Two deflected strikes helped Chelsea as they cruised past Stoke City and into the semi-finals of the FA Cup.
Stoke put Chelsea 'keeper Henrique Hilario under pressure early on with their trademark long-throws but were unable to break down the Blues' defence.
Early fire from Stoke was extinguished by Frank Lampard whose fierce drive took the slightest of deflections as it flew past Thomas Sorenson.
It was Lampard who supplied the delivery for John Terry to head home in the second half and dispell any lingering threat of a Stoke fightback.
Chelsea had an early shout for a penalty waved away by the referee. Didier Drogba stooped under Pauolo Ferreira’s cross and the ball appeared to hit Stoke defender Glenn Whelan on his left hand, but the referee was unmoved by the protests.
Much of the pre-match build up focused on the ability of Chelsea ‘keeper Henrique Hilario and how he would deal with Stoke midfielder Rory Delap’s infamous long throws.
It didn’t take long to find out with Delap launching his first aerial assault on the Chelsea penalty area in just the sixth minute. Former Chelsea defender Robert Huth rose highest at the near post and his flicked on left Hilario flapping wildly as Ricardo Fuller headed over the bar.
In the 15th minute Stoke came within inches of taking the lead when John Obi Mikel made a goal line clearance from Dean Whitehead. The danger again came from a Delap long throw that Hilario again failed to deal with confidently. He pawed the ball away but could only clear as far as Whitehead, whose first time shot looked destined for the net before Mikel’s vital intervention.
Chelsea started to show some attacking threat in the 25th minute as good work from Florent Malouda on the left side brought about some mild panic in the Stoke defence before Thomas Sorenson flapped at a Chelsea corner.
However it was Nikolas Anelka who had the best chance of the lot when he nicked the ball off Whitehead on the edge of the penalty area before advancing on the ‘keeper and pulling his shot wide of the far post when he should’ve scored.
Whitehead was involved in goal mouth action again when he headed a rasping volley from Didier Drogba out of play for a corner. However it was the resulting corner that set up the breakthrough for Chelsea.
Stoke failed to clear the corner and the ball eventually found it’s way to Chelsea captain John Terry who laid the ball of to the edge of the area for the arriving Frank Lampard to strike. His first time shot took the slightest of deflections off Abdoulaye Faye as it flew into the back of Sorenson’s goal.
The match seemed to fly to half-time without so much as a meaningful effort after Lampard’s opener. Didier Drogba would’ve doubled his side’s lead just before the interval but for a smart stop by Sorenson to push the Ivorian striker’s volley around the post.
Early in the second half Chelsea showed of their own long throw specialist when Branislav Ivanovic landed a throw on the edge of the six-yard box. Stoke failed to clear and the ball fell to Lampard who hit the ball uncharacteristically high and wide of the goal.
The pace of the game slowed from the first half and Anelka attempted to wake the game up just before the hour mark when he unleashed a twenty-five yard strike at goal but he skewed his shot wide of the goal.
It was the Frenchman who looked likeliest to extend the homeside’s lead when he headed Didier Drogba’s cross towards the goal only for Andy Wilkinson to clear for a corner. Wilkinson cleared again from the resulting corner but it proved to be third time unlucky for the Stoke defender when he attempted to stop a third effort.
Frank Lampard repaid the favour to John Terry, who had set up his earlier goal, by delivering an inch perfect cross for the Chelsea skipper to head powerfully at goal. Wilkinson attempted to clear but managed only to deflect the ball off his shoulder and passed Sorenson who may have made the save.
Stoke failed to show any attacking malice from open play throughout the game as was duly illustrated in the 75th minute. Lampard lost possession on the half-way line allowing Stoke to break but Ricardo Fuller strayed lazily offside and a good chance to strike back went begging for the visitors.
However from set-pieces Stoke continued to pose a threat and it was that man Delap who once again supplied the danger in the 82nd minute. Hilario again attempted to reach the long-throw and was left flapping hopelessly as Faye headed over the empty net.
Nikolas Anelka had the chance to wrap up the game for Chelsea in the final minutes of the game but had clearly put on the wrong boots as he once again put his shot wide of the goal.
Stoke put Chelsea 'keeper Henrique Hilario under pressure early on with their trademark long-throws but were unable to break down the Blues' defence.
Early fire from Stoke was extinguished by Frank Lampard whose fierce drive took the slightest of deflections as it flew past Thomas Sorenson.
It was Lampard who supplied the delivery for John Terry to head home in the second half and dispell any lingering threat of a Stoke fightback.
Chelsea had an early shout for a penalty waved away by the referee. Didier Drogba stooped under Pauolo Ferreira’s cross and the ball appeared to hit Stoke defender Glenn Whelan on his left hand, but the referee was unmoved by the protests.
Much of the pre-match build up focused on the ability of Chelsea ‘keeper Henrique Hilario and how he would deal with Stoke midfielder Rory Delap’s infamous long throws.
It didn’t take long to find out with Delap launching his first aerial assault on the Chelsea penalty area in just the sixth minute. Former Chelsea defender Robert Huth rose highest at the near post and his flicked on left Hilario flapping wildly as Ricardo Fuller headed over the bar.
In the 15th minute Stoke came within inches of taking the lead when John Obi Mikel made a goal line clearance from Dean Whitehead. The danger again came from a Delap long throw that Hilario again failed to deal with confidently. He pawed the ball away but could only clear as far as Whitehead, whose first time shot looked destined for the net before Mikel’s vital intervention.
Chelsea started to show some attacking threat in the 25th minute as good work from Florent Malouda on the left side brought about some mild panic in the Stoke defence before Thomas Sorenson flapped at a Chelsea corner.
However it was Nikolas Anelka who had the best chance of the lot when he nicked the ball off Whitehead on the edge of the penalty area before advancing on the ‘keeper and pulling his shot wide of the far post when he should’ve scored.
Whitehead was involved in goal mouth action again when he headed a rasping volley from Didier Drogba out of play for a corner. However it was the resulting corner that set up the breakthrough for Chelsea.
Stoke failed to clear the corner and the ball eventually found it’s way to Chelsea captain John Terry who laid the ball of to the edge of the area for the arriving Frank Lampard to strike. His first time shot took the slightest of deflections off Abdoulaye Faye as it flew into the back of Sorenson’s goal.
The match seemed to fly to half-time without so much as a meaningful effort after Lampard’s opener. Didier Drogba would’ve doubled his side’s lead just before the interval but for a smart stop by Sorenson to push the Ivorian striker’s volley around the post.
Early in the second half Chelsea showed of their own long throw specialist when Branislav Ivanovic landed a throw on the edge of the six-yard box. Stoke failed to clear and the ball fell to Lampard who hit the ball uncharacteristically high and wide of the goal.
The pace of the game slowed from the first half and Anelka attempted to wake the game up just before the hour mark when he unleashed a twenty-five yard strike at goal but he skewed his shot wide of the goal.
It was the Frenchman who looked likeliest to extend the homeside’s lead when he headed Didier Drogba’s cross towards the goal only for Andy Wilkinson to clear for a corner. Wilkinson cleared again from the resulting corner but it proved to be third time unlucky for the Stoke defender when he attempted to stop a third effort.
Frank Lampard repaid the favour to John Terry, who had set up his earlier goal, by delivering an inch perfect cross for the Chelsea skipper to head powerfully at goal. Wilkinson attempted to clear but managed only to deflect the ball off his shoulder and passed Sorenson who may have made the save.
Stoke failed to show any attacking malice from open play throughout the game as was duly illustrated in the 75th minute. Lampard lost possession on the half-way line allowing Stoke to break but Ricardo Fuller strayed lazily offside and a good chance to strike back went begging for the visitors.
However from set-pieces Stoke continued to pose a threat and it was that man Delap who once again supplied the danger in the 82nd minute. Hilario again attempted to reach the long-throw and was left flapping hopelessly as Faye headed over the empty net.
Nikolas Anelka had the chance to wrap up the game for Chelsea in the final minutes of the game but had clearly put on the wrong boots as he once again put his shot wide of the goal.
