Home Chelsea FA Cup Hazard Man Utd Sanchez Chelsea 1-0 Manchester United: Eden Hazard keeps cool from the penalty spot to crown Blues FA Cup winners in what could be Antonio Conte's final game

at May 19, 2018

  • Chelsea have been crowned FA Cup winners 2017/18 after beating Manchester United at Wembley
  • Eden Hazard opened the scoring on 22 minutes after slotting a penalty past David De Gea
  • Phil Jones brought the Belgian down in the area, though was only awarded a yellow card for the foul 
  • Alexis Sanchez thought he had equalised in the second half, only for his effort to be ruled offside.
  • It was with a flick of the eyes and a lashing of the right foot that Eden Hazard helped crown Chelsea FA Cup winners 2018, in what could be Antonio Conte's final game as manager.

  • On 22 minutes Cesc Fabregas, afforded the freedom of the midfield, played one of those lovely, raking passes inviting Eden Hazard to accelerate. 

  • However, it wasn’t quite as good as Phil Jones made it look. The United defender seemed to be in two minds and ended up on the back foot, allowing Hazard to sprint away without a challenge.
  • Hazard had been brought down in the area by United defender Phil Jones, who failed to make contact with the ball


    • Hazard ended up in a heap following the challenge, as referee Michael Oliver instantly pointed to the penalty spot
    Now it was a straight race between Hazard and Jones. Clearly, that was no real contest. And as Hazard advanced ever closer to goal, you wondered whether the defender would stick or twist; whether he would have confidence in De Gea to save the shot or feel that he had to intervene. The moment he opted for the latter, you feared for United. Sure enough, the desperate challenge was committed yet clumsy, an open invitation to award a penalty.

    It was, however, not a red card as, under this season’s rules, he had made a clear attempt to win the ball. It being FA Cup final day, many casual viewers were apparently confused, experiencing this rule for this first time this season. Among them was Antonio Conte, who also seemed to think a red card should be awarded and made his point forcefully to fourth official Lee Mason.

    As for the penalty, Hazard simply rolled it passed De Gea with a degree of contempt. The United goalkeeper had gone the wrong way and Hazard must have seen his movement very early, as he showed no fear in gently stroking the ball in, not even bothering to put it in the corner.



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