Chelsea 2 Stoke City 0: Potters' rearguard action is broken by Lampard and Terry

Goals from Frank Lampard and captain John Terry crushed stubborn Stoke and sent Chelsea into the semi-finals.

Lampard had 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 were unlucky not to open the scoring when Mamady Sidibe's effort at the far post was blocked by Alex.

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And in the 14th minute it required a clearance off the line from John Obi Mikel to prevent Stoke going ahead. Rory 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.

Chelsea then won a succession of corners and one of them paid off in the 35th minute when Lampard fired them in front with a rising drive into the net for his 16th goal of the season.

Didier Drogba almost made it two just seconds before the break but his shot was well saved by Thomas Sorensen.

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Anelka sent a rasping drive beyond Sorensen's left-hand post in the 58th minute and Stoke had to thank Andy Wilkinson in the 66th minute when he cleared off the line from Anelka.

But two minutes later Chelsea went 2-0 in front through 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.

Lampard almost grabbed a second for himself in the 75th minute but his dipping 20-yard effort was well saved by Sorensen.

Stoke almost profited from another Delap throw in the 82nd minute but Abdoulaye Faye put the ball over with Hilario nowhere.

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.