LONDON, March 22 - 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.
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.