CHELSEA FC

MATCH REPORT: CHELSEA 4 CARDIFF CITY 1


The defence of the FA Cup continues but Chelsea were made to work hard by a Cardiff side that gave as good as they got in the first half.

Didier Drogba once again presented Chelsea with a great platform, scoring within seconds of the start for the second home game running.

But unlike the Arsenal match it was the visitors who scored next, Michael Chopra finding the net with a chance that was not their first of the match by any means.

There was plenty to talk about in the Chelsea dressing room at half-time and whatever was said had an effect. Cardiff were not without opportunities second-half, especially in a period before the home side's fourth goal, but Chelsea began to assert our authority when Michael Ballack scored the second soon after the restart.

Daniel Sturridge continued his record of finding the net in every round so far with the well-finished third and substitute Salomon Kalou headed in the best goal of the game close to the end.

There had been no surprises in Carlo Ancelotti's line-up. It was the one named yesterday.

It took less that two minutes for Chelsea to take the lead with a goal made in Africa - Drogba left to run free and comfortably finishing with his second touch after Mikel's long pass over the defence.

thank