The FA Cup has no direct bearing on the Premier League. No points are awarded to the winner, full-strength teams are rarely fielded and it is impossible to predict what effect, if any, the competition will have on a team’s overall momentum.
Yet the semifinal between Chelsea and Tottenham on Sautrday was a season definer. For the first time since September, Chelsea are looking vulnerable in the league. They’ve lost two out of their past four games, star striker Diego Costa hasn’t scored in more than a month and they looked tired and disinterested in their recent 2-0 loss to Manchester United. Tottenham are flying. They’ve won their past seven Premier League games, scored eight goals while conceding none in their past two matches and are playing a brand of soccer that blends solid defending and beautiful, free-flowing attack in equal parts.
Given that the two equally matched teams had each beat the other in league play this season, and with so much on the line, it was shocking to see the London rivals come out all guns blazing from the very first touch on Saturday. Up and down the field they went in a frantic first five minutes until Pedro was hacked down just outside the Tottenham box by Toby Alderweireld. Brazilian wing-wizard Willian, who was starting in place of the mysteriously dropped Eden Hazard, stepped up and slammed a gorgeous sucker-punch free kick past Hugo Lloris. But the Lilywhites immediately rebounded from the blow and put Chelsea on the back foot. Twelve minutes later, Spurs had their just rewards when Christian Eriksen looped a gorgeous cross towards Harry Kane, who, with his back to goal, somehow found a way to stoop low and head the ball into the far corner.
Tottenham clicked into high gear with the score tied because they clearly believed Chelsea were there for the taking. The Blues are not the presumptive league champions for nothing, however. They hit again in the 41st minute when Victor Moses broke upfield in a rare counter-attack and was scythed down in the box by an extremely ill-advised Son Heung-min slide tackle. Willian converted the penalty. Spurs rebounded at the start of the second half and again drew level thanks to an insane pass from Eriksen. This time, the Dane picked up the ball near midfield, took a quick look up, and then lofted a 20-yard beauty to a streaking Dele Alli, who smashed the ball into the back of Chelsea’s net.
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte had three aces up his sleeve. Costa, Hazard, and Cesc Fabregas entered the fray, and tipped the game in Chelsea’s favor. First, Hazard collected a half-cleared corner and drilled a shot into the bottom corner for a 3-2 lead. Then, Hazard playing a give-and-go with Fabregas before setting up Nemanja Matić for a howitzer into the top corner.
The final 4-2 scoreline was flattering to Chelsea, unfair to Tottenham and proved the two London rivals are far and away the best two teams in England. Chelsea are just that little bit better and could improve in the offseason should they, as rumored, sell Costa and replace him with Everton’s league-leading goalscorer Romelu Lukaku. Tottenham get better every year under manager Mauricio Pochettino, but they still haven’t figured out how to not “Spurs it up,” an English soccer fan colloquialism that roughly translates to “crush your fans by losing in an extremely painful way.” — M.B.
Hull overcome red card to boost survival hopes
It looked as if Hull City’s bid for Premier League survival was in serious danger when Oumar Niasse was given a straight red card following a high challenge on M’Baye Niasse early in Saturday’s game against Watford. Replays showed the decision was ludicrously harsh, but it didn’t matter — the Tigers were a man down. At nearly that same time, Swansea, the team just behind them in the league table, had taken a 1-0 lead over Stoke, meaning Hull had to win if they wanted to hold onto their slim two-point lead.
But the home side did what they’ve done repeatedly since Marco Silva took over as manager: They buckled down and waited to catch Watford on the break. There were some close calls — keeper Eldin Jakupović barely palmed a ball over the bar in the 30th minute — but Hull’s defense had mostly neutralized the visitors when they finally struck on the counter just after the hour-mark. Streaking down the right side of the pitch, Kamil Grosicki put in a delectable cross for Lazar Marković to head in off the crossbar. Then, in the 71st, Sam Clucas showed why he’s been the Hull’s best player since New Year’s when he calmly volleyed in a ball from distance to put the game out of reach at 2-0 (more on that below).
Hull’s win would have been big under any circumstances, but was even more vital because it maintained their lead over the Swans for the security of 17th place. While 16th-place Burnley aren’t safe yet, it does look like the battle for 17th will come down to the two teams. The clubs each have four games left, and though Swansea’s schedule seems a tad easier, Hull play two of those games at home, where they’ve claimed 19 of the last 21 available points. Don’t expect this to be settled until the final weekend. — B.H.
Goal of the Week
Yeah, Matić’s goal for Chelsea against Tottenham made you get out of your seat, but it wasn’t quite as meaningful as the 25-yard-volley Clucas scored for Hull. With his team down a man and staked to a 1-0 lead late in Saturday’s game against Watford, the midfielder chested down a failed clearance and, with his weight going away from the goal, looped a wonderful shot over Huerelho Gomes’ outstretched hand to ensure what could be one of the most valuable victories of the season.
Milestone of the Week
Was there a better way for Lionel Messi to score his 500th goal than a late game-winner against Barcelona’s fiercest rivals Real Madrid? Judging by the forward’s celebration, and the anguished look of defeat on the face of every single one of Madrid’s players, there really couldn’t have been. In addition to capping off one of the best versions of the Classicó in recent memory, the goal gives Barca a legitimate shot of overcoming Los Blancos and claiming this year’s La Liga title.
Post’s Premier League Rankings
Liverpool dropped valuable points against surging Crystal Palace while Arsenal got a huge upset over Manchester City in the FA Cup. At the bottom of the table, Middlesbrough all but guaranteed that they’ll be going down as Burnley slipped into the relegation scrap.
1. Chelsea (1) *
2. Tottenham (2) *
3. Manchester City (4) *
4. Liverpool (3)
5. Manchester United (5)
6. Arsenal (7) *
7. Everton (6)
8. Southampton (8) *
9. West Brom (9) *
10. Crystal Palace (11)
11. Bournemouth (13)
12. Leicester (10) *
13. Stoke (12)
14. West Ham (14)
15. Watford (15)
16. Burnley (16)
17. Hull City (17)
18. Swansea City (18)
19. Middlesbrough (19) *
20. Sunderland (20)
*Did not play due to FA Cup