FA Cup semi-finals rarely live up to expectation, with nerves keeping teams from playing entertaining football – however, Chelsea 4-2 Tottenham did not disappoint.
Much like Manchester United’s 2-1 replay victory against Arsenal in their 1999 semi-final, in which Ryan Giggs scored his solo goal in extra time, this game was difficult to look away from.
So why was this semi-final different from so many before it?
1. Pre-game rivalry
With just four points separating them in the title race, this game didn’t need much hype – the two best teams in the country going head to head.
2. Willian’s free-kick
No Hazard, no problem!
Willian's free-kick beats Hugo Lloris and Chelsea lead at Wembley! #EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/qVSg3nNeUF
— BT Sport Football (@btsportfootball) April 22, 2017
Every great game needs a free-kick, and Willian obliged with just five minutes on the clock.3. Harry Kane’s world-class header
1-1. What a header from Kane. So, so smart.
— Seb Stafford-Bloor (@SebSB) April 22, 2017
Harry Kane’s equaliser was every inch a Wembley goal – the England striker stooped down and flicked it into the net like a Twenty20 batsman might.4. Stamp?
Dele Alli appeared to tread on David Luiz’s ankle, but on closer inspection it was decided the Tottenham midfielder hadn’t meant it.5. Controversial penalty
2-1 Chelsea against the run of play. Whether a pen or not, that was a very strange attempted tackle by Son on Moses
— Matt Law (@Matt_Law_DT) April 22, 2017
Son Heung-Min’s tackle on Victor Moses was poorly thought through – the forward dived into the tackle in the box, and although there looked to be minimal contact, Moses fell over, and that was that. Willian made it 2-1 to Chelsea from the penalty spot. 6. Hugo Lloris’s handball
And just moments later Spurs’ goalkeeper Hugo Lloris flirted with danger when he slid out of his area to claim the ball – luckily the referee and linesman missed it.7. Christian Eriksen’s assist
What a ball!??
What a goal!??Eriksen finds Alli and Spurs are level again! #EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/8k3CqpSOLe
— BT Sport Football (@btsportfootball) April 22, 2017
What a ball! It would have been rude of Alli to miss there, wouldn’t it?8. Eden Hazard joins the party
Off the bench and in the goals!??
Eden Hazard drills home to give Chelsea the lead for a third time! pic.twitter.com/iL4c57xxei
— BT Sport Football (@btsportfootball) April 22, 2017
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte brought the big boys on in the second half, and it proved a good idea. Eden Hazard’s well-taken goal made it 3-2 to Chelsea, and Tottenham never got back into the game.9. Nemanja Matic’s thunderbolt
Unstoppable!??
Nemanja Matic fires Chelsea closer to the #EmiratesFACup final with an insane strike!?????? pic.twitter.com/xuYEac4HJN
— BT Sport Football (@btsportfootball) April 22, 2017
That was largely thanks to this goal from Nemanja Matic – put three goalies in net and they wouldn’t have kept that one out.10. Kurt Zouma’s reaction
Reckon Kurt Zouma might have enjoyed that Matic screamer?!???? #EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/yzpogTQUwF
— BT Sport Football (@btsportfootball) April 22, 2017
And last but not least, here’s Kurt Zouma’s entirely appropriate reaction to Matic’s goal.And that, everybody, is how to play an FA Cup final – more of the same for Arsenal v Manchester City?