CHELSEA V TOTTENHAM : FA CUP SEMIFINAL PREVIEW It’s the business end of the season and the games are coming thick and fast now. Lost amid the clutter of high-profile games coming up for Chelsea is the FA Cup semifinal clash against London rivals Tottenham Hotspur. Spurs are currently ahead of Chelsea in the Premier League table, albeit by only 3 points. They have shown that they can hang with the big clubs this season evidenced by their impressive wins against Liverpool and Newcastle. They have also performed admirably against the likes of Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea although ultimately failing to win. The London side are currently trying to get their season back on track after a few poor results recently. Chelsea are a rejuvenated side now. After rescuing a season, which was seemingly headed for disaster, The Blues are now challenging on 3 fronts – The FA Cup, UEFA Champions League and a place in the top 4 of the Premier League. Interim manager Roberto di Matteo has rotated his Chelsea squad to keep them fresh through this hectic schedule. He oversaw the thrilling revival in the second leg of the Champions League round of 16 against Napoli. Chasing a 3-1 deficit inflicted in Naples, Chelsea produced a stirring fightback with the so called ‘Old Guard’ at the forefront of it as goals from Didier Drogba, John Terry, Frank Lampard and an extra-time winner from Branislav Ivanovic capped a memorable night for the Blues. Di Matteo has won 8 of the ten games he has been in charge of with his only loss coming at title-chasers Manchester City. Over the years, these two sides have made for some truly great contests. The 4-4 draw when Joe Cole and Robbie Keane stole the show , the 2007 Carling Cup final which Spurs won after extra-time, the only loss in the Hiddink reign, the Gareth Bale show in 2010, the agonizing Drogba penalty miss and the controversial late win at Stamford Bridge last season. This season, they met at White Hart Lane back in December and played out a thrilling game. It ended 1-1 but the match was unlike the dour stalemate they played a few months later. Gareth Bale’s fizzing ball across from the left was stabbed home by Emmanuel Adebayor to give Spurs the lead before a similar move from Chelsea’s left wing saw Daniel Sturridge tap home at the far post. Both sides had plenty of chances to wrap the game up but none of them were taken. Ramires and Adebayor missed the best of the lot. Fast forward a few months and Chelsea, with a new manager in the dugout, took on a stuttering Tottenham side in what was viewed as a must-win game for Chelsea as they chased a top-4 spot. The match ended 0-0 with few chances to either side. Juan Mata hit the post from a curling free-kick while Gary Cahill’s clearance after Cech was beaten saved Chelsea’s blushes Chelsea, having one eye on the Champions League semifinals first leg tie 3 days later, meet Spurs on April 15 for a place in the FA Cup final against a Merseyside club a month later. Chelsea have been there and done that in these situations in the FA Cup while Tottenham are improving by the week. The stage is set for a pulsating game at Wembley as the next chapter of the growing Chelsea-Spurs rivalry is written. Sit back and Enjoy!
