Chelsea booked their place in this season’s FA Cup final as goals from Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Mason Mount saw off a resolute Crystal Palace at Wembley.
It had been a cagey affair for the opening hour with few chances for either side and arguably the biggest opening coming for Palace through a set-piece which Cheikhou Kouyate could not guide towards target. They were made to pay for that spurned opportunity minutes later when Loftus-Cheek – who spent the 2017-18 campaign on loan at Selhurst Park - popped up inside the area to find the net.
After falling behind, Palace through caution to the wind with Christian Benteke and Michael Olise both introduced but this left them vulnerable at the back. With 14 minutes left on the clock, Mason Mount doubled Chelsea ’s lead after neat build-up play on the edge of the area. It was enough to set up a second successive domestic cup final of the campaign against Liverpool. Here are five talking points from a tense afternoon at Wembley.
