Chelsea Set Up All-English UCL Final After Sinking Real
06 May, 2021
UEFA Champions League
Result: Chelsea 2-0 Real Madrid (3-1 on agg.)
Date: 05 May 2021
Venue: Stamford Bridge
Chelsea set up an all-English UEFA Champions Group final after beating Real Madrid 2-0 in the second-leg of their semi-last tie on Wednesday night.
The Blues made only 1 differ from the first-leg, a 1-1 attract Madrid, as Kai Havertz started before Christian Pulisic, who scored the away objective while Los Blancos made three changes from that tie, with Sergio Ramos and Ferland Mendy returning and Eden Hazard against his former aspect.
The hosts had a shiny start, threatening to get an early on goal and Timo Werner thought he had given them the lead in the 18th minute with a first-time side-footed finish at the heart of the box from Ben Chilwell's square pass from a counter-attack but the goal was disallowed for a marginal offside.
Karim Benzema came close to breaking the deadlock for Zinedine Zidane's charges found in the 26th minute after he carved out space to get a shot from the border of the box but his powerful hit was brilliantly saved by goalkeeper Edouard Mendy towards the much post.
Werner finally gave Chelsea the business lead two minutes later with a straightforward header into a clear net after Havertz's chip over the onrushing shot-stopper Thibaut Courtois came off crossbar.
Benzema came very close again to equalising for Madrid 10 minutes before the break with a good towering header from Luka Modric's cross that was first dipping towards the crossbar but Mendy did good to parry over the crossbar.
The Blues built a positive begin in the next stanza as Mason Mount had a huge chance to double their lead eight minutes prior to the break after breaking clear on aim at the near post but powered his strike over the bar before Courtois kept Madrid in the overall game 5 minutes with a excellent save to deny Havert.
Zidane made a good double change found in the 63rd minute, a Federico Valverde came on for Mendy while Marco Asensio replaced Vinicius Junior upfront.
Los Blancos were in need of the equaliser in the last quarter of one hour as Zidane threw caution to the wind with another tactical transformation, taking on attacker Rodrygo instead of defensive midfielder Casemiro.
On the other hand, Madrid collapsed from a counter-attack as Mount killed away the overall game for Chelsea in the last 5 minutes with a tap-in from close spectrum after a cut-back simply by Pulisic, who possessed raced clear on the proper side of the container.
The Blues had a penalty appeal at the death turned down but they reached their first final since 2012 and will meet fellow English side City.
Source: www.soccerladuma.co.za
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