Chelsea 2-0 Southampton: Blues to face Manchester United in FA Cup final

A week after coming off the bench to net a brace and inspire a remarkable comeback win at embattled Saints in the Premier League, Olivier Giroud returned to haunt Mark Hughes' side at Wembley.

Southampton's first FA Cup semi-final appearance since 2003 ended in disappointment as Giroud showed impressive composure to slot home a goal added to by substitute Alvaro Morata as Chelsea ran out 2-0 victors.

Ex-Blues boss Jose Mourinho lies in wait for Antonio Conte's men on May 19, after his side beat Tottenham on Saturday.

The Blues, who can be backed to win the final at 10/11 with Sky Bet, will be hoping to make up for last year's FA Cup final defeat to Arsenal - and perhaps give their manager a victorious send-off as speculation continues over his future.

Chelsea were firm favourites to win this semi-final and Willian hit the crossbar early in a one-sided first half, yet Saints managed to batten down the hatches.

But just seconds after half-time that hard work was undone as Giroud was all too easily allowed to jink through and turn home a smart individual goal.

Southampton rallied as substitute Nathan Redmond came close, but Morata headed the Blues through to a second successive FA Cup final as Saints' dreams of adding to their 1976 triumph died.

Post-match reaction

Mark Hughes was baffled as to why the video assistant referee was not consulted for a "match-defining" moment in Southampton's FA Cup semi-final defeat to Chelsea.

Blues goalkeeper Willy Caballero dropped the ball into his own net during the second half at Wembley but referee Martin Atkinson disallowed the goal and penalised Saints striker Charlie Austin for a foul.

Chelsea were 1-0 up at that stage and unhappy Saints boss Hughes was disappointed with the overall performance of the officials and believes Atkinson should have utilised VAR technology.

"There's disappointment because the situation where the goalkeeper's made a wrong decision, basically thrown the ball into the back of his net," the Welshman said.

"If ever there was a situation for VAR to play a hand and step in to review that, I would have thought that was an opportunity. It was a match-defining moment, a key moment. Who knows how the game might have followed from that moment? Why it wasn't referred? I have no idea.

"Giroud handled from the following corner, another they could have reviewed, but maybe that was a bit too quick for him. We're disappointed with the officials on the day, and whoever it is who sits in a darkened room.

"We will speak (to the officials). I'm not sure how the process works. Does the referee make an instant decision? Do they tell him?"

Blues boss Antonio Conte, who lost to Arsenal in last season's cup final, reiterated that he has no issue with Mourinho, while also saying that United are favourites to lift the trophy.

The Italian said: "With Jose, we have clarified the situation.

"There is not a problem between him and I. We are talking about two managers with strong characters, and two winners. When in your mind and your heart and your blood there is the will to win, for sure, we want to try to win this trophy.

"The same way Manchester United want to do this. I repeat, I have great respect for United's story, for Mourinho's story. They have the same respect, I think, for Chelsea's story and my story."

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Page last updated at 1900 BST 22/04/18

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