As we head towards this season’s climactic conclusion the matches just get bigger and bigger. For Chelsea and Liverpool that was represented in the form of the FA Cup final showdown at Wembley – a replay of their League Cup final clash back in February. Would it be the same outcome, or would Chelsea get revenge and derail the Reds’ quadruple charge? We were there to document proceedings for Framed.
The FA Cup celebrated its 150 year anniversary this season, and the winner was set to be either Chelsea or Liverpool, with the two sides lining up at Wembley once more, almost three months on from their last clash at the same venue. For Chelsea this was a last opportunity to add silverware to their campaign, which would be added to a likely third place finish for what would be a seen as a fairly successful season. For Liverpool it was the chance for a second trophy in their hunt for an unprecedented quadruple. All to play for then.
Liverpool started the match on the front foot in front of the 84,897 fans, with their exciting Colombian winger Luis Diaz leading the way. But they couldn’t capitalise on the pressure, and the sight of Mo Salah going off around the half hour mark will have dampened a lot of fans’ excitement. Chelsea came close through Lukaku, with Alonso hitting the post. As it was though, neither team could find the break through following 120 minutes of football, and so the FA Cup final played out in the same way as the League Cup before it: a penalty shootout.
The Reds, known as ‘Mentality Monsters’ had the advantage following Azpilicueta’s miss. It as down to Sadio Mané to seal the win with Liverpool’s last kick. And you couldn’t ask for a man with better credentials, the Senegal man having scored the winner from the spot in both the AFCON Cup and the World Cup qualifier against Egypt. But this time he was up against his national teammate, Edouard Mendy. And it was Mendy who won out. So the kicks continued. Mason Mount stepped up to take Chelsea’s seventh penalty, only to see Allisson deny him. That left it down to Liverpool’s back-up left back, Kostas Tsimikas. And the Scouse Greek made no mistake.
For Chelsea it’s time to reflect, not least on the fact that they’ve now lost three FA Cup finals in a row, while for Liverpool it’s full steam ahead towards the climax of the Premier League and the Champions League final in Paris.
Photography by Duncan Elliott for SoccerBible.
Follow Elliott's journey to the FA Cup final through every round of the competition here.
