Chelsea participant rankings vs Leeds United: 8/10s star however Garnacho poor once more in semi-final win
Chelsea booked their place in next month’s FA Cup final against Manchester City after returning to winning ways in a nervy semi-final against Leeds United
Enzo Fernandez was the match-winner at Wembley(Image: Carl Recine, Getty Images)
Chelsea are set to face Manchester City in next month’s FA Cup final after narrowly edging past Leeds United at Wembley Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Enzo Fernandez emerged as the star of the show for the Blues, nodding past Lucas Perri at the 23-minute mark in what proved to be a pivotal goal for Calum McFarlane’s team. Leeds had the first significant opportunity of the match 15 minutes in. Brenden Aaronson managed to slip behind the Chelsea defence and had ample time to choose his target, but his low shot was expertly blocked by Robert Sanchez’s feet.
However, it was the Blues who broke the deadlock in the semi-final, with Fernandez heading home from close quarters following a superb cross from Pedro Neto. It marked Chelsea’s first goal since the previous round of the FA Cup, where they thrashed Port Vale 7-0 at Stamford Bridge on April 4.
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Leeds altered their formation at half-time in an attempt to pose a greater threat to Chelsea. They did, but not significantly as the Blues clung on for a vital win at Wembley. Here, the Daily Star Sport rates the Chelsea players.
Robert Sanchez – A brilliant save on 15 minutes to thwart Aaronson from handing Leeds the lead at Wembley. Immediately following the interval, Sanchez was thrust into action as Anton Stach unleashed a thunderbolt from approximately 30 yards out, with the Spaniard producing an excellent stop to maintain parity. Outstanding showing from the shot-stopper. 8
Malo Gusto – Wasteful on occasions in forward positions. A step up from his display on Tuesday evening but that’s hardly saying much. 6
Tosin Adarabioyo – Brought in for his maiden start since the previous round of the FA Cup. Appeared somewhat off the pace, particularly in the opening stages. He needed to do more to prevent Aaronson breaking clear on goal but luckily for the centre-half, his keeper rescued him. His dominance in the air proved invaluable when Leeds had a lengthy throw-in. 6
Trevoh Chalobah – The Cobham academy product surrendered possession carelessly and it nearly resulted in Leeds grabbing an early opener. Apart from that one clumsy moment, Chalobah performed admirably at the back against a threatening Leeds frontline. 6
Marc Cucurella – A marked upturn from recent outings where he has been below par. Not quite back to his peak form but definite progress evident both in defence and attack. 6
Romeo Lavia – Distributed effectively in midfield. His approach centres on keeping things straightforward; nothing overly elaborate – and that can prove productive. It would be beneficial to witness him contribute more defensively at times. 6 Moises Caicedo – The Ecuadorian attempted – with a fair amount of success – several over-the-top passes to try and breach Leeds’ defence. It’s not a trait we usually associate with Caicedo, but it demonstrates his versatility as a midfielder. 7
Pedro Neto – Delivered a splendid cross into the box to assist Fernandez. Executed with his right foot, it was perfectly placed for Fernandez. That was a standout moment for Neto, although he squandered other opportunities when penetrating the box. 7
Enzo Fernandez – A superb run into the box culminated in a brilliant header into the bottom corner. This goal epitomised what Fernandez has brought to his game during his stint at Chelsea; those late surges into the box and the accompanying finish. He relishes a significant goal. 8
Alejandro Garnacho – While not flawless, he posed a threat on Chelsea’s left flank. He delivered a particularly menacing cross straight into the six-yard box in the first half, which could have easily resulted in a fantastic assist. Aside from that one instance, his final product needs improvement if he hopes to secure a regular spot in the attack. His one-on-one performance has been notably subpar for some time now. 5
Joao Pedro – Chelsea will be thrilled to have their leading marksman back. The team appear far more threatening in forward areas with Joao Pedro in the side. It was obviously a tactical directive to play direct balls towards the Brazilian, whose link-up play was, as usual, exceptional. Should have done better with a golden opportunity early in the second half, but he dawdled on the ball and was dispossessed. 7
Substititues
Andrey Santos (on for Lavia 66′) – Performed admirably when he entered the fray. A very composed display in the middle of the park to settle things down just as Leeds were starting to apply pressure. 6
Cole Palmer (on for Garnacho 71′) – Wonderful to see him back in the squad and getting some game time. Couldn’t contribute much to proceedings. Cautioned. 5
Liam Delap (on for Joao Pedro 98′) – Moments on the pitch. N/A
