Coventry 0 Chelsea 2 - FA Cup Qtr Final - 07/03/2009
Coventry 0 Chelsea 2 - FA Cup Qtr Final - 07/03/2009
Coventry City: Kieran Westwood, Marcus Hall, Scott Dann, Stephen Wright, Ben Turner, Jordan Henderson, Michael Doyle (Guillaume Beuzelin 59), Aron Gunnarsson, Freddy Eastwood, Clinton Morrison, Leon Best
Subs not used: Andy Marshall, James McPake, Elliot Ward, Kevin Thornton, Isaac Osbourne, Robbie Simpson
Booked: Guillaume Beuzelin
Chelsea: Petr Cech, John Terry, Ashley Cole, Alex, Jose Bosingwa, Florent Malouda, Michael Ballack, Frank Lampard, Mikel Obi (Michael Essien 65), Salamon Kalou (Ricardo Quaresma 46), Didier Drogba (Franco Di Santo 80)
Subs not used: Henroque Hilario, Ricardo Carvalho, Juliano Belletti, Michael Mancienne
Goals: Didier Drogba 15, Alex 72
Attendance: 31407
Referee: S Bennett
Teamtalk
Chelsea reached their third FA Cup semi-final in four seasons as goals from Didier Drogba and Alex saw Coventry beaten 2-0 at the Ricoh Arena.
Drogba maintained his surge in form since the appointment of interim manager Guus Hiddink by netting his sixth goal of the campaign after 15 minutes.
Then Alex put the game out of Coventry's reach 17 minutes from time after converting a cross from substitute Ricardo Quaresma.
Chelsea crashed out of the competition at the same stage last season, losing to another Championship side in Barnsley.
But there was never any danger of another shock against Chris Coleman's side as Chelsea dominated for almost the entire 90 minutes.
Frank Lampard was given time and space to dictate matters in midfield as Chelsea maintained their 100 per cent record under Hiddink.
And the revitalised Drogba was always a handful for the shaky-looking centre-back pairing of Ben Turner and Scott Dann.
Hiddink paid Coventry the compliment of fielding the same side which had won at Portsmouth in the Premier League in midweek.
The line-up included defender Ashley Cole who had received an £80 fixed penalty fine for being drunk and disorderly in the early hours of Thursday morning.
Inside three minutes Drogba, who had scored the winner at Fratton Park, missed a golden chance to break the deadlock.
A long clearance by Petr Cech picked out the Chelsea striker who easily turned past Turner to find himself with only Keiran Westwood to beat.
But Drogba, who was operating as the lone front player, screwed his shot wide of the far post when he should have at least the target.
But after 15 minutes Drogba took advantage of hesitancy in the Coventry defence to put Chelsea ahead.
There looked to be little danger, but Turner hesitated, was muscled off the ball by Drogba and the striker calmly took the ball around Westwood before drilling his shot into the net.
The Ivory Coast international made a point of running to the substitutes' bench to celebrate with the fit-again Michael Essien.
Leon Best gave Chelsea a rare scare when he managed to shake off the challenges of Alex and John Terry, only to then balloon his left-footed shot over the bar.
Chelsea looked as if they could breach the Coventry back four at will. Lampard picked out the run of Jose Bosingwa and his cross was cut back to Ballack whose fierce shot was blocked.
Westwood then had to be alert to deny Lampard a 16th goal of the season when he tipped over a dipping 30-yard free-kick after Henderson had fouled Cole.
Drogba screwed a low shot just wide after referee Steve Bennett allowed play to continue after a foul on Lampard by Aron Gunnarsson.
Hiddink made a half-time substitution, bringing on Quaresma in place of Salomon Kalou.
Chelsea started where they left off, knocking the ball around in confident fashion, and Drogba volleyed wide at the near post from a Quaresma centre.
Coleman made his first change after 59 minutes with Guillaume Beuzelin replacing Doyle.
The home side tried to build up some momentum in front of a 31,407 crowd - the highest ever for a football match at the stadium - but they still seldom troubled the Chelsea back four.
Essien made his long awaited comeback from a knee ligament injury after 65 minutes, coming on in place of Mikel to great cheers from the 5,500 Chelsea contingent.
There was a rare moment of danger when Cech failed to deal properly with a long throw from Gunnarsson but Best could not make contact with an overhead kick attempt at close range.
Alex then made sure of victory for Chelsea with his second goal of the season.
Quaresma broke clear down the right and spotted the run of Alex who calmly drilled the ball past Westwood.
CCFC
Coventry City's best cup run in 11 years finally came to an end at the Ricoh Arena after goals from Didier Drogba and Alex handed Chelsea a place in the semi-finals at Wembley.
The Sky Blues put up a brave fight against the Premier League giants and certainly could not be accused of being over-awed by the top flight title contenders.
City paid the price for a defensive slip up after 14 minutes which allowed Didier Drogba to break the deadlock.
And centre-half Alex doubled Chelsea's advantage 18 minutes from time, finishing off a swift counter-attack and firing home from Ricardo Quaresma';s cross.
Barring the one defensive mistake in the first half, in which skipper Scott Dann was caught in possession by Drogba, the Sky Blues strung together a lively performance and were very much on a level pegging with Guus Hiddink's side for the first 45 minutes.
Drogba gave a hint of his class in the second minute, holding off Turner before shooting on the turn and dragging the ball wide.
But he got another chance after 14 minutes, pressuring Dann and takin the ball off himk before going around Westwood and firing into the net.
Eastwood had a half-chance two minutes later, firing at Peter Cech's legs.
Best also produced one of the highlights of the half, dispossessing Alex and heading towards goal, turning the recovering defender in the area and firing just over the bar.
Frank Lampard was on hand to deliver one of his trademark set pieces ten minutes before half time, Westwood tipping his shot over the bar.
And Eastwood also had another go at goal from the edge of the area straight after, again testing the strength of Cech's legs.
The Sky Blues did well to maintain the pace in the second period and after a quiet ten minutes, City had a half shout for a penalty turned down by referee Steve Bennett when Best tangled with Alex in the penalty area.
City then enjoyed one of their best spells of the game, Gunnarsson's long throw after 67 minutes causing Cech to flap it away.
They had another chance from another throw four minutes later while Drogba and Alex were receiving treatment for a clash of heads.
But Chelsea then went and scored their second on the counter attack, Queresma breaking down the right flank and whipping in a cross for Alex who galloped up the pitch after being allowed back on and firing past Westwod.
Westwood pulled out a great save six minutes later to deny Frank Lampard, the England international midfielde latching onto a ball from substitute Michael Essien and firing at the oncoming Westwood.
Clintonj Morrison had a half opportunity to get one back for the Sky Blues with nine minutes to go, collecting a flick-on from Best and turning Alex only for Cech to be quick of his line to smother the ball at Morrison's feet.
The Sky Blues then enjoyed a spell of pressure in the Chelsea half in the closing moments but for all their efforts could not breach a solid Chelsea back four.
So comes an end to a great cup run for Chris Coleman's side. We've all certainly enjoyed the ride!
Coventry City: Kieran Westwood, Marcus Hall, Scott Dann, Stephen Wright, Ben Turner, Jordan Henderson, Michael Doyle (Guillaume Beuzelin 59), Aron Gunnarsson, Freddy Eastwood, Clinton Morrison, Leon Best
Subs not used: Andy Marshall, James McPake, Elliot Ward, Kevin Thornton, Isaac Osbourne, Robbie Simpson
Booked: Guillaume Beuzelin
Chelsea: Petr Cech, John Terry, Ashley Cole, Alex, Jose Bosingwa, Florent Malouda, Michael Ballack, Frank Lampard, Mikel Obi (Michael Essien 65), Salamon Kalou (Ricardo Quaresma 46), Didier Drogba (Franco Di Santo 80)
Subs not used: Henroque Hilario, Ricardo Carvalho, Juliano Belletti, Michael Mancienne
Goals: Didier Drogba 15, Alex 72
Attendance: 31407
Referee: S Bennett
Teamtalk
Chelsea reached their third FA Cup semi-final in four seasons as goals from Didier Drogba and Alex saw Coventry beaten 2-0 at the Ricoh Arena.
Drogba maintained his surge in form since the appointment of interim manager Guus Hiddink by netting his sixth goal of the campaign after 15 minutes.
Then Alex put the game out of Coventry's reach 17 minutes from time after converting a cross from substitute Ricardo Quaresma.
Chelsea crashed out of the competition at the same stage last season, losing to another Championship side in Barnsley.
But there was never any danger of another shock against Chris Coleman's side as Chelsea dominated for almost the entire 90 minutes.
Frank Lampard was given time and space to dictate matters in midfield as Chelsea maintained their 100 per cent record under Hiddink.
And the revitalised Drogba was always a handful for the shaky-looking centre-back pairing of Ben Turner and Scott Dann.
Hiddink paid Coventry the compliment of fielding the same side which had won at Portsmouth in the Premier League in midweek.
The line-up included defender Ashley Cole who had received an £80 fixed penalty fine for being drunk and disorderly in the early hours of Thursday morning.
Inside three minutes Drogba, who had scored the winner at Fratton Park, missed a golden chance to break the deadlock.
A long clearance by Petr Cech picked out the Chelsea striker who easily turned past Turner to find himself with only Keiran Westwood to beat.
But Drogba, who was operating as the lone front player, screwed his shot wide of the far post when he should have at least the target.
But after 15 minutes Drogba took advantage of hesitancy in the Coventry defence to put Chelsea ahead.
There looked to be little danger, but Turner hesitated, was muscled off the ball by Drogba and the striker calmly took the ball around Westwood before drilling his shot into the net.
The Ivory Coast international made a point of running to the substitutes' bench to celebrate with the fit-again Michael Essien.
Leon Best gave Chelsea a rare scare when he managed to shake off the challenges of Alex and John Terry, only to then balloon his left-footed shot over the bar.
Chelsea looked as if they could breach the Coventry back four at will. Lampard picked out the run of Jose Bosingwa and his cross was cut back to Ballack whose fierce shot was blocked.
Westwood then had to be alert to deny Lampard a 16th goal of the season when he tipped over a dipping 30-yard free-kick after Henderson had fouled Cole.
Drogba screwed a low shot just wide after referee Steve Bennett allowed play to continue after a foul on Lampard by Aron Gunnarsson.
Hiddink made a half-time substitution, bringing on Quaresma in place of Salomon Kalou.
Chelsea started where they left off, knocking the ball around in confident fashion, and Drogba volleyed wide at the near post from a Quaresma centre.
Coleman made his first change after 59 minutes with Guillaume Beuzelin replacing Doyle.
The home side tried to build up some momentum in front of a 31,407 crowd - the highest ever for a football match at the stadium - but they still seldom troubled the Chelsea back four.
Essien made his long awaited comeback from a knee ligament injury after 65 minutes, coming on in place of Mikel to great cheers from the 5,500 Chelsea contingent.
There was a rare moment of danger when Cech failed to deal properly with a long throw from Gunnarsson but Best could not make contact with an overhead kick attempt at close range.
Alex then made sure of victory for Chelsea with his second goal of the season.
Quaresma broke clear down the right and spotted the run of Alex who calmly drilled the ball past Westwood.
CCFC
Coventry City's best cup run in 11 years finally came to an end at the Ricoh Arena after goals from Didier Drogba and Alex handed Chelsea a place in the semi-finals at Wembley.
The Sky Blues put up a brave fight against the Premier League giants and certainly could not be accused of being over-awed by the top flight title contenders.
City paid the price for a defensive slip up after 14 minutes which allowed Didier Drogba to break the deadlock.
And centre-half Alex doubled Chelsea's advantage 18 minutes from time, finishing off a swift counter-attack and firing home from Ricardo Quaresma';s cross.
Barring the one defensive mistake in the first half, in which skipper Scott Dann was caught in possession by Drogba, the Sky Blues strung together a lively performance and were very much on a level pegging with Guus Hiddink's side for the first 45 minutes.
Drogba gave a hint of his class in the second minute, holding off Turner before shooting on the turn and dragging the ball wide.
But he got another chance after 14 minutes, pressuring Dann and takin the ball off himk before going around Westwood and firing into the net.
Eastwood had a half-chance two minutes later, firing at Peter Cech's legs.
Best also produced one of the highlights of the half, dispossessing Alex and heading towards goal, turning the recovering defender in the area and firing just over the bar.
Frank Lampard was on hand to deliver one of his trademark set pieces ten minutes before half time, Westwood tipping his shot over the bar.
And Eastwood also had another go at goal from the edge of the area straight after, again testing the strength of Cech's legs.
The Sky Blues did well to maintain the pace in the second period and after a quiet ten minutes, City had a half shout for a penalty turned down by referee Steve Bennett when Best tangled with Alex in the penalty area.
City then enjoyed one of their best spells of the game, Gunnarsson's long throw after 67 minutes causing Cech to flap it away.
They had another chance from another throw four minutes later while Drogba and Alex were receiving treatment for a clash of heads.
But Chelsea then went and scored their second on the counter attack, Queresma breaking down the right flank and whipping in a cross for Alex who galloped up the pitch after being allowed back on and firing past Westwod.
Westwood pulled out a great save six minutes later to deny Frank Lampard, the England international midfielde latching onto a ball from substitute Michael Essien and firing at the oncoming Westwood.
Clintonj Morrison had a half opportunity to get one back for the Sky Blues with nine minutes to go, collecting a flick-on from Best and turning Alex only for Cech to be quick of his line to smother the ball at Morrison's feet.
The Sky Blues then enjoyed a spell of pressure in the Chelsea half in the closing moments but for all their efforts could not breach a solid Chelsea back four.
So comes an end to a great cup run for Chris Coleman's side. We've all certainly enjoyed the ride!
posted by SkyBlueSnowy at 10:03 pm
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