Eden Hazard scored the winning penalty as Chelsea prevailed in a
shootout to set up an all-English Europa League final against Arsenal.
After Cesar Azpilicueta’s penalty was saved, Blues keeper
Kepa Arrizabalaga saved twice, before Hazard – with what could be his final
kick for Chelsea at Stamford Bridge – clinched victory.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s goal – his 10th of the season – just
before the half-hour mark of the second leg put Chelsea in a commanding
position.
Hazard set up the midfielder, twisting and turning away from
his man and threading a perfect pass through to Loftus-Cheek, who calmly
steered the ball beyond keeper Kevin Trapp.
It came a couple of minutes after David Luiz’s near-post
header from Hazard’s left-wing corner was cleared off the line by veteran
defender Makoto Hasebe.
Eintracht Frankfurt hit back by equalising four minutes into
the second half.
Striker Luka Jovic laid the ball off to Mijat Gacinovic and
then collected the Serbian’s return pass before firing past Kepa.
The German side continued to trouble Chelsea, including in
extra time, when first Luiz and then Davide Zappacosta – on as a substitute for
the injured Andreas Christensen – cleared off the line to deny Sébastien Haller.
Chelsea thought Azpilicueta had headed them back in front
after capitalising on a fumble by Trapp, but the Blues captain was adjudged to
have fouled him.
After Ross Barkley scored for Chelsea in the shootout,
Trapp’s save from Azpilicueta raised the hopes of the noisy visiting fans.
But Jorginho and David Luiz converted their spot-kicks for
Chelsea and Martin Hinteregger shot straight at Kepa, who then saved from
Goncalo Paciencia.
That gave Hazard, who continues to be linked with a move to
Real Madrid, the chance to be a Chelsea hero yet again, and he made no mistake.
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