Spurs 1 - 2 Chelsea

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Tottenham Hotspur 1 - 2 Chelsea F.C.

Chelsea joined Watford and Manchester United in the FA Cup semi-finals and setting up an FA Cup Round 7 tie against Blackburn Rovers at Old Trafford, following their 1-2 away win at Tottenham Hotspur in their 6th Round replay.The original game had been a true cracker - a six goal thriller shared between the two goals. Emerging after the break 3-1 down at home, Chelsea showed their true spirit by fighting back with goals from Frank Lampard and Salomon Kalou to draw the game. However, normal service is since resumed, with the Blues in control for the full 90 minutes of the replay at White Hart Lane.With both clubs in action just two days prior to this highly-anticipated re-match, there was little margin for error - let alone injury - with one team knowing that their FA Cup dream would be shattered before them.Tottenham would take little insult to being called a Cup Team - despite having battled past Southend, Cardiff City and Fulham in the FA Cup and reaching the UEFA Cup Quarter-Finals - their league form has left much to be desired. Despite beating Chelsea at the Lane just months earlier to banish an ancient hoodoo, they have failed to progress higher than the UEFA Cup slots all term, and have found Everton and Reading tough opposition to overhaul in the Premiership table.Chelsea however, would not take any insult whatsoever in being hailed as remarkable. Despite having lost Joe Cole for virtually all season, and key players such as Petr Cech and John Terry, the Blues have not let United put comfortable ground between each other, and have reached the Quarter-Finals of the Champion's League and won the Carling Cup for the second time in three seasons already - not to mention defeating a team from every professional English division thus far in the FA Cup, bar a Premier League team.For their test of overcoming Tottenham at the second attempt, they welcomed back John Terry to the defence, as well as Lassana Diarra. Jon Obi Mikel, having served his four-game ban returned to the anchor position in midfield where he had performed fantastically against Porto. Michael Essien was still injured after picking up a knock against Spurs at the Bridge two Sunday’s back, and Gérémi and Claude Makelele were relegated completely, and not included in the travelling sixteen.Spurs welcomed back Paul Robinson - scorer of the 88 metre freekick against Watford - Dimitar Berbatov, Aaron Lennon and Robbie Keane to the starting line-up, and Paul Stalteri was replaced by Pascal Chimbonda. Ricardo Rocha retained his position at centre-back with Ledley King injured.The first half did not match the expectation set upon it, and had nowhere near the same quality (or mistakes) as the first half of the Stamford Bridge tie. Shevchenko had a shot well caught by Robinson, but the best of the opportunities of the half fell to Michael Ballack. Drogba received a cross from Ashley Cole, and chested the ball to the German skipper, but his shot missed to the left of Robinson's goal by inches.Neither goalkeeper was called into action, though both defences were kept on their toes. John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho showed their understanding between themselves to be secure despite playing on their second game alongside each other for nearly six weeks, with both defenders making key clearances and interceptions. Terry did spectacularly well to head away a teasing cross from Aaron Lennon, though Petr Cech had his defence - and himself - well marshalled. Before the close of the half, Shaun Wright-Phillips went close and Andrei Shevchenko's cross was kept out by Chimbonda. The second half began with Spurs having much the better of the possession and the shots, with Petr Cech smartly stopping Pascal Chimbonda's half-volley from six yards and beating away Steed Malbranque's effort. However, Spurs always played caution to the wind as Chelsea broke on numerous occasions, albeit to be foiled by the Spurs defence.Enter under-fire striker Andrei Shevchenko. Two years earlier undoubtedly Europe's finest striker. Shevchenko had always been under massive pressure coming to Chelsea - a team whose goals come from everywhere - defence, midfield, attack. With Didier Drogba having the season he is having, Shevchenko has been made to look second best. However, it’s because of Drogba that Shevchenko's obvious contribution has been ignored and the limelight placed on the Ivorian.Yet tonight, Drogba was happy to play second fiddle to the Ukrainian. Even so, second-fiddle or not, Shevchenko's performance at White Hart Lane would do nothing but help him with his cause. Scorer of a magnificent goal against Sheffield United at the weekend, he would be scorer or an even better goal on Monday evening.Receiving the ball from Wright-Phillips, he appeared to be danger at all as he checked his run past Malbranque and entered the penalty area. Switching to his left foot, he curled a beautifully-weighted shot into the top corner which both Didier Drogba and Paul Robinson could only watch and admire.Despite having plenty of chances, Chelsea were hard pressed as Spurs fought on to find an equaliser. But the ball was up the other end just six minutes after Shevchenko had celebrated his magnificent shot.Enter under-fire winger Shaun Wright-Phillips. Two years earlier undoubtedly one of the biggest talents in the Premiership. Wright-Phillips had always been under massive pressure coming to Chelsea - a team that had previously based its success on wingers Damien Duff and Arjen Robben, that had changed to a 4-4-2 with the arrivals of Shevchenko and Ballack. With Lampard and Essien in fine form, and Mourinho experimenting with Ballack, Makelele, Robben and Mikel to find the perfect formula, he had looked just two months earlier to be on his way out of Chelsea. Like Shevchenko, the Englishman's performance tonight was going to boost his confidence massively.Drogba received a cross from Ashley Cole, and chested it into space behind Chimbonda. Wright-Phillips volleyed home from a tight ankle with his weaker foot to make it two-nil. If Shevchenko's goal was fantastic, Wright-Phillips' was breath-taking.Spurs looked to have found a "Get out of Jail" card when Berbatov was apparently tripped by Carvalho. The Chelsea defender took some of the ball and some of the man, but a spot-kick was the least Spurs deserved for their part in what had been two memorable FA Cup ties. Keane easily converted, sending Cech the wrong way, but Chelsea hung on and nearly got a third from substitute Robben, but earlier Shevchenko who was incorrectly waved offside when one-on-one.Squads and Line-Ups Tottenham (4-1-2-1-2) Robinson; Chimbonda, Dawson, Rocha (Stalteri 83), Lee; Zakora; Jenas, Malbranque (Defoe 63); Lennon; Keane ©, Berbatov.Scorers Keane (pen) 78.Booked Chimbona (78). Chelsea (4-1-2-1-2) Cech; Diarra (Ferreira 90+2), Carvalho, Terry ©, A Cole; Mikel; Wright-Phillips (Kalou 85), Lampard; Ballack; Shevchenko (Robben 81), Drogba.Scorers Shevchenko (53), Wright-Phillips (60).Booked Diarra (27), Drogba (34), Carvalho (77), Cech (78).The Ratings - How they ScoredKey:1: Woeful, 2: Inexistent Contribution, 3: Poor, 4: Quiet, 5: Tried, 6: Average, 7: Good, 8: Involved, 9: Excellent, 10: FantasticPetr Cech - 6 - Average. Little to do, except the penalty. Diarra - 9 - Excellent. Aaron Lennon had no joy against him.Carvalho - 7 - Good. Worked really hard and played well with Terry.Terry - 7 - Good. Strong display from the Chelsea skipper. Back to his best? - not just yet.Cole - 7 - Good. Might have got on scoresheet. Strong defensively.Wright-Phillips - 8 - Involved. Put some great crosses in and played well in the midfield. Great goalMikel - 10 - Fantastic. They say Makelele is the best in the world? Lampard - 7 - Good. Hard performance from the midfield dynamo.Ballack - 7 - Good. Not his best game, but his performances are getting better.Shevchenko - 9 - Fantastic. Spectacular goal and worked hard.Drogba - 7 - Good. Barely had a kick but was solid in defenceRobben- 7 - Good. Replaced Shevchenko. No time to impress.Kalou - 6 - Average. Replaced Wright-Phillips. Didn't do much. Didn't need to.Paulo Ferreira - 6 - Average. Replaced Diarra. Came on for 1 minute 21 seconds.Overall team rating - 8 - normal service is resumed at Three Points Lane.Spurs - 7 - They gave their best - and actually tried to play football. Played a massive part in two great games.Referee - 7 - Martin Atkinson was a little harsh with his bookings but made some good decisions.StatisticsTottenham - Chelsea4 - Shots on Target - 3 4 - Shots off Target - 10 5 - Blocked Shots - 1 7 - Corners - 6 12 - Fouls - 15 1 - Offsides - 3 1 - Yellow Cards - 3 0 - Red Cards - 0 34 - Tackles - 37 46% - Possession - 54% Star ManJohn Obi MikelThe GoalsShevchenko : 0-1Wright-Phillips : 0-2Keane (penalty) : 1-2