Conor Gallagher had given the visitors an early lead, but Matias Vina’s excellent strike meant the game was level for much of the afternoon.
Browsing: Hakim Ziyech
Ziyech has recently spent time in the international wilderness, while he has also barely featured for his Premier League side since the arrival of Graham Potter.
The hard-fought win for the Blues was coming after nearly a month’s absence in the English Premier League.
Ziyech has been involved in a war of words with Halilhodzic, who accused him of feigning injury to avoid playing for Morocco in mid-year friendlies last June.
Ziyech has not represented his country since June and has found himself on Halilhodzic’s wrong side ever since he was accused of feigning an injury to avoid playing in a friendly match.
The Blues will enter the contest off the back of a 2-1 victory at Watford on Wednesday, while West Ham were held to a 1-1 draw by Brighton & Hove Albion on the same night.
Hakim Ziyech broke the home side’s resistance 11 minutes into the second-half as the Moroccan tapped home from Callum Hudson-Odoi’s inch-perfect cross.
The Blues have been training under the watchful eye of Thomas Tuchel for the past few days at our Surrey base, with the likes of Christian Pulisic, Tammy Abraham and Callum Hudson-Odoi having reported back last week following their summer break.
The Foxes will be taking part in their fifth final as they search for their maiden FA Cup crown, while today’s game represents Chelsea’s 15th appearance in the showpiece event as they seek a ninth triumph.
Ziyech arrived with a big reputation but has rarely lived up to his star billing, so it was a rare start that Tuchel gave him at Wembley on Saturday.
Christian Pulisic spurned two big chances to put the much-changed Blues out of sight, teeing up some tense closing exchanges as the Blades awoke from an hour’s submission to start to threaten.
Morocco forward Ziyech grabbed his first goal since October to put the hosts ahead in the first half at Stamford Bridge.
They had a let-off in the first half when Manchester United were not awarded a penalty despite a VAR check after Callum Hudson-Odoi handled the ball in the area.
Abraham had appeared to put the hosts in total control of the tie with two early goals, only for Jordan Clark’s strike on the half-hour mark, with the aid of another Kepa Arrizabalaga error, to give Luton hope of a shock at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea spent heavily in the close season to bring in the likes of midfielder Kai Havertz, forward Timo Werner, defender Ben Chilwell and winger Hakim Ziyech, but the London club sits ninth in the Premier League with 26 points from 17 games.
Frank Lampard’s side would jump from fifth to first with victory in the opening match of gameweek nine, but they have struggled at this venue in recent seasons.
Jorginho missed a penalty for Chelsea but Callum Hudson-Odoi put the Blues in front before half-time after a mistake by Krasnodar goalkeeper Matvei Safonov.
Chelsea has sealed deals for Morocco winger Hakim Ziyech and Germany forward Timo Werner, and has been linked with a move for Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Kai Havertz, as they rebuild the squad following a close-season transfer ban last year.
Abraham has been one of the beneficiaries of manager Frank Lampard ‘s focus on youth this season, racking up 41 appearances and netting 16 goals in all competitions.
The Stamford Bridge club saw an offer for the 26-year old rejected in January but continued negotiations amid increasing competition from rival clubs.