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Chelsea 2-0 Southampton (FA Cup): Saints crash out of the FA Cup after an underwhelming afternoon

By Daniel Hargraves

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - APRIL 14: Jan Bednarek of Southampton celebrates with teammate Cedric Soares after scoring his sides second goal during the Premier League match between Southampton and Chelsea at St Mary's Stadium on April 14, 2018 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Henry Browne/Getty Images)
SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - APRIL 14: Jan Bednarek of Southampton celebrates with teammate Cedric Soares after scoring his sides second goal during the Premier League match between Southampton and Chelsea at St Mary's Stadium on April 14, 2018 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Henry Browne/Getty Images) /
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Unfortunately, it was Southampton’s turn to exit this season’s FA Cup as they lost 2-0 to Chelsea at Wembley on Sunday.

Saints had their chances, however their opposition were too good for the majority of the contest.

Mark Hughes promised changes on Thursday night following the 0-0 draw with Leicester and some were made with Mario Lemina and Charlie Austin coming back into the side at the expense of Dusan Tadic and James Ward-Prowse. As for Chelsea, it was virtually a full-strength side with Olivier Giroud getting the nod over his striker counterpart Alvaro Morata and Willy Caballero took the place of the injured Thibaut Courtois between the sticks.

The Blues had two great chances to take the lead early on in the game as Eden Hazard fired just over the bar from distance and Willian hit the crossbar following a deadly counter-attack. Southampton had been warned.

Saints’ only sniffs at goal in the first half came, firstly from Charlie Austin who shot wide after being played in by strike partner Shane Long, and Mario Lemina, who’s long-distance shot was caught comfortably by Caballero in the Chelsea goal.

LONDON, ENGLAND – MARCH 31: Shane Long of Southampton controls the ball during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Southampton at London Stadium on March 31, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Alex Morton/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – MARCH 31: Shane Long of Southampton controls the ball during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Southampton at London Stadium on March 31, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Alex Morton/Getty Images) /

Olivier Giroud could’ve scored his third against Saints in a week as the Frenchman set himself up for a bicycle kick that went just wide of Alex McCarthy’s near post.

However, Giroud did make it three goals in a week against Saints as it took only 28 seconds after the interval as the striker cleverly danced through the Saints defence after being played in by Eden Hazard to poke in Chelsea’s first goal.

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It could’ve been 2-0 to the Blues just two minutes later as Eden Hazard fired just wide following another devastating counter-attack.

Southampton did improve, however, and should’ve been level just before the hour mark as Shane Long was played in one-on-one but his touch was too heavy and went out of play for a Chelsea goal kick.

Saints had another great chance as substitute Nathan Redmond latched onto a loose ball from distance and it looked as if the ball had found it’s way into the back of the net, however Caballero did enough to put it wide after it had looked like the ball had gone under the Argentine’s body.

Like many times this season, missed opportunities left Saints hanging their heads as Cesar Azpillacueta’s cross was found by the head of substitute Alvaro Morata who scored just minutes after coming on.

A 2-0 scoreline doesn’t give Southampton enough credit in my opinion as they were unlucky at times but did waste a few good chances. Bournemouth at home is the first of four cup-finals in the fight to stay up next Saturday which is a must-win; anything else and we’re virtually down.