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Chelsea were made to work hard for their spot in the FA Cup final, but they fended off a battling Tottenham side, securing a 4-2 success at Wembley.
Willian gave the Blues the lead from a free-kick, but Harry Kane equalised with a fine header soon after. Willian then put Chelsea back in front from the spot, before Dele Alli equalised with a superb finish. Goals from substitute Eden Hazard and Nemanja Matic saw Antonio Conte’s men home.
Also read: FA Cup 2016/17: Chelsea 4-2 Tottenham Hotspur, 5 talking points
Let’s take a look at the player ratings from the FA Cup semi-final encounter.
Chelsea
Thibaut Courtois: 7/10
Courtois came for crosses very well when Tottenham were piling on the pressure but was powerless to stop either goal. His distribution was a little wayward at times, but nothing catastrophic.
Cesar Azplicueta: 7/10
As Spurs pressed in the second half, the movement of Dele Alli caused Azpilicueta problems, but on the whole, the Spaniard was solid. No player on the Wembley pitch made more interceptions – 4 – than 27-year-old in the match.
David Luiz: 8/10
Crucial interventions at crucial times. Luiz is often considered the weak link, but this showing provided further proof he is the man for the big occasion. The Brazil international made ten clearances in the match – more than any other player.
Nathan Ake: 7/10
He will have known about his inclusion before we did, but having played so few games since returning from his loan spell at Bournemouth, Ake was really thrown in to the deep end. He struggled with the combative Harry Kane at times, but on the whole, he held his own against a very good Spurs side.
Victor Moses: 7/10
Tottenham’s usage of Heung-Son Min in the wing-back role to push Moses back simply did not work. He did more attacking than defending in the match. No Chelsea player completed more dribbles in the match.
Marcos Alonso: 6/10
Alonso gives Chelsea so much more than he is often given credit for, but a pass completion rate of just over 60 percent is not good enough for a man of his ability. Defensively, he looked a little suspect, too.
Nemanja Matic: 7/10
What. A. Goal. There are only a few occasions in one’s career when you hit a ball as sweetly as Matic did, and what a time to do it. In truth, he contributed little else, but it would have paled in significance anyway.
N’Golo Kante: 7/10
On the face of it, it did seem that Spurs had the better of the midfield tussle, but that wasn’t for want of trying on Kante’s part. No player on the hallowed turf made more tackles (8) than Kante.
Willian: 8/10
A surprise starter for the first time since mid-March, the Brazilian showed what it means to have a strong squad, getting on the scoresheet twice. His free-kick, while being on Hugo Lloris’ side, was superbly hit and he followed it up with a well-executed spot kick.
Michy Batshuayi: 5/10
It was a tall order having not started a game since the FA Cup match against Brentford in late January, but one shot on target, no key passes, no dribbles completed and a 60 per cent pass completion rate do not represent a fruitful afternoon.
Pedro: 7/10
Like many players on this side, the Spaniard has played a key role in Chelsea’s success this season. He may not have created much, and gave the ball away readily, but his efforts defensively cannot be downplayed.
Substitutions
Eden Hazard: 7/10
Players of Hazard’s calibre don’t grow on trees, and in one moment, he made all the difference at Wembley. With a goal and assist to his name, Hazard made a world of difference after coming off the bench.
Diego Costa: 5/10
Costa continues to look a shadow of the player who was so impressive early on in the season. Offered very little as an attacking threat after coming on and was easily dealt with by the defence.
Cesc Fabregas: 6/10
The Spaniard helped see the game out, without having to over-exert himself.
Tottenham
Hugo Lloris: 4/10
Lloris took a giant step to the right for the first goal, which left Willian space to score, before getting away with a handball outside the area. He looked shaky whenever he left his line and his distribution was poor throughout.
Jan Vertonghen: 6/10
Willian caused Vertonghen plenty of problems, but it seems strange to suggest the Belgian didn’t do too much wrong considering his side conceded four goals.
Toby Alderweireld: 6/10
An early booking meant he had to tread carefully, but he dealt quite admirably with the pressure. As guilty as any for getting dragged in for Hazard’s goal, otherwise, again, very little wrong.
Eric Dier: 5/10
Dier seems much more at home in midfield these days. While his pass completion rate was admirable, he didn’t complete a single tackle at Wembley.
Kieran Trippier: 5/10
Very little attacking threat offered at all, on an afternoon when he had a great opportunity to prove himself. One tackle, one interception and zero clearances show just how ineffective he was.
Heung-Min Son: 4/10
Son certainly won’t be playing in the wing-back role again in a hurry. His decision to dive in on Moses put his side on the back foot from the off. There was simply no need to make the challenge and it cost his side dearly. The South Korean was otherwise easily nullified.
Mousa Dembele: 7/10
Dembele did not deserve to be on the losing side. No Spurs player made more tackles, only Alli completed more dribbles, while a pass completion rate of 92.5 per cent is very admirable in such a crucial game.
Victor Wanyama: 7/10
Wanyama kept it very simple, and finished with a pass completion rate better than any other in a white shirt. He marshalled the midfield well for long periods of the game that Spurs controlled.
Christian Eriksen: 8/10
Two assists, six chances created, all after starting the game looking very subdued. His pass for Alli’s goal is as good a pass as you will see anywhere in the world.
Dele Alli: 7/10
Alli continued his fine form in front of goal with a well-taken goal, but he did show elements of frustration as Spurs toiled late on. A constant threat throughout, nonetheless.
Harry Kane: 7/10
Never gave up, chased everything down, had plenty of efforts on goal, and took his goal superbly. On another day Kane would have come out on the winning side.
Substitutions
Kyle Walker: 6/10
Walker was brought on to cope with Hazard, but completely left him for the Belgian’s goal.
George-Kevin Nkoudou: 6/10
Nkoudou was a mere spectator as Chelsea won it late on.
