Enlarge imageBy Clare Lovell
LONDON (Reuters) - Champions Chelsea, looking for a league and Cup double, reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup on Wednesday with a bad-tempered 1-0 win over a depleted Newcastle United, who had Robbie Elliott sent off.
Chelsea, 12 points clear in the league, needed only four minutes to find the target, Damien Duff’s corner from the left meeting John Terry low in the area and the captain slotting the ball into the net off the legs of a defender.
Newcastle, looking for their first silverware for more than 50 years and first win at Chelsea for 20, frequently rattled Chelsea going forward in a physically bruising encounter, although they struggled to create any clear opportunities.
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Elliott was sent off in the 86th minute for a second bookable offence.
Defeat ended former England skipper Alan Shearer’s hopes of winning a trophy with his beloved Newcastle. The club’s record goalscorer will retire at the end of the season.
With Jean-Alain Boumsong suspended and Titus Bramble injured Newcastle were short at the back while striker Michael Owen is still recovering from a broken foot.
Shearer almost equalised after 18 minutes when Chelsea keeper Carlo Cudicini parried a Lee Bowyer shot into his path but the alert Terry reached the loose ball a fraction before him to clear the danger.
Three minutes later a Nolberto Solano free kick from 25 metres narrowly missed Cudicini’s left post, but that was about as good as it got for Newcastle.
Ricardo Carvalho should have increased Chelsea’s lead shortly before halftime when he shot wide from a Frank Lampard free kick which was harshly awarded when Scott Parker was adjudged to have fouled Asier del Horno.
The out-of-favour Spanish defender, playing for the suspended William Gallas, has courted controversy in his short Chelsea career and was sent off against Barcelona last month.
Tempers began to flare in the second half.
Chelsea’s Didier Drogba and Ameobi and Craig Moore of Newcastle were booked for dissent after a tackle on Joe Cole and Elliot, booked earlier, was fortunate not to be sent off for kicking the ball under the prostrate Cole.
He did get his marching orders in the 86th minute after impeding substitute Shaun Wright-Phillips.
Cole and Damien Duff sliced down the wings for Chelsea and Noberto Solano and Kieron Dyer producing some dangerous moves for the Tynesiders but they ran out of steam in the last third.
Chelsea, who won the league and League Cup double last season, were profligate up front, Lampard, Cole, Drogba and Geremi, squandering second-half chances and Wright-Phillips missing an 85th minute sitter.
Terry said the result was a good way to avenge defeat by Newcastle in the fifth round of the FA Cup at St James’ Park last season and a good reaction to last Sunday’s league defeat at Fulham.
He praised Lampard, who he said had controlled the midfield.
"Lamps turned them around and squeezed them and that set the tone for the game," he said.
"The most important thing is that we are in the hat for the draw on Friday," the Chelsea captain added.
