Goals from Frank Lampard and controversial captain John Terry saw
off stubborn Stoke 2-0 and sent Chelsea into the semi-finals of the
FA Cup.
Lampard had put the holders in front in the 35th minute when
he fired a rising 20-yard shot into the net and Terry sealed
victory 22 minutes from time with a firm header.
After two successive defeats, Carlo Ancelotti's side returned
to top form to book a place at Wembley.
Terry was booed by Stoke fans every time he touched the ball
in the opening half.
The revelations over Terry's alleged affair with Vanessa
Perroncel, the former girlfriend of his one-time team-mate Wayne
Bridge, have clearly not been forgotten by opposing fans.
Chelsea's season has been littered with errors from
set-pieces and Stoke tested their resolve in fifth minute when Rory
Delap sent one of his trademark long throws into the penalty area.
Former Chelsea defender Robert Huth headed the ball goalwards
only for Mamady Sidibe to flick the ball over the bar.
Three minutes later Chelsea responded with a shot from
Nicolas Anelka which was well saved by Thomas Sorensen.
But Stoke were unlucky not to open the scoring when Sidibe's
effort at the far post was blocked by Alex.
And in the 14th minute it required a clearance off the line
from John Obi Mikel to prevent Stoke going ahead. Delap's long
throw was punched clear by Hilario but only to Dean Whitehead on
the edge of the penalty area. The Stoke midfielder's drilled shot
was heading for the bottom corner until Mikel's timely
intervention.
Chelsea striker Didier Drogba required treatment off the
pitch after a collision with Huth but was soon back in action.
Chelsea squandered a great chance in the 29th minute when
Whitehead was caught in possession inside the penalty area but
Nicolas Anelka fired beyond the far post from six yards.
Stoke were frustrating Chelsea but they also looked dangerous
on the break.
In the 31st minute Tuncay Sanli raced into the Chelsea
penalty area but a superb tackle from Alex prevented the City
midfielder from pulling the trigger.
Chelsea won a succession of corners and one of them paid off
in the 35th minute when Lampard fired them in front with the 18th
FA Cup goal of his Chelsea career.
Malouda's corner found Terry at the far post and the Chelsea
captain laid the ball into the path of Lampard for the England
midfielder to send a rising drive into the net for his 16th of the
season.
It was also his 146th career goal for the club and pushed him
closer to Peter Osgood's tally of 150.
Stoke made an enforced change just before the interval when
injured Glenn Whelan was replaced by Danny Pugh.
Drogba almost made it two just seconds before the break but
his shot was well saved by Sorensen.
A long throw by Branislav Ivanovic almost brought Chelsea a
second in the 48th minute. Stoke failed to clear the throw but
Lampard put his volley high over the crossbar from just inside the
penalty area.
Sorensen then had to be alert to deal with a Drogba free-kick
as Chelsea stepped up the tempo.
Anelka sent a rasping drive beyond Sorensen's left-hand post
in the 58th minute and such was their dominance that Stoke boss
Tony Pulis opted to make a double substitution on the hour.
Sidibe was replaced by Dave Kitson and Tuncay made way for
Liam Lawrence.
Stoke had to thank Andy Wilkinson in the 66th minute when he
cleared off the line from Anelka. Drogba's cross found the France
striker unmarked at the far post and his header was stopped by
Wilkinson with Sorensen struggling.
But two minutes later Chelsea went 2-0 in front through
captain Terry. He planted a firm header into the net from a corner
by Florent Malouda and then ran to the corner flag pointing at his
captain's armband in celebration.
Lampard almost grabbed a second in the 75th minute but his
dipping 20-yard effort was well saved by Sorensen.
Stoke almost profited from another Delap throw in the 82nd
minute but Abdoulaye Faye put the ball over with Hilario nowhere.
Anelka squandered the chance to get on the scoresheet in the
89th minute when he fired wide after latching on to a pinpoint pass
from Lampard.
