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Kepa is Chelsea penalty hero as they join Arsenal in Euro finals clean sweep
ARSenAL and Chelsea made history last night by reaching the europa League final, completing an english fab four.
Keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga was the hero as Chelsea beat eintracht Frankfurt on penalties, saving from Martin Hinteregger and Goncalo Paciencia before eden Hazard scored the winning spot-kick.
Arsenal had already brushed Valencia aside in Spain thanks to Pierre-emerick Aubameyang’s brilliant hat-trick.
The pair will meet in Baku, Azerbaijan, on May 29, three days before the Champions League final between Tottenham and Liverpool in Madrid. It is the first time one country has produced all four finalists.
EDeN Hazard scored the decisive spot kick as chelsea won 4-3 on penalties last night to take their place in an all- english europa league final.
in the second half of extra time cesar azpilicueta thought he had scored when challenging the Frankfurt keeper on the line but his bundled goal was disallowed for a foul. so it went to penalties.
ruben loftus-cheek had put the home team ahead in the first half and they looked to be well on their way to Baku. But suddenly they lost their way. suddenly eintracht Frankurt were all square. Their blue-eyed boy luka Jovic scored — just like he did in the first leg — to take this europa league semi-final to extra-time.
chelsea had gone into the game safe in the knowledge that Pedro’s away goal in last week’s 1-1 draw in Germany had put them firmly in the box seat. The fact chelsea secured their place in next season’s champions league last weekend should also have relaxed minds.
Maurizio sarri was within minutes of being sacked as chelsea trailed 1-0 at cardiff on March 31 but — somehow — has now guided the Blues back into the top four. The italian’s animated performance on the touchline last night appeared to suggest he knew exactly what was riding on this game.
Fourth official Pavel Kralovec even had to intervene, ordering sarri to calm down as he lost it after Matteo Kovacic was adjudged to have handled the ball. The manager’s anxieties transmitted to the home supporters, who were strangely subdued during the early stages.
Had Jovic sent his header from sebastian rode’s cross a yard either side of Kepa arrizabalaga in the fourth minute, the visiting fans would have blown the roof off stamford Bridge.
instead, chelsea eventually settled into their rhythm, although arrizabalaga did produce an outstanding, flying save to deny Danny da costa’s sensational volley from the edge of the area.
loftus- cheek was denied a 10th-minute penalty when Da costa clumsily careered into his back when he seemed certain to score at the back post.
Kevin Trapp then stopped olivier Giroud’s flicked effort with an instinctive save.
Makoto Hasebe cleared David luiz’s glancing header off the line as chelsea looked to take the lead in the tie for the first time.
eventually eintracht caved. inevitably, it was Hazard who picked the lock — his slide-rule pass beautifully finished by loftus-cheek in the 28th minute.
in what could to be Hazard’s final game at stamford Bridge ahead of a possible move to real Madrid, it was fitting he should be at the centre of chelsea’s opener.
They will miss him if he leaves. of course they will. But time moves on — so do footballers. and in loftus-cheek, the west london club have reason to be believe that they’ll do just fine without their brilliant Belgian.
slowly but surely, the england midfielder is winning sarri over. it bodes well for next season, particularly if cas reject chelsea’s appeal against their transfer ban.
it also bodes well for Gareth
Southgate ahead of the UEFA Nations League finals in Portugal next month. The German’s simply couldn’t cope with Loftus-Cheek’s powerful swagger in midfield.
Eintracht’s players were bouncing off the 23-year-old, who could have doubled Chelsea’s lead in the 39th minute following a counter-attack.
Chelsea were lucky not to concede a 47th minute penalty when the ball appeared to strike Kovacic on the hand.
The Germans weren’t remonstrating for long, though. Instead they were celebrating Jovic’s leveller.
David Luiz was at fault, losing the original aerial duel with Eintracht’s dangerous front man, before losing him again and allowing Jovic to slot home Mijat Gacinovic’s pass.
Hands on his head, Sarri couldn’t comprehend his side’s incompetence after the restart. He wasn’t the only one.
Giroud squandered a chance to instantly re-assert Chelsea’s advantage, but it was the visitor’s who sensed blood.
Arrizabalaga denied Gacinovic’s venomous effort from the edge of the box, while Jovic and Ante Rebic were causing Chelsea’s rearguard problems. Make no mistake, Chelsea were on the ropes at this stage.