Cup holders crack Potters

John Terry
12 April 2012

Goals from Frank Lampard and controversial captain John Terry sent Chelsea into the semi-finals of the FA Cup with a 2-0 victory over Stoke.

Lampard 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.

Stoke caused Chelsea some anxious moments in the opening half but their best effort was a Dean Whitehead shot that was cleared off the line by John Obi Mikel.

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 Blues defender Robert Huth headed the ball goalwards only for teammate 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 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.

The home side 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.

After a sustained period of pressure 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.

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.

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