Mateta, who almost gets the wrong side of the last man Christensen. In the end Christensen recovers to poke the ball back to Mendy.
5 min Actually, Chelsea are playing with Reece James as the right-sided centre-back and Azpilicueta at wing-back. That might be because Wilfried Zaha is playing up front for Palace; James has always done well against him.
4 min A bitty start to the game, including a brief break in play while some balloons are cleared from the pitch.
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2 min Palace’s formation is 3-3-2-2, as below. Chelsea are playing 3-4-1-2, as expected.
Crystal Palace Butland; Kouyate, Andersen, Guehi; Ward, McArthur, Mitchell; Eze, Schlupp; Zaha, Mateta.
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1 min Peep peep! Palace, wearing their red and blue home strip, kick off from left to right. Chelsea are in their stylish yellow away kit. And it does indeed look like a back three for Palace.
The players walk out of the tunnel into the Wembley sunshine. It’s a gorgeous day in north-west London.
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A question for Palace fans
Can you recommend a book about the club’s glory years under Steve Coppell and Alan Smith? And, if not, could one of you please write it?
A reminder of the teams
There is some speculation that Palace will also play a back three, with Cheikhou Kouyate dropping into the defence. We’ll soon find out.
Chelsea (possible 3-4-1-2) Mendy; Azpilicueta, Christensen, Rudiger; James, Jorginho, Kovacic, Alonso; Mount; Havertz, Werner.
Substitutes: Arrizabalaga, Thiago Silva, Sarr, Kante, Loftus-Cheek, Saul, Pulisic, Ziyech, Lukaku.
Crystal Palace (possible 4-3-3) Butland; Ward, Andersen, Guehi, Mitchell; McArthur, Kouyate, Schlupp; Zaha, Mateta, Eze.
Substitutes: Guaita, Clyne, Kelly, Tomkins, Milivojevic, Olise, Ayew, Edouard, Benteke.
Referee Anthony Taylor.
“I thought Palace had done well to keep it at 0-0,” says Ian Copestake, “but then realised it hadn’t started yet.”
Thomas Tuchel’s pre-match thoughts
“It’s good [to have another big game straight after the Real Madrid defeat], as it automatically sharpens your mind and your focus. Being here at Wembley is the right occasion to turn things round. [Romelu Lukaku] is not fit enough to play 90 minutes, he’s not fit enough for the intensity of our game. He’s had an injury so his match fitness is not there; otherwise there was a big chance he would have started today.
“We’re in good shape. We’ve had two very good performances in our last two games. They’re a very energetic team, nice to watch, with a lot of individual quality and speed up front. It’s a difficult team and a big occasion.”
Patrick Vieira’s pre-match thoughts
“It’s wonderful to be here. It’s a big day for the football club - the fans, the players, the staff - and we want to enjoy it. The best way to do that is to perform as well as we can. I was really happy with the way [Eze] played against Leicester. He may not give us the runs that Conor does but he’s really good on the ball; he can create chances, he can dribble. I expect him to do well today.
“It’s about performing as a team. We know how good they are but we have the tools to make it difficult for them. We need to enjoy the occasion.”
This is a really interesting piece on the guy behind the guy at Palace
Team news
Three changes from Chelsea from their 3-2 victory/5-4 defeat in Madrid. Cesar Azpilicueta, Jorginho and Andreas Christensen replace Ruben Loftus-Cheek, N’Golo Kante and Thiago Silva.
Here’s your Chelsea team news from Wembley! 💛#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/T1P3yYiZKk
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) April 17, 2022
Patrick Vieira makes four changes to the Palace team that lost 2-1 at Leicester last weekend. Jack Butland, Joel Ward, James McArthur and Eberechi Eze come in for Vicente Guaita, Nathaniel Clyne, the ineligible Conor Gallagher and Jordan Ayew. McArthur also captains the side.
COME ON YOU PALACE#CPFC | #EmiratesFACup
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) April 17, 2022
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Preamble
Hello and welcome to live coverage of the FA Cup semi-final between Chelsea and Crystal Palace at Wembley. There are two ways this can go - the familiar tale or the fairytale. Chelsea are hoping to reach their 11th FA Cup final since the turn of the century; Palace are aiming for the third FA Cup final in their entire history.
Palace will be without the infectious Conor Gallagher, whose parent won’t let him out to play tonight. Oh and they’ve lost their last nine games against Chelsea. But for all my frankly inappropriate doom and gloom, Palace will fancy their chances of an upset. They are in good form, have troubled a number of big clubs this season and have an outside chance of their highest league finish since the glorious 1990-91 campaign. An FA Cup final appearance would cap a superb first season under Patrick Vieira.
Chelsea want a repeat of the Carabao Cup final against Liverpool, ideally without Kepa spanking the decisive penalty halfway to Harlesden. They can still do a treble of sorts - the Club World Cup, the Super Cup and the FA Cup would be a decent return, especially given their off-field problems.
Palace will hope that Chelsea’s emotional Champions League defeat to Real Madrid has taken a lot out of them. We’ll find out soon enough.
Kick-off 4.30pm BST.
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