Chelsea vs Southampton. The FA Cup Semi-Final.
Wembley StadiumAttendance73,416.
Monday 23 April 2018 00:05, UK
Chelsea reached the FA Cup final for the second year in a row after goals from Olivier Giroud and Alvaro Morata secured a 2-0 win over Southampton at Wembley on Sunday.
Giroud showed fantastic composure and footwork to break Southampton's resistance less than a minute into the second half.
Morata then came off the bench and headed home in the 82nd minute to make sure of victory for Chelsea, who largely dominated as they set up a meeting with Manchester United in the same stadium on May 19.
Saints had their moments in the second half, but at 1-0 they had a goal disallowed for a foul on Willy Caballero and saw Shane Long miss a glorious one-on-one chance, before Charlie Austin hit the post late on.
Saints now turn their attentions to trying to avoid relegation from the Premier League, while Chelsea will be aiming to end the season with silverware, having been beaten in last year's final by Arsenal.
Antonio Conte's side dominated the first half against a cagey Southampton as the lively Eden Hazard fired narrowly wide in the fifth minute before Willian cut inside in the box and hit a shot against the top of the bar.
Long and Austin looked isolated at the other end but Saints made it to half-time at 0-0 as Maya Yoshida denied Hazard with an excellent close-range block and Giroud was unable to hit the target with a couple of volleys.
However, the deadlock was broken less than a minute after the restart as Giroud showed fantastic control to evade several tackles and then poke home.
Hazard curled narrowly wide moments later, before Long wasted a superb chance for Southampton when a heavy touch took him around Willy Caballero and knocked the ball out of play.
Saints threatened to get back into the game as Nathan Redmond was denied by a sharp stop from Caballero in the 70th minute
The Chelsea goalkeeper then dropped the ball over his line from a corner, only to be saved by the whistle for a free-kick against Austin.
Morata headed home in the 82nd minute to make it 2-0 and then spurned two more good openings after Austin had hit the post to cap off a frustrating day in front of goal for Saints.
Antonio Conte: "The final is a game between two great teams. In my mind I can tell you that we played the final last season as favourites [against Arsenal] and this season we will not be favourites, but last season we lost the final. I have great respect for United's story and Jose Mourinho's story and I think they have the same respect for Chelsea's story and my story."
Mark Hughes: "There is disappointment from our point of view because there's the situation where the goalkeeper made a wrong decision and has basically thrown the ball into the back of his net because of poor goalkeeping. If ever there was a situation for VAR to step in and say we probably need to review that I would have thought that was the opportunity to do that.
"Clearly it's a match-defining moment and a key time for us, if we get the goal back then who knows how the game might have followed. Why it hasn't been referred I have no idea. Whether or not the referee's said it was a foul, which clearly it wasn't, all he probably knew was on his watch it lit up and told him it was a goal, but for whatever reason he didn't want to give that."
Hazard looked bright and positive whenever he got on the ball, driving at Southampton defenders to open up spaces and showing off his impeccable close control. He did well to stay on his feet to set up Giroud's opener and almost went close himself shortly afterwards with a curling shot that went just wide. He will certainly be one for Manchester United to keep a close eye on in the final.
Chelsea travel to Swansea in the Premier League next Saturday before hosting Liverpool on Sunday, May 6, live on Sky Sports. Southampton continue their fight against relegation with a home game against Bournemouth next Saturday and then a trip to Everton on May 5.
Chelsea also have the FA Cup final to look forward to on May 19.
