Didier Drogba sent holders Chelsea on their way to a 3-0 win over top flight rivals Aston Villa in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley here on Saturday
The Côte d'Ivoire striker broke the deadlock in the 68th minute before Florent Malouda and Frank Lampard completed the win with two late goals as Premier League leaders Chelsea remained on course for a domestic 'Double'. Chelsea will now return to Wembley on May 15 where they will face the winners of Sunday's second semi-final between fellow Premier League sides Tottenham Hotspur and Portsmouth.
This was no routine victory but once Drogba had turned home John Terry's shot on goal following a mistake by Villa defender Richard Dunne, the outcome was never in doubt. Malouda added a second in the 89th minute, connecting with Michael Ballack's right wing cross and Lampard completed the scoring in added time by capping a fine run with a composed finish.
We have six games left to go with the final and we have to win them all.
Didier Drogba on Chelsea's ambitions
"I always say I'm lucky, it's an honour for me to be here and to play in a stadium like this one," said Drogba. "The FA Cup is really special to us and when I have the chance I will try to score. I had two chances before and I was a bit unlucky, the first one was a great block from [Stephen] Warnock and the third chance maybe was the one that was least expected, but that's the goal."
For Villa, defeat meant a second Wembley disappointment this season after their League Cup final defeat at the hands of Manchester United in February. Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti had warned his side they would face a very different Villa team to the one that capitulated so meekly at Stamford Bridge two weeks ago.
The ease with Chelsea completed that 7-1 victory had suggested the outcome of this Cup tie was a foregone conclusion but Ancelotti was adamant that would not be the case. The Italian reasoned that Martin O'Neill's side would be wounded by that defeat and anxious to make amends. And so it proved with the Midlands side impressing during the opening exchanges when they were unfortunate not to claim an early breakthrough.
Ancelotti made just one change to the side that beat Villa first time around, recalling Drogba in place of Nicolas Anelka. "I've been in this position before, I know why I was not starting, it's not a problem," Drogba said. "The objective is to win the game. We have six games left to go with the final and we have to win them all."
Initially, though, the Chelsea striker saw little of the ball as Villa's central midfield pairing of James Milner and Stiliyan Petrov grabbed early control of the game.
Penalty shout denied
But Villa were furious in the 16th minute they were denied a penalty. England striker Gabriel Agbonlahor's pace had upset the Blues backline throughout the early stages, but on this occasion he caused problems with his back to goal and appeared to be tripped by John Obi Mikel as he attempted to turn inside the box.
The Villa man was convinced he had been unfairly grounded - and O'Neill reacted furiously when referee Howard Webb ignored the claims for a penalty. Villa continued to enjoy the greater share of possession but they were almost caught out when Drogba was only just beaten to a loose ball in the area by a desperate lunge from defender James Collins.
And Drogba almost forced a costly error out of left back Stephen Warnock who inexplicably headed the ball into Joe Cole's path under pressure from Drogba and it took a point blank save from keeper Brad Friedel to smother the danger.
Chelsea were living dangerously at the other end, though, and it took a last ditch header from Terry to divert the ball away from Villa striker John Carew's forehead.
However, after half-time, Chelsea seized control and finally made the breakthrough when Dunne failed to clear Malouda's corner, diverting his header to the feet of Terry who struck a left foot shot that was turned home by Drogba.
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