toptop
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 Shane Long spurned a glorious
one-on-one chance to equalise and 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.
What's next?
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.
Teams
Chelsea Caballero, Azpilicueta,
Cahill (c), Rudiger, Kante, Fabregas (Pedro 78), Emerson, Moses, Willian
(Bakayoko 64), Hazard, Giroud (Morata 82)
Subs Not Used Eduardo, Barkley, Christensen, Zappacosta
Booked
Goals Giroud 46, Morata 82
Southampton McCarthy, Soares, Hoedt, Yoshida, Bednarek
(Gabbiadini 78), Bertrand, Lemina, Vidal, Hojbjerg (Tadic 63), Austin, Long
(Redmond 63)
Subs Not Used Forster, Carrillo, Ward-Prowse, McQueen
Booked Yoshida, Romeu, Lemina, Hoedt
Goals
Attendance 73,416
Referee Martin Atkinson