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Live Commentary: Tottenham Hotspur vs. Chelsea

Follow live updates of today's FA Cup semi-final encounter between Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea, courtesy of Sports Mole.

Good afternoon and welcome to Sports Mole's live commentary of today's FA Cup semi-final encounter between Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea at Wembley.

The winners of the match will face Liverpool in the final of England's biggest competition, following their 2-1 victory over Everton on Saturday.

Tottenham's league form has certainly suffered in recent weeks, while Chelsea have found a new lease of life under interim boss Roberto Di Matteo.

Both meetings between the two in the Premier League this season have finished in a draw, while this is the ninth time they have been paired together in the FA Cup, with four wins a piece.

> Full team news for the match

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00 min: Today's referee is Martin Atkinson, and it is Chelsea who get us underway on this glorious day at Wembley. Who will be celebrating at the end of the night?

02 min: It's Spurs who are enjoying early possession of the ball in this fascinating encounter.

04 min: Still no real chance for either side in the early stages of the match, but Chelsea are beginning to enjoy their first spell of the ball.

06 min: First real attack of the match falls to Spurs as Luka Modric attempts to release Emmanuel Adebayor, but Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech is on hand to collect the ball.

07 min: Chelsea's first real chance of the match falls to Frank Lampard after a Didier Drogba cross, but his header is wide of the target.

08 min: It's nice work from Blues skipper John Terry who brings the ball out of defence, but his pass is too long for Drogba, and Spurs stopper Carlo Cudicini will restart the play.

10 min: Chance for Chelsea as Drogba releases a powerful free-kick, but his effort is high and wide of the crossbar.

12 min: It's wasteful from Salomon Kalou as another Chelsea attack breaks down, it seems Spurs midfield stopper Scott Parker will play a key role in his side's defensive work in this match.

13 min: Chance for Chelsea as Drogba wriggles clear of Spurs defender William Gallas, but the Ivorian fluffs his effort when he might have done better.

15 min: The match has just started to liven up in the past few moments, with Chelsea coming close via Drogba, while Spurs come close with an effort from Rafael Van der Vaart.

17 min: Booking for Drogba as the Chelsea forward fells Spurs winger Aaron Lennon.

19 min: I think it's fair to say that the men in blue look much more composed in the early stages of this semi-final, with the Spurs threat coming on the break thus far.

20 min: Penalty shout for Spurs as Lampard fells Parker in the area, while the resulting corner is cleared by Ramires.

23 min: It's the Chelsea fans making much of the early noise this early evening, with the Blues so far winning the possession battle in the middle of the park.

25 min: Chance for Spurs as Kyle Walker finds Van der Vaart on the edge of the box, but it's wonderful defending from Lampard, before Lennon has an effort deflected over the bar. Much better from Spurs.

27 min: Wonderful chance for Chelsea as Kalou releases Juan Mata, but his pass is just too heavy for the Spaniard, and Cudicini collects possession of the ball. It's the clearest chance of the match thus far.

30 min: Another chance for the Blues as Jose Bosingwa searches out Drogba in the box, but the Ivorian is called offside.

31 min: It's more good work from Kalou as he attempts to find Drogba in the area, but Spurs skipper Ledley King is on hand to clear the danger. Kalou's been the pick of the players for me so far.

34 min: We haven't seen much from Spurs duo Gareth Bale and Luka Modric in this match thus far, with Chelsea continuing to look the more dangerous.

35 min: It's really nice work from Lennon who evades David Luiz in the box, but his pass is cleared by Terry.

36 min: Chance! Somehow Spurs fail to take the lead in this match as Cech denies Van der Vaart from close range.

37 min: Replays have shown that it was in fact Terry who cleared the ball off his line in the previous attack.

38 min: Chances coming for both teams now as Kalou attempts to sneak in at the far-post, but it's good defending from Kyle Walker.

40 min: Another wonderful chance for Spurs as Adebayor evades the Chelsea defence, but his effort flicks off the post following a cross from Van der Vaart.

42 min: Tottenham are certainly ending the first period on top, but still we remain 0-0 with the interval approaching.

43 min: GOAL! Tottenham 0-1 Chelsea (Drogba)

Chelsea take the lead with a sensational strike from Drogba. The Ivorian collects the ball before firing a powerful effort into the top corner.

45 min: It's all Chelsea as we approach the break as they force a corner.

45 min: We will play one additional minute at the end of the half.

HALF-TIME: Tottenham 0-1 Chelsea

So there we have it, Drogba's wonderful effort moments before the interval has given Chelsea a 1-0 lead over Tottenham at the break. The Blues have arguably dominated possession of the ball for long stages, but Spurs have had the two best chances of the match via Van der Vaart and Adebayor. A report of the first 45 minutes can be found here.

46 min: We are underway in the second period, can Spurs respond after that blow just before the break?

46 min: It's an early chance for Chelsea as Ramires advances down the right, but Walker is on hand to clear the danger.

48 min: It's sloppy from Parker who gives possession straight back to Chelsea, you can't help but feel that Spurs need to get a grip of this match in midfield if they are to grab the equaliser.

48 min: Chance for Chelsea after good work from Drogba releases Mata, but it's a brilliant save from Cudicini.

49 min: GOAL! Tottenham 0-2 Chelsea (Mata)

Big controversy here at Wembley as Chelsea move 2-0 ahead in the match courtesy of Mata, but replays have shown that the ball came nowhere near close to crossing the line. Amazing scenes here in London.

52 min: The goal for Chelsea will only open more debate about the introduction of goal-line technology, it's so harsh on Spurs.

53 min: It's all Chelsea in the early stages of the second period, can Spurs claw their way back into this match?

55 min: It's Walker on the attack for Spurs, they need a goal, and quick. Corner to Spurs.

56 min: It comes to nothing, however, we have now seen another replay of the Chelsea 'goal'. It was referee Atkinson who gave the decision.

56 min: GOAL! Tottenham 1-2 Chelsea (Bale)

Tottenham are back in this match after good work from Adebayor presents the chance to Bale, who makes no mistake from close range. Game on at Wembley!

59 min: Break in play here at Wembley as Luiz is taken off the pitch for Chelsea, and he will be replaced by Gary Cahill.

60 min: What a final 30 minutes we have on our hands this evening, as Drogba fires over the bar for Chelsea.

63 min: The break in play for Luiz's injury has just dampened the pace of the game somewhat.

64 min: Chance for Spurs after good work from Adebayor, but his strike is blocked by Terry.

66 min: Spurs on the attack here, but Bale's cross is too long for Walker, and Cech will restart the play with 25 minutes remaining.

68 min: We haven't seen much of Chelsea as an attacking force since Spurs cut the score to 2-1, but they still look strong in defence.

69 min: I was almost made to eat my words as Drogba advances into the box, but Walker makes a good challenge to deny the striker.

71 min: Wonderful defending from William Gallas and Parker who deny Kalou on the edge of the area.

71 min: It's sensational for Bale who earns a corner after a brilliant run, but the set piece is headed away by Drogba.

72 min: Another chance for Spurs as King dives in with a header, but it's just wide of the post. Drogba is left in a heap in his own area.

75 min: Change for Tottenham as Van der Vaart is replaced by Jermain Defoe for the final 15 minutes.

75 min: Chance for Chelsea to wrap up the win as Drogba advances on goal, but he just cannot make the correct contact.

76 min: It's some tackle from Cahill to deny Bale and it's Chelsea on the attack once more.

77 min: GOAL! Tottenham 1-3 Chelsea (Ramires)

Chelsea surely wrap up the win as Mata releases Ramires in the box and the Brazilian slots past Cudicini.

80 min: Gallas is shown a yellow as he brings down Drogba in the Tottenham half. Can Spurs rally a huge last 10 minutes?

81 min: GOAL! Tottenham 1-4 Chelsea (Lampard)

Game set and match for Chelsea as Lampard strikes a sensational effort into the top corner from a free-kick.

83 min: Bar a minor miracle for Spurs in the final moments of the match, it is Chelsea will who face Liverpool in the final of the FA Cup this season.

84 min: Drogba has been replaced for the final five minutes by Fernando Torres.

86 min: That's the end of the Tottenham challenge for another game with Chelsea keeping hold of possession in the final moments of this match.

88 min: Tottenham attempt to push forward in the final moments, but with the match over, there is little urgency in their play.

90 min: Florent Malouda so nearly adds a fifth for Chelsea, but his effort just misses the post.

90 min: We will play an additional five minutes at the end of the match.

93 min: There's an altercation between Parker and Mikel in the final moments, frustrations have boiled over in the latter stages for the Spurs man.

94 min: Change for Tottenham as Parker is replaced by Sandro.

94 min: GOAL! Tottenham 1-5 Chelsea (Malouda)

It's five for Chelsea as Mata releases Malouda in the box, and the Frenchman slots home from close range.

FULL-TIME: Tottenham 1-5 Chelsea

So there we have it, it is Chelsea who will face Liverpool in the 2012 FA Cup final following their 5-1 win over Tottenham. Unfortunately, however, a poor decision will dominate the headlines after referee Martin Atkinson awarded Chelsea a second goal in the match, for an effort which had not crossed the line. Chelsea proved too strong for Spurs in the latter stages, and added gloss to the final result. A full report of the match can be found here. Thanks for joining Sports mole for the coverage.

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3Chelsea126422314922
4Arsenal126422112922
5Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton126422116522
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17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves122372028-89
18Ipswich TownIpswich121651323-109
19Crystal Palace121561017-78
20Southampton121110924-154


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