CHELSEA recorded a comfortable 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace on Sunday to reach the English FA Cup final.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Mason Mount scored in the second half at a packed Wembley Stadium to set up a second final meeting with Liverpool this season. after losing the Carabao Cup final to the Reds on penalties.
Unlike the five-goal first semi-final between Liverpool and Manchester City on Saturday, chances were at a premium on Sunday until substitute Loftus-Cheek, on for the injured Mateo Kovacic, broke the deadlock with a deflected shot after 65 minutes.
Palace had their chances, with Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy saving well from Cheikhou Kouyate in the first half, but they could not come back after Mount slipped a low finish beyond Jack Butland with 14 minutes left.
Chelsea have become the first team to reach the men’s FA Cup final in three consecutive seasons since Arsenal between 2000-01 and 2002-03.
Also, Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has now progressed from 11 out of 11 semi-final ties (30 goals, four conceded), according to Opta statistics.
