19 March, 2012, koclokindoblog.blogspot.com,
Two of four FA Cup semi-finalists are confirmed after a Fernando Torres-inspired Chelsea were followed into the last four by Liverpool on Sunday.
Chelsea's renaissance under interim boss Roberto Di Matteo continued as they won their fourth match in a row by seeing off Leicester 5-2 in the FA Cup quarter-final at Stamford Bridge - a game that saw Torres end his long scoring drought by notching twice.
Di Matteo has now emerged as a serious candidate for the full-time managerial role, having masterminded yet another impressive victory for the Blues, who looked in disarray at the time of Andre Villas-Boas' sacking. But the spotlight will shine on Torres over the next few days following a tremendous performance that harked back to his Liverpool pomp.
A much-changed Chelsea team - with no Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba or John Terry in the starting XI - moved ahead when Gary Cahill nodded in Juan Mata's corner. Cahill, who played with Fabrice Muamba at Bolton, celebrated by revealing a T-shirt with "Pray for Muamba" written on it. Muamba is in a critical condition in hospital following a cardiac arrest on Saturday.
Torres played a pivotal role in Chelsea's second, which came shortly after the first and left the Championship outfit reeling. The Spain international produced some fine work down the right side before squaring for Salomon Kalou to stroke in from close range.
Torres was twice denied by fine saves from Kasper Schmeichel as it seemed he would continue to fire blanks for yet another game - but, after more than 24 barren hours, he finally found himself troubling the scorers in the second half. Getting on the end of a Raul Meireles pass, Torres scuffed the ball past Schmeichel and into the bottom corner of the net.
Chelsea noticeably took their foot off the gas in the final quarter - and the Foxes took advantage to pull one back: Neil Danns scythed through a sluggish Chelsea midfield before striking from 25 yards; his shot hit the post, and Jermaine Beckford tucked in the rebound.
Torres boosted his chances of making Spain's Euro 2012 squad by heading in a corner in the last few minutes - but it was Leicester sub Ben Marshall who scored the goal of the match by sending a 25-yard bullet arrowing past a helpless Petr Cech. Leicester briefly flirted with a shock comeback, before Meireles killed the game off from Torres' pass.
Liverpool overcame a spirited Stoke side 2-1 at Anfield. Victory keeps the Reds on course for a domestic double this season after they lifted the Carling Cup.
Luis Suarez, who declared he wants to stay at Liverpool earlier in the day, opened the scoring with a brilliant effort on 23 minutes, exchanging a one-two with Maxi Rodriguez before bending the ball past Thomas Sorensen.
However, Stoke were proving every bit as dangerous as they equalised four minutes later with the help of a poor decision by the officials. The Potters' first corner clearly went out for a goal-kick, but they were awarded another set-piece, from which former Liverpool man Peter Crouch towered above everybody to level.
Jon Walters and Suarez both then wasted fine chances to net again for their respective sides, but it was the unexpected figure of Stewart Downing who netted a rare goal for the Reds, using the run of Steven Gerrard to dart across two defenders and slam the ball past Sorensen.
*By ESPN staff
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