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Chelsea are through to the FA Cup semi-final with a 2-0 win over Sheffield United. It was an own goal that broke the deadlock in the first half when Norwood deflected Chilwell’s cross past Ramsdale. In the second half, United had some great chances to equalise with McGoldrick and Brewster both sending shots just wide of the target before Ziyech picked out the bottom corner after a quick break to seal the win in stoppage time.
B. Chilwell
Assist
90′ + 2′ Chilwell made a great run down during the counter-attack and pulled it back for Ziyech to set up the goal.
H. Ziyech
Goal
90′ + 2′ ZIYECH SEALS IT FOR CHELSEA! It’s Ziyech that starts the move when he intercepts Jagielka’s header before continuing his run into the box. He reaches Chilwell’s cross on the stretch before hitting his shot across goal on the volley and into the bottom corner. 2-0 Chelsea!
90′ + 1′ CLOSE! Osborn pulls a cross back into the middle of the box from the left and Zouma only half clears it on the stretch. Brewster runs onto it on the edge of the area and drills a low shot towards the near post, but a deflection off Mount takes it just wide.
L. Mousset
J. Bogle
90′ Third change for United now and it’s Bogle that’s going off, with Mousset on for him.
89′ Baldock gets the better of Emerson down the right this time and finds himself in a pocket of space to swing a cross in. None of the United players have made a run to the far post though and it bounces harmlessly out of play.
87′ United are still trying to push for a late equaliser, but Chelsea aren’t giving them any time on the ball when they do get out of their own half. Baldock tries to hold off Ziyech, but catches the substitute in the face and gives away a free-kick.
85′ Chilwell can’t find space to pick out a cross from the left so Chelsea switch play out to James on the right. He has three to aim for in the middle, but lifts his cross over everyone and Baldock is happy to see it out for a goal-kick.
N. Kanté
C. Pulisic
83′ The final change for Chelsea sees Tuchel bring on Kante for Pulisic.
81′ United are keeping the ball well in their own half, but they’re giving it away sloppily when they start to push forward. Fleck has a chance to play in Brewster but plays the pass behind him and Zouma intercepts for Chelsea.
R. Brewster
O. Norwood
79′ Another change for United now and it’s an attacking one as Brewster comes on in place of Norwood.
78′ GOOD CHANCE! United have a free-kick on the right and Norwood swings a good cross into the far post where Stevens has peeled away to get on the ball. He tries to head it into the near post but sends his effort into the side netting.
77′ McGoldrick does brilliantly to outmuscle Azpilicueta and keep the ball in play at the byline before he drills a low cross into the six-yard box. Kepa manages to get a small touch on it to take it away from Bogle before Chilwell clears it at the far post.
O. Burke
O. McBurnie
75′ The first change for United sees McBurnie coming off, with Burke on in his place.
74′ It’s patient play again from Chelsea as they try to open up the space in behind United, who have dropped deep into their shape. Chilwell touches it out to Ziyech on the left, but his cross is cleared at the near post by Baldock.
H. Ziyech
B. Gilmour
72′ Gilmour is also going off, with Ziyech replacing him.
K. Havertz
C. Hudson-Odoi
72′ Another double change for Chelsea now, with Hudson-Odoi making way for Havertz.
71′ United are keeping Chelsea penned back as they push forward again now and they’re finding a lot of space down the right. Bogle picks out McGoldrick’s run with a throughball but Chilwell gets ahead of him to put it out for a corner.
69′ SAVE! Norwood does well to get away from Hudson-Odoi and he hooks the ball forward for McBurnie. He takes it past Chilwell to get to the edge of the box before drilling his shot on goal and Kepa gets a hand to it to push it away.
67′ GREAT CHANCE! It’s a brilliant cross into the box from Lundstram at the right and McGoldrick gets in between the Chelsea defenders to dive forward and get his head on it. He can’t get his effort on target though and it bounces just wide of the far post.
65′ United are keeping possession well at the moment, but it’s all in their own half and they’re being closed down quickly by Chelsea. Stevens tries to set his side on the attack, but his throughball into Fleck is overhit and Azpilicueta cuts it out.
Azpilicueta
A. Christensen
63′ Christensen is also being taken off, with Azpilicueta on in his place.
R. James
O. Giroud
63′ There’s a double change for Chelsea now, with James being brought on for Giroud, which means a change up front for the hosts, with Mount now playing through the middle.
61′ Osborn makes a driving run down the left before playing a one-two with McGoldrick to get into the box. He drills a low cross into the box which is intercepted just ahead of McBurnie, but the offside flag has gone up late against McGoldrick.
59′ Norwood’s free-kick on the right is played over everyone waiting in the box but Osborn drops back to keep it alive for United. He’s closed down by Christensen, but a heavy touch ends the attack.
57′ McGoldrick wins a free-kick on the halfway line which Jagielka switches out to Lundstram on the right. He brings it down with a good first touch, but he can’t find a way past Chilwell when he cuts inside to get into the box.
55′ Pulisic has stayed down after he was accidentally caught on the back of his heel by Stevens after he played the ball to Gilmour. He’s taking a while to get back to his feet but he’ll be able to carry on without treatment.
53′ Chelsea break quickly and nobody is picking out Hudson-Odoi in space on the right. He cuts into the box when he’s picked out and takes his shot early. He slices at it though and it flies high and wide of the far top corner.
51′ Stevens finds himself in space down the left and he swings a good cross into the middle. It’s just over McBurnie’s head, with Emerson behind him to clear it, but Lundstram intercepts it. He can’t pick out a shot though and Zouma hooks it away.
49′ Pulisic is brought down by Baldock and wins a free-kick through the middle. Mount steps up to take it, lifting his shot over the wall and trying to pick out the near post, but it’s always curling wide of the target.
47′ GOOD SAVE! Hudson-Odoi touches it into Pulisic, who wrongfoots two United defenders to get into the box. He keeps his shot low at the near post and Ramsdale gets down to smother it, only for Pulisic to fire the rebound high over the crossbar.
46′ Chelsea get us back underway for the second half!
For all of Chelsea’s possession, it took them until the 43rd minute to have their first shot on target, so Tuchel will expect a big improvement after the break if they want to see out the game. As for United, they made a bright start but dropped deeper as the half went on and Heckingbottom will want to see them try and push forward more often.
Chelsea lead Sheffield United 1-0 thanks to an own goal at half-time. It’s been a game of very few chances so far with United having two early on, but Kepa made comfortable saves to deny McGoldrick and Jagielka. Chelsea then took the lead when Chilwell’s cross was intercepted by Norwood, which took it past Ramsdale. Pulisic also had a good chance late on, with Ramsdale making a good save to smother his shot.
45′ + 1′ HALF-TIME: CHELSEA 1-0 SHEFFIELD UNITED.
45′ + 1′ United are looking for a late goal in the first half and Fleck down well to get past Christensen before he pulls it back for McGoldrick on the edge of the box. He goes for goal from range, curling it down the middle, but it’s a comfortable save for Kepa.
44′ Mount picks out Hudson-Odoi in space on the right and he swings a good cross into the near post where Pulisic is running onto it. Jagielka gets there first but his headed clearance hits the American which takes it flying high over the bar.
42′ GOOD SAVE! Norwood plays a poor pass back to Baldock which is intercepted by Pulisic on the edge of the box and he’s one-on-one with the goalkeeper. Ramsdale quickly rushes off his line and smothers his shot at the near post.
40′ It’s another long ball over the top down the left from Emerson, but he’s left Giroud with a lot to do as he chases it down. He manages to hook his cross to the edge of the box for Mount, but he didn’t manage to keep it in play and United have a goal-kick.
38′ Among Premier League sides, only Arsenal (four) have scored more own goals in all competitions than United (three), though Arsenal have played 10 games more than the Blades.
36′ United just haven’t been able to get on the ball for the last few minutes and their frustration is starting to show with a few needless free-kicks. McBurnie quickly closes Emerson down and he’s late as he steps across the left-back and commits the foul.
34′ Pulisic is brought down again and Mount is standing over the free-kick for Chelsea on the right. He swings another set-piece into the middle for Chelsea, but he can’t pick out a team-mate as Norwood heads it clear.
32′ Chelsea are still struggling to open up United and Pulisic drops back so he can switch play out to Chilwell, who has a lot of space to run into down the left. He’s caught late by Bogle though and play is pulled back for a free-kick.
30′ Gilmour spots Hudson-Odoi’s run as he cuts inside from the right and swings a great cross out to him. He just gets there ahead of Ramsdale but lifts his shot high over the bar just as the offside flag goes up against him.
28′ Chelsea switch play out from right to left to try and stretch United and Kovacic takes the ball around Stevens to get into the box. He tries to pull it back for Pulisic but plays it behind him and Jagielka is able to clear his lines.
26′ United aren’t closing Chelsea down as quickly as they were before and are happy to let the hosts keep possession on the halfway line. Hudson-Odoi finds some space down the right, but Osborn cuts it off.
O. Norwood
Own Goal
24′ CHELSEA LEAD! Mount’s corner misses everyone in the middle and Chilwell runs onto it at the edge of the box. He’s not closed down so he drills a low cross towards the far post. Norwood sticks out a leg, trying to take it away from Emerson, but ends up putting it past Ramsdale and into his own net. 1-0 Chelsea!
22′ United just can’t get on the ball at the moment as Chelsea continue to dominate possession and patiently try to get into the final third. The visitors are keeping their shape well though and making it difficult for them to get in behind.
20′ The ball is drilled into the box by Kovacic and Bogle leaves it thinking that Ramsdale is going to collect it. Giroud is quickly closing him down though and Bogle just manages to get back in time to shield it back to the goalkeeper.
18′ Chilwell wins a free-kick on the left for Chelsea and Mount goes across to swing it in for the hosts. He’s trying to pick out Giroud’s run to the near post, but this time, it’s Norwood that heads it away for United.
16′ Emerson switches play out to Hudson-Odoi on the right and he has time to wait for Mount to join him before laying the ball off to him. He swings a cross into the box, but it’s one of the five United defenders in there that clears it.
14′ United have won each of their last three away games in the FA Cup, though they’ve lost six of the last nine when travelling to face top-flight opposition.
12′ It’s better from United now and they’re starting to move the ball upfield with pace which is catching out Chelsea’s defence. They work it well down the left with Fleck playing a throughball into McBurnie and he manages to win a corner off Hudson-Odoi.
10′ The corner is swung into the box by Norwood and Stevens flicks it on at the near post and Jagielka rises highest in the middle to get on the end of it. His header loops up into the air and Kepa stays under it to make a catch on the line.
8′ Hudson-Odoi wrongfoots Osborn as he cuts inside from the right and bursts past Stevens to get to the edge of the box. He fizzes it into the middle for Mount, but he made a run to the near post and it ends up going straight to the keeper.
6′ Chelsea are still dominating possession and United are happy to just sit back and let them keep it in their own half. Emerson tries to get them out by playing a long ball over the top, but there’s too much on it and Ramsdale comes to collect it.
4′ Chelsea are keeping United penned back in their own half at the moment as they steadily push upfield and try to open up some space. Gilmour makes a good run down the right, but it’s cut off by Fleck before he can put a cross in.
2′ CHANCE! There’s an early chance here for McGoldrick after Fleck squeezes the ball through to him on the edge of the box. He lets it bounce in front of him before hitting the shot, but it’s a comfortable save for Kepa.
1′ Lundstram gets the game underway for United!
The teams are out on the pitch now, with kick-off just moments away.
Chelsea are appearing in their 15th FA Cup quarter-final since the turn of the millennium – the most of any side – and are looking to reach the semi-finals for the fourth time in the last five seasons.
Heckingbottom makes five changes to his team after their heavy defeat at Leicester as he brings in Osborn, Jagielka, Bogle, McGoldrick and McBurnie. Bryan and Burke drop to the bench, Ethan Ampadu is ineligible against his parent club and Billy Sharp and Chris Basham miss out through injury.
Tuchel makes nine changes to the side that beat Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday, with only Zouma and Kovacic retaining their places. Gilmour makes a rare start under the German, with Mount, Pulisic and Giroud also coming in.
SHEFFIELD UNITED SUBS: Rhian Brewster, Oliver Burke, Lys Mousset, Zak Brunt, Max Lowe, Iliman Ndiaye, Kean Bryam, Wes Foderingham, Kyron Gordon.
SHEFFIELD UNITED STARTING XI (4-4-2): Aaron Ramsdale; George Baldock, Phil Jagielka, Enda Stevens, Ben Osborn; Jayden Bogle, John Lundstram, Oliver Norwood, John Fleck; David McGoldrick, Oliver McBurnie.
CHELSEA SUBS: Timo Werner, Reece James, Willy Caballero, N’Golo Kante, Hakim Ziyech, Marcos Alonso, Antonio Rudiger, Edouard Mendy, Cesar Azpilicueta.
CHELSEA STARTING XI (3-4-2-1): Kepa Arrizabalaga; Kurt Zouma, Andreas Christensen, Ben Chilwell; Callum Hudson-Odoi, Mateo Kovacic, Billy Gilmour, Emerson; Mason Mount, Christian Pulisic; Olivier Giroud.
Chelsea come into this tie in good form and are unbeaten in their 13 games under Thomas Tuchel (W9 D4), which includes a 1-0 win over Barnsley in the fifth round of the FA Cup thanks to Tammy Abraham’s goal. As for United, things got off to a tough start under interim manager Paul Heckingbottom as they lost 5-0 to Leicester City in his first game on Sunday and they’ve won just one of their six games since the 1-0 win over Bristol City that got them into the quarter-final, losing the other five.
Hello and welcome to live coverage of the FA Cup quarter-final meeting between Chelsea and Sheffield United at Stamford Bridge!
CHELSEA STARTING XI (4-2-3-1): Kepa Arrizabalaga; Kurt Zouma, Andreas Christensen, Ben Chilwell; Callum Hudson-Odoi, Mateo Kovacic, Billy Gilmour, Emerson; Mason Mount, Christian Pulisic; Olivier Giroud.
Hello and welcome to live coverage of the FA Cup quarter-final meeting between Chelsea and Sheffield United at Stamford Bridge!
Chelsea come into this tie in good form and are unbeaten in their 13 games under Thomas Tuchel (W9 D4), which includes a 1-0 win over Barnsley in the fifth round of the FA Cup thanks to Tammy Abraham’s goal. As for United, things got off to a tough start under interim manager Paul Heckingbottom as they lost 5-0 to Leicester City in his first game on Sunday and they’ve won just one of their six games since the 1-0 win over Bristol City that got them into the quarter-final, losing the other five.
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