Chelsea moved into the FA Cup semi-finals as Oliver
Norwood’s own goal and a late Hakim Ziyech strike sealed a 2-0 win against
Sheffield United on Sunday.
Thomas Tuchel’s much-changed side were below their best at
Stamford Bridge, but Norwood’s first half mistake put them on course to win a
hard-fought quarter-final.
Hakim Ziyech netted in stoppage time as Chelsea joined
Manchester City and Southampton in the April semi-finals at Wembley.
Leicester host Manchester United in the last quarter-final
later on Sunday.
The Blues are back in the FA Cup semi-finals for a fourth
time in the last five seasons after losing last year’s final against Arsenal.
Chelsea won the last of the club’s eight FA Cups under
Antonio Conte in 2018.
Tuchel’s remarkable early impact since replacing the sacked
Frank Lampard in January has turned Chelsea in a rock-solid defensive unit.
The German is now unbeaten in 14 games in all competitions,
with Chelsea keeping 12 clean sheets in that period, including shutting out the
opposition in their last seven matches.
Tuchel made nine changes after Chelsea’s Champions League
last 16 second leg win against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday.
Kepa Arrizabalaga started in goal, with Billy Gilmour,
Olivier Giroud and Emerson among the others to come in.
All the switches left Chelsea struggling to find any rhythm
in the early stages.
Despite their uncertain start, Chelsea took the lead in
fortuitous fashion in the 24th minute.
Aaron Ramsdale couldn’t hold Callum Hudson-Odoi’s cross and
Phil Jagielka scrambled it clear for a corner.
When the corner curled out to Ben Chilwell on the edge of
the area, the Chelsea left-back hit a low shot that Norwood turned into his own
net as he stretched in a failed attempt to block it.
The hapless Norwood almost gifted Chelsea a second goal when
his woeful pass was pounced on by Christian Pulisic, who raced through on goal
but couldn’t find the finishing touch as he stumbled before Ramsdale saved his
chip.
After his exuberant exhortations and celebrations caught the
eye during the win against Atletico, Chelsea’s injured defender Thiago Silva
was back urging his team on from the stands.
He wasn’t quite as boisterous this time, perhaps in a tacit
acknowledgement that United posed little threat to Chelsea’s progress.
The moribund Blades are bottom of the Premier League and
look destined for relegation following the recent departure of boss Chris
Wilder.
Pulisic should have put them out of their misery when he
jinked past three defenders, only to shoot straight at Ramsdale and scuff the
rebound over the bar.
Picked out by John Lundstram’s cross, David McGoldrick
wasted a golden opportunity to equalise when the United forward sent his diving
header wide from just four yards.
Oli McBurnie’s long-range drive was pushed away by Kepa
before United substitute Rhian Brewster shot just wide.
But United’s late flourish wasn’t enough to force extra-time
as Ziyech came off the bench to fire home from Chilwell’s pass.
AFP
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