Chelsea has secured the FA Cup final on Saturday evening. The team of manager Thomas Tuchel was 1-0 too strong for Manchester City on an empty Wembley, which saw the first prize of the season go up in smoke. Hakim Ziyech claimed a leading role with the only goal of the match, after a goal by the attacker was rejected in the initial phase of the game. Chelsea’s opponent comes from the other semi-final between Southampton and Leicester City, which will be played on Sunday evening. City will need to focus on the three prizes still ahead, starting with the EFL Cup, which could be won next week at the expense of Tottenham Hotspur.
A noticeable absentee at Chelsea, as Tuchel had not reserved a place in the match selection for Tammy Abraham. The attacker, who is the top scorer in the FA Cup tournament this season with four hits, has ended up on the second level under the German coach. Ziyech enjoyed a starting spot and showed himself early in the game, when he was at the end of a nice Chelsea attack after seven minutes. The former Ajax player hit from close range on a pass from Timo Werner, but saw how Mike Dean rejected the goal due to offside.
Both teams were unable to make a fist in the first half. The biggest opportunities were for Chelsea. After more than fifteen minutes of play, Ziyech passed the ball on the right to Reece James, after which the right wing defender had a measured cross on Ben Chilwell. The left back had all the time and space to hit the far post, but suddenly decided to do it and hit the side net. The same combination occurred again after half an hour of play, were it not that this time James needed too much time to get a good shot. City was particularly disappointing in the first act and seemed to still have last Wednesday’s match against Borussia Dortmund in its legs.
City was quickly hit in the second half, when Kevin De Bruyne was injured after three minutes. The captain seemed to get stuck in a duel with N’Golo Kanté and had to be replaced by Phil Foden. Chelsea took the lead not much later. Werner was sent into the depth on the left, goalkeeper Zack Steffen hesitated and helped Tuchel’s team in the saddle. Werner’s wide pass could then easily be pushed into the empty goal by Ziyech: 1-0. For Werner it was already the nineteenth goal of the season in which he was directly involved, the highest number of all players at Chelsea.
Hakim Ziyech with the goal! ?? After a lightning-fast counter, the left leg puts Chelsea at 1-0 against City ?? The Blues on track for the FA Cup final ??#ZiggoSport #FACup #CHEMCI pic.twitter.com/sLnrlFPHUA
– Ziggo Sport Football (@ZS_Voetbal) April 17, 2021
While City went on the hunt for the equalizer, Ziyech had an excellent opportunity to end the game. After a good run, he escaped the attention of Brahim Díaz, but saw his effort narrowly turned by Steffen. A bet by Werner could also be defused by the City goalkeeper. Ziyech was then taken to the side by Tuchel ten minutes before the end and saw from the stands how his team crossed the line.