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maltatoday SUNDAY, 23 APRIL 2017 Sport 52 FOOTBALL Chelsea edge Tottenham in thrilling Cup semi CHELSEA are through to the FA Cup final after using their bench strength to eventu- ally overpower Premier League title rivals Tottenham 4-2 in a high-class Wembley encounter. Chelsea boss Antonio Conte had raised eyebrows with his decision to leave Eden Hazard and Diego Costa out of the starting line-up, but his rejigged made the best pos- sible start when Willian, playing in Haz- ard's place, curled home a third-minute free-kick after Toby Alderweireld hacked down a charging Pedro. But Spurs responded, Harry Kane flicking a clever header beyond Thibaut Courtois from Christian Eriksen's cross to make it 1-1 inside 20 minutes. Boosted by the equaliser, Spurs were the better side for long periods of the first half before a brainfade from Heung-Min Son allowed Willian to restore Chelsea's lead from the penalty spot before the break. Once again, Spurs hit back as Eriksen superbly picked out the run of Dele Alli, who lashed a close-range half-volley past Courtois to make it 2-2 shortly after the interval. But Conte was able to call on the serious firepower he had kept in reserve. Hazard and Costa were introduced, along with Cesc Fabregas, with devastating effect. Hazard's probing menace immediately unsettled the Spurs defence, giving them a different challenge than that posed by the more direct Pedro. As Spurs struggled to reorganise their backline, Hazard profited from the confu- sion to lash home Chelsea's third unmarked on the edge of the box from a half-cleared corner. Nemanja Matic put the seal on the Blues' victory with a stunning 25-yard thunderbolt that crashed in off the bar with Spurs keeper Hugo Lloris left standing. For Chelsea, four points clear of today's beaten opponents and returning here next month to face Manchester City or Arsenal, the double is very much on. Spurs, on the other hand, must come to terms with the unwanted record of a seventh consecutive FA Cup semi-final defeat dating back to 1993 and look to build on a current seven- match winning run in the league that has brought Chelsea back into their sights. Despite the quality of much of Totten- ham's football here today, the result marks another unhappy day for the North Lon- doners at Wembley, a ground they still intend to make their home in all competi- tions next season. Tottenham's afternoon was neatly summed up in injury time when Kane's fizzing free-kick squirmed under Courtois' body but stopped on the line for the keeper to gather. Chelsea midfielder Nemanja Matic on his stunning goal: "It was a nice goal but, first of all, I want to say we are very happy be- cause we are in the final." On Tottenham: "Congratulations to Spurs, they are a great team and it was very hard today. When you score four goals against them you have to win the game, so I'm very happy for the team. "They are a great team. They are one of the best teams in the Premier League and, like I said, it was very hard today. We scored the first goal, they equalised, we scored the second and they didn't give up. "So congratulations to them. They played good football and that is why we are so happy today." Eden Hazard on reaching his first FA Cup final: "It is always good to win this game, this sort of game - a semi-final against a London team - so the following from the fans is good. "We reached the final, which will be my first final in five years with Chelsea for the FA Cup, so I hope to win this cup." On his surprise place on the bench: "The manager told me yesterday. In football you have to expect everything. "When you play football you want to play every game but I think he made a great choice. Willian scored two goals so it is good for us."