FA Cup holders Chelsea are into the quarter-finals after they beat Championship side Cardiff City 4-1 at Stamford Bridge on Saturday afternoon.
FA Cup holders Chelsea are into the quarter-finals after they beat Championship side Cardiff City 4-1 at Stamford Bridge on Saturday afternoon.
Didier Drogba put the home side in front after only two minutes, galloping clear of the Bluebirds' defence before flicking the ball past Andy Marshall with the outside of his right foot.
It looked like the Premier League leaders would steamroll over their lower league opponents but, frustratingly, they failed to add to their single goal early on. Carlo Ancelotti's side were made to pay for their profligacy ten minutes from the break when Michael Chopra, completely unmarked by a defence missing the absent John Terry, headed in a cross by Chris Burke.
Chelsea went in at the break level but it took only seven minutes after the restart for them to restore their advantage. Drogba slipped an excellent ball through to the oncoming Michael Ballack, who made no mistake.
From that point onwards it was all Chelsea. The rampaging Drogba saw his effort deflected into the path of his young striker partner Daniel Sturridge, who slotted the ball through the legs of Marshall and into the back of the net.
The Blues confirmed their progress through a brilliant bullet header by Salomon Kalou late on.