Chelsea earned a place in the FA Cup Semi-Finals with a 5-2 win over Championship side Leicester City at Stamford Bridge this afternoon, with Fernando Torres handing a timely reminder to the Blues faithful that he still could be the main man at the club after a turning in an inspired performance.
After only eleven minutes Chelsea had the lead when Gary Cahill leaped highest in a crowded penalty area to nod home Juan Mata's corner from inside the six yard box. Cahill in celebration revealed a touching tribute to Fabrice Muamba, as he showed a t-shirt with the slogan "Pray 4 Muamba" printed on.
It was only five minutes later when Chelsea doubled their lead through Solomon Kalou. Torres raced down the right hand side from inside his own half right to the edge of the Leicester area before slipping the ball perfectly to the Ivorian striker. Kalou waited and waited for Kasper Schmeichel to commit himself, and when he finally did, it was an easy finish.
Chelsea remained in control throughout the first half, and well into the second where Torres finally got a goal in the 67th minute, after an impressive hard-working performance. Raul Meireles latched on to Daniel Sturridge's slide rule ball, played the ball to the penalty spot where Torres was lurking and finished into the bottom corner, and the tie effectively over.
At this point the visitors seemed to spring into life, but it was really just too little too late when Jermaine Beckford pulled a goal back. Neil Danns fired towards Petr Cech's goal from distance and rattled the post, with Beckford quicker than Cahill and Ryan Bertrand to react for an easy finish in the 77th minute.
Chelsea were quick to restore their three goal cushion, and it was the impressive Torres who grabbed his second of the game, nodding in Meireles' corner at the near post wit Schmeichel well beaten.
Perhaps the goal of the game came just three minutes later in the 88th minute, when Leicester City substitute Ben Marshall, a recent signing from Stoke City, cut inside from the left wing onto his right foot, to send the ball high into the top corner beyond Cech from well in excess of 30 yards.
The game was still well beyond Leicester at this point however, and Chelsea put the seal on a memorable day for Roberto Di Matteo's men when Meireles slotted in the fifth goal for the side in the final minute of the game, set-up by who else but Fernando Torres.
For more reaction to this game check out our Chelsea site, We Ain't Got No History.
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