#FACupFinals……David de Gea had a day to forget as Olivier Giroud and Mason Mount helped Chelsea Outclass Man Utd 3-1 in Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.
Giroud ensured Chelsea deservedly led with the help of slack goalkeeping from De Gea at the end of a half in which United lost Eric Bailly to a serious-looking head injury.
De Gea was at fault again almost immediately after the restart when Mount doubled Chelsea’s lead with a shot a keeper of any level would hope to save.
The Spaniard was not entirely convincing when Harry Maguire put into his own net to compound a miserable day either, but – despite a late penalty from Bruno Fernandes – Frank Lampard’s side were good value for the win and can now look forward to a return to Wembley to face Arsenal in a rematch of the 2016-17 final.
Chelsea’s pressure had United on the back foot early on but Reece James’ stinging drive was the only save De Gea had to make, with Marcos Alonso wastefully putting a free header over.
United’s performance was at odds with their recent form and they saw Bailly taken away on a stretcher in a neck brace after a nasty clash of heads with Maguire.
After a lengthy delay, Giroud’s deft touch from Cesar Azpilicueta’s right-wing cross squirmed past De Gea, who might feel he should have done better, in the 11th minute of first-half stoppage time.
Just a minute after the restart De Gea’s outing got even worse when he allowed Mount’s seemingly unthreatening 20-yard effort under his body, albeit Brandon Williams’ wayward pass did his side no favours.
The Blues put on a strong second-half display to book their place in the #HeadsUpFACupFinal!
Who was your Man of the Match, @ChelseaFC fans? 🤔#EmiratesFACup #MUNCHE pic.twitter.com/aa7LS2wsHK
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) July 19, 2020
Marcus Rashford flashed a tantalising ball across the face of goal and Maguire headed wide when Willy Caballero flapped at a corner as United tried to muster a response.
United complained they should have had a penalty when Martial went down under Kurt Zouma’s first-half challenge but this was a miserable experience for Solskjaer and his players.But it was game over when Maguire got the final touch on Alonso’s drilled cross and De Gea was again beaten with Fernandes’ clinical spot-kick after Callum Hudson-Odoi’s clumsy challenge on Anthony Martial providing scant consolation.
