Chelsea´s route to the 2017 FA Cup final
Chelsea go in search of their eighth FA Cup success when they face Arsenal on Saturday having last lifted the trophy in 2012.
Here, we track how Antonio Conte’s side booked their place in the showpiece.
Third round – Chelsea 4 Peterborough 1
A routine victory for the Blues, notable only for John Terry’s red card on his return to the starting XI for the first time in three months. By the time the veteran was given his marching orders his side were already 3-0 up through Pedro, Michy Batshuayi and Willian. Tom Nichols got one back for the League One side but Pedro’s second restored the handsome margin.
Fourth round – Chelsea 4 Brentford 0
Michy Batshuayi netted from the penalty spot
Branislav Ivanovic came off the bench and hit the target in what would be his final game for the club before departing for Zenit St Petersburg. Despite fielding a handful of peripheral players, Conte’s side were far too good for their Championship visitors. As in the previous match, Pedro, Batshuayi and Willian all got their names on the scoresheet.
Fifth round – Wolves 0 Chelsea 2
Pedro notched for the third FA Cup tie in a row as Wolves failed to add Chelsea to their earlier Premier League scalps of Stoke and Liverpool. The former Barcelona player broke the deadlock after 65 minutes and it was not until Diego Costa claimed Chelsea’s second moments from the end that the game was made safe.
Quarter-final – Chelsea 1 Manchester United 0
Referee Michael Oliver speaks to Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte
Jose Mourinho returned to the scene of some of his finest managerial triumphs only to leave beaten and at boiling point. Ander Herrera’s first-half sending off set the tone for an ill-tempered encounter that ended with Conte and Mourinho being separated by officials during a tense exchange. N’Golo Kante settled matters on the pitch with his second goal for the London club, extending Chelsea’s winning run at Stamford Bridge to a club record 13 games.
Semi-final – Chelsea 4 Tottenham 2
The Premier League’s top two sides met at Wembley and it was the table-toppers, rather than their pursuers, who came out on top. The rivals went toe-to-toe in a match-up worthy of the final itself and turned in a memorable 90 minutes at headquarters. Willian twice put Chelsea ahead only for England pair Harry Kane and Dele Alli to pull Spurs level. Eden Hazard, surprisingly reduced to a substitute’s role, scored the decisive third before Nemanja Matic’s memorable long-ranger sealed it in style.
