LONDON — Holders Chelsea earned a fifth-round trip to Middlesbrough with a comprehensive victory 4-0 over Brentford in their FA Cup replay yesterday. —BBC Sport
Juan Mata opened the scoring with a shot from distance after the break before Oscar saw his inventive close-range flick deflected past Simon Moore.
Frank Lampard then became Chelsea’s leading FA Cup goalscorer after he side-footed home Oscar’s cross. And John Terry sealed the rout with a late header from another Oscar pass.
The Blues will now travel to the Riverside Stadium on February 27 having safely come through yesterday’s replay against League One Brentford — after the initial tie had ended 2-2.
Chelsea dominated the first half, but despite several chances they failed to break the deadlock.
Oscar was their most lively threat with the Brazilian scuffing against the post while earlier seeing his goal-bound shot deflected over the bar by Harlee Dean.
Branislav Ivanovic also went close for the Blues, heading Mata’s free-kick back across goal and wide while Lampard was unusually inaccurate in front of goal after volleying erratically wide from 10 yards.
Adam Forshaw was Brentford’s best attacking threat with the midfielder sending two efforts from distance wide of Petr Cech’s goal.
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Chelsea started the second half with more urgency and Ivanovic forced an excellent low save from Simon Moore with his close-range header from Oscar’s cross.
The holders were eventually ahead and it came from their top scorer this season with Mata finding the net with a low strike from 20 yards after Ba’s knockdown from Cech’s long punt.
Brentford pressed for an equaliser but struggled to break down a well-organised Chelsea defence and it was the hosts who scored next doubling their lead through Oscar’s flick from Ivanovic’s cross that was deflected past Moore.
Clayton Donaldson headed over for the Bees moments later but the tie was all but sealed as Lampard scored Chelsea’s third.
In doing so Lampard became Chelsea’s all-time goalscorer in the FA Cup with his 26th in the competition, also taking his tally to 199 goals for the Blues as he side-footed Mata’s cross past Moore from 10 yards out. Terry completed the rout with a late header following a fine, incisive cross from Oscar.
Manchester City recovered from last weekend’s Premier League disappointment by making the FA Cup quarter-finals after beating Leeds at Etihad Stadium.
Stung by their damaging defeat to Southampton, Yaya Toure scored early on as he collected Carlos Tevez’s skilful flick to round keeper Jamie Ashdown.
Sergio Aguero then doubled the lead with a penalty he earned himself. Fellow striker Tevez finished on the goal-line before Aguero got his second after a smart pass from David Silva. In a league match, Liverpool ended a five-match winless run in style with a dominant display over a weakened Swansea City. Steven Gerrard’s penalty set Liverpool on their way, Philippe Coutinho scored his first Liverpool goal, Jose Enrique finished a flowing move before Luis Suarez’s stylish solo score and a Daniel Sturridge penalty sealed the win.
