Frank Lampard
LONDON – Chelsea kept its English League Cup defence on track with a 2-0 win over 10-man Liverpool to reach the semifinals on Wednesday.
Frank Lampard and Andriy Shevchenko scored at Stamford Bridge against Liverpool, which had striker Peter Crouch sent off in the 60th minute.
”Before the red card, we were 1-0 up and we dominated the game, so I think we deserved the win,” Chelsea manager Avram Grant said.
Lampard scored in the 59th minute, converting a pass from Shevchenko. The ball took a deflection off Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher and looped over Liverpool goalkeeper Charles Itandje.
A minute later, Crouch was expelled for a tackle on Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel. Shevchenko made it 2-0 in the 90th.
Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez said Crouch had lost his temper because of Mikel’s physical marking.
”Two times he was trying to kick him – and if you protect him, you avoid the sending-off,” Benitez said. ”When you have a player behind you kicking you twice, sometimes you lose your head.”
Michael Ballack made his first appearance for Chelsea since April because of an ankle injury in the 67th when he replaced Mikel.
Both sides had lost 1-0 to Premier League rivals on Sunday – the Blues to Arsenal and Liverpool against Manchester United.
Chelsea was without captain and centre back John Terry, who broke three bones in his right foot in Sunday’s game, but Ricardo Carvalho returned from a back ailment.
Liverpool left out captain Steven Gerrard, who was bothered by an aching stomach, but had midfielder Xabi Alonso back from a foot injury.
On Tuesday, Arsenal and Tottenham both survived red cards to reach the semifinals. The Gunners winning 3-2 at Blackburn and Spurs prevailing 2-0 at Manchester City.
Everton already had made it to the semifinals after winning 2-1 at West Ham last week.
Chelsea could meet Arsenal in the final in a repeat of last season’s championship game, when it won 2-1. The Blues avoided Arsenal when it was drawn to play Everton in the semifinals.
Arsenal faces north London rival Tottenham in the other semifinal. The two play at Emirates Stadium in the Premier League on Saturday.
The two-leg semifinals will be played in the weeks starting Jan. 7 and Jan. 21, with Chelsea and Arsenal hosting the first legs.
”Any game in the semifinal is not easy but it’s two games so anything can happen,” Grant said. ”I hope we will be in the final. Everton are a very good team this year, a good season for them. It’s not easy to play against them.”
Source: ENG: Chelsea advances to League Cup semis
