Reliant Robben kick-starts Chelsea
Wednesday, February 8, 2006
Article summary
Chelsea FC and Middlesbrough FC both booked places in the last-16 of the FA Cup, but Liverpool FC's slump continued as they lost at Charlton Athletic FC.
Article body
Chelsea FC swept aside Everton FC to book a place in the fifth round of the FA Cup, where they will be joined by Middlesbrough FC who beat Coventry City FC to complete the lineup. But there was less for Liverpool FC to celebrate as they lost 2-0 at Charlton Athletic FC in the Premiership.
Freak injury
Everton pushed Chelsea all the way in the first encounter between the teams, and went into their replay at Stamford Bridge on the back of a nine-match undefeated run. They must have suspected their luck had run out in the pre-match warm-up, however, when a freak accident put paid to goalkeeper Richard Wright's involvement. Iain Turner came in and soon found himself tested as Shaun Wright-Phillips, Arjen Robben and Eidur Gudjohnsen all tried their luck from distance.
Chelsea dominant
Robert Huth also saw a goal-bound header cleared off the line and when Robben finally broke the deadlock midway through the half it came as little surprise. Frank Lampard doubled the lead from the penalty spot on 36 minutes after Wright-Phillips had been felled by Nuno Valente, and within two minutes it was all but over when in-form Hernán Crespo made it 3-0 with a glanced header. Mikel Arteta reduced the deficit from the penalty spot late on but Chelsea responded immediately through captain John Terry.
Hasselbaink strike
José Mourinho's side will now face third-tier Colchester United FC in the fifth round, when Middlesbrough travel to Preston North End FC after Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's first-half strike gave them a 1-0 win against Coventry at the Riverside. The visitors fought back, but could not find an equaliser as Steve McClaren's team enjoyed only their third win in 13 games.
Quick-fire goals
Liverpool have also struggled in recent weeks, and slumped to their third defeat in four league games at the Valley. Darren Bent slotted in the opener from the penalty spot on 42 minutes and there was still time for Luke Young to add a second with a fine angled drive before the interval. It could have been worse for Liverpool, who were without talismanic captain Steven Gerrard through injury, as Darren Bent and namesake Marcus both hit the woodwork as the visitors suffered back-to-back league defeats for the first time in eleven months.
