Substitutions turn FA Cup semifinal Chelsea’s way
United pair ruled out with knee injuries
Eden Hazard came off the bench to help Chelsea into the FA Cup final with a 4-2 victory over Tottenham at Wembley yesterday as the English Premier League leaders overwhelmed their title rivals to stay on course for a double.
Chelsea shut down Tottenham’s fightback in a potent five-minute spell in the second half inspired by Hazard, who had been unexpectedly relegated to the bench.
Hazard shot the ball through a crowded penalty area into the net in the 75th minute and teed up Nemanja Matic for a powerful strike off the inside of the crossbar to secure a final against Arsenal or Manchester City, who played overnight.
Chelsea condemned Tottenham to a seventh successive FA Cup semifinal loss, and have a fourpoint lead over its London rival in the league title race.
Twice Willian put Chelsea in front - from a freekick in the fifth minute and from a penalty two minutes before halftime - but Tottenham came back each time through Harry Kane’s flicked header and Dele Alli’s strike.
Despite Tottenham posing the Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic and defender Marcos Rojo are likely to miss the rest of the season after scans revealed they have both suffered cruciate knee ligament injuries.
Rojo left the field on a stretcher in the first half of United’s win over Anderlecht in the Europa League on Friday while Ibrahimovic sustained damage to his right knee late in the same game.
‘‘Detailed investigations on the injuries sustained by Marcos Rojo
greater threat after Alli latched on to Christian Eriksen’s exquisite long pass in the 52nd minute, the north London club had nothing to show for its dominance.
A double substitution by Antonio Conte after an hour swung the semifinal back in Chelsea’s and Zlatan Ibrahimovic during Thursday’s Europa League match have confirmed significant knee ligament damage in both players that requires specialist opinions over the coming days,’’ United said on their website.
The 35-year-old Ibrahimovic is United’s top scorer this season with 28 goals in all competitions while Rojo has established himself at the heart of the defence.
United skipper Wayne Rooney, who has not played for three weeks
favour with Hazard arriving on the pitch with top-scorer Diego Costa.
A third Chelsea substitute, Cesc Fabregas, set up Hazard’s goal within a minute of being brought on. The midfielder’s corner was inadvertently flicked on by due to an ankle injury, is back to full fitness and could replace Ibrahimovic for the rest of the campaign.
United play Spanish side Celta Vigo in the Europa League semifinals next month. Ajax Amsterdam play Lyon in the other semifinal.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid will face neighbours Atletico in the Champions League semifinal, with Italian giants Juventus playing French surprise packet Monaco.
Tottenham defender Kyle Walker.
Then Chelsea’s return trip to Wembley for the final next month was secured by Matic in spectacular fashion, with Conte’s side asserting its strength over Tottenham.
In the premier league, Bournemouth nudged closer to safety with a 4-0 win over Middlesbrough, who are plummeting toward the League Championship, sitting nine points from safety.
The visitors imploded in an opening 20 minutes, conceding goals from Joshua King and Benik Afobe, and seeing Gaston Ramirez receive two yellow cards. Marc Pugh and Charlie Daniels added further goals in the second half.
Despite striker Oumar Niasse being sent off in the 25th minute, Hull produced a 2-0 victory over Watford to bolster their survival bid. Second-half goals from Lazar Markovic and Sam Clucas kept the north-east side two points above the relegation zone.
Fernando Llorente’s header and Tom Carroll’s deflected strike ended Swansea’s six-game winless run, as they won 2-0 over Stoke. The south Wales side remained in the drop zone due to Hull’s win.
A drab 0-0 draw secured Everton a point against West Ham.