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Chelsea 2-0 Crystal Palace: Three lessons learnt in FA Cup

By Tan Yi Hao

Chelsea's English midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek (R) celebrates with teammates after scoring the opening goal of the English FA Cup semi-final football match between Chelsea and Crystal Palace at Wembley Stadium in north west London on April 17, 2022. - - NOT FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING USE / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) / NOT FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING USE / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)
Chelsea's English midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek (R) celebrates with teammates after scoring the opening goal of the English FA Cup semi-final football match between Chelsea and Crystal Palace at Wembley Stadium in north west London on April 17, 2022. - - NOT FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING USE / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) / NOT FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING USE / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Chelsea’s English midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek (R) celebrates with teammates after scoring the opening goal of the English FA Cup semi-final football match between Chelsea and Crystal Palace at Wembley Stadium in north west London on April 17, 2022. (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)
Chelsea’s English midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek (R) celebrates with teammates after scoring the opening goal of the English FA Cup semi-final football match between Chelsea and Crystal Palace at Wembley Stadium in north west London on April 17, 2022. (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images) /

Chelsea took on Crystal Palace in what was a closely fought London derby at Wembley Stadium. Both teams were eyeing a place in this season’s FA Cup final, but it was the Blues that would ultimately come away with a 2-0 win to set up what will most definitely be a feisty rematch of the League Cup final against Liverpool in mid-May. There has been nothing to separate the two sides this season other than a missed Kepa Arrizabalaga penalty, so it only seems fair that they squad off against one another for a fourth time to settle the score. It’ll be one of the best matches of the season between two of Europe’s best teams, but before getting too ahead of ourselves, let’s take a look back at the semifinal match-up that got Chelsea there in the first place.

Here are three of the lessons we learnt from the Blues’ massive win over the Eagles:

1. Ruben Loftus-Cheek, the very unlikely hero

Coming on in place of Mateo Kovacic—who unfortunately rolled his ankle halfway into the first half—Ruben Loftus-Cheek was once again called upon to perform in a position that he can hardly call his own. While his performance before the break mainly comprised of simple passes and comfortable one-twos with Jorginho, the Englishman gradually grew into the game and as the match progressed. He settled into his “new” role (different than the one he’s played in the last two contests against Southampton and Real Madrid) quite nicely over time.

Powering through Crystal Palace’s high-press on multiple occasions in the second half, Loftus-Cheek was instrumental in Chelsea’s most promising moments before he rifled in the opener from the edge of the Eagles’ penalty box. It was a tremendous half-volley that required technique of the highest order, and Loftus-Cheek’s jubilant celebrations afterwards are indicative of what that goal must have meant to the 26-year-old. Having had a career that has been blighted with various unfortunate and untimely injuries, witnessing the Chelsea academy product score in an FA Cup semifinal was undoubtedly the feel-good story of the day. Regardless of what the future may hold for him, this moment will certainly be one for Loftus-Cheek to cherish, especially if Chelsea does go on to lift the trophy on the 14th of May.

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