chrissivad
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- May 20, 2005
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Tottenham Vs Chelsea
Barclays Premier League
Venue: Wembley Stadium, London Date: Sunday, 15 April Kick-off: 1800 BSTl
For more on live coverage please visit Geez's Live Media Thread
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Capital rivals to battle it out for a place in the FA Cup final
Top-four rivals, capital foes and FA Cup semi-finalists Tottenham and Chelsea will do battle at Wembley Stadium on Sunday evening.
The fact that the game is kicking off when it does, at 6pm, has been a bone of contention for the Blues, with a UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg with Barcelona awaiting them on Wednesday.
They have, however, begrudgingly accepted the hand dealt to them by the Football Associationand will be looking to close on another piece of major silverware this weekend.
Chelsea's recent record in the FA Cup suggests they could be the team to beat this season, with the West London outfit having taken the trophy in three of the last five campaigns.
The Blues also tend to fare well against Tottenham, but the fact that the game is being held on neutral territory would appear to level the playing field.
Spurs will be hoping that is the case, as they attempt to end their four-year wait for a trophy and a 21-year wait for FA Cup success.
There has been nothing to choose between the two teams in Premier League action this season, with a 1-1 draw at White Hart Lane followed by a goalless stalemate at Stamford Bridge.
It is Chelsea who will enter the game in better form, though, with the Blues having gone four unbeaten in the league to remain in the hunt for a Champions League spot.
Spurs continue to occupy a standing inside the top four, but they have picked up just one Premier League victory in eight - allowing the chasing pack to close in.
Defensive poser
Chelsea could be without two key defenders for one of the biggest games of their season.
Branislav Ivanovic definitely misses out, with the versatile Serb set to start a three-match ban after being found guilty of violent conduct by the Football Association.
Ashley Cole could also be absent for the Blues, with the England international still struggling with an ankle problem.
Roberto Di Matteo has no other injury concerns to contend with, so his biggest decision is likely to be who to play up front - with Fernando Torres battling it out with Didier Drogba, a man with an enviable Wembley record, for a starting berth.
Changes expected
Having seen Tottenham come unstuck in their last outing, a 2-1 defeat to Norwich on Easter Monday, Harry Redknapp is likely to shuffle his pack.
Emmanuel Adebayor and Rafael van der Vaart are expected to be drafted back into the starting XI, while Ryan Nelsen has played a leading role in Spurs' cup quest so far.
Scott Parker will be hoping to be involved after missing the Norwich game with a hamstring complaint, while Niko Kranjcar, William Gallas and Younes Kaboul are also looking to shake off knocks.
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Chelsea defenders John Terry and Ashley Cole have been passed fit for Sunday's FA Cup semi-final tie with Tottenham Hotspur.
Terry (cracked ribs) and Cole (ankle) were both doubts but have trained this week. Right-back Branislav Ivanovic misses the game as he begins a three-match suspension.
Ryan Bertrand (calf) and Oriol Romeu (illness) are also out, while Younes Kaboul's knee injury means Spurs manager Harry Redknapp only has two fully fit first-team centre-backs.
Ledley King's chronic knee problems could rule him out as he struggles to play more than once a week and he started the 2-1 defeat by Norwich City on Monday, while Michael Dawson is sidelined for the season with ankle ligament damage.
Midfielder Scott Parker is likely to be available after he missed the loss to the Canaries, but playmaker Niko Kranjcar has picked up a knee injury that rules him out of the trip to Wembley.
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Head-to-head
- These clubs are facing each other for the 146th time. Chelsea have won 60 of the previous 145; Tottenham are looking for their 50th win.
• This season's Premier League meetings were both drawn; 1-1 at White Hart Lane, 0-0 at Stamford Bridge.
• This is the ninth time they have been paired together in the FA Cup, with honours even at four wins a piece.
• The most recent clash was in a quarter-final replay in March 2007, which Chelsea won 2-1 at the Lane.
• They have never met in the semi-finals, but Tottenham were 2-1 victors when the pair clashed for the one and only time in the final in 1967.
Tottenham Hotspur
• It is 21 years since Tottenham won the FA Cup for the eighth time in their history. Only Manchester United (11) and Arsenal (10) have won the silverware more often.
• Spurs have won half of their 18 previous semi-final appearances, but have been unsuccessful in the most recent five - included the season before last.
• The only major piece of silverware of Harry Redknapp's managerial career was the 2008 FA Cup, with Portsmouth.
• Jermain Defoe is Tottenham's top FA Cup scorer so far this season, with three goals.
Chelsea
• Chelsea still have the chance to become only the second club to complete the double of FA Cup and Europe's premier club competition, following Manchester United's Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup treble achievement in 1999.
• The six-times FA Cup winners, who have lifted the cup in three of the last six seasons, have lost only two of the last 32 FA Cup matches - one of those being on penalties.
• This will be their 20th appearance in a FA Cup semi-final. They have progressed from the last four to the end-of-season showpiece on 10 of the previous 19 occasions.
• Caretaker manager Roberto di Matteo has two FA Cup winners' medals with Chelsea; 1997 and 2000. Under Di Matteo, Chelsea have won eight, drawn two and lost one in all competitions.
• Juan Mata is Chelsea's top scorer in the FA Cup, with three goals.
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