Hema Kanani reviews Chelsea’s latest FA Cup semi-final win.
Reigning FA Cup holders will return to Wembley to face Portsmouth in the FA Cup Final.
Goals from Didier Drogba, Florent Malouda and an injury-time strike from Frank
Lampard saw off a gutsy Aston Villa at Wembley.
Relegated Portsmouth caused the surprise of the semis by dispatching Tottenham 2-0 after extra time to set up the mouth-watering prospect of ex-Chelsea boss Avram Grant facing his former charges.
Blues’ fans will remember that we battered the Midlanders just a couple of weeks ago 7-1 in the league at the Bridge.
In terms of the team Carlo Ancelotti selected this time, it was pretty much the same team that defeated Manchester United 1-2 last week. The only change was Drogba for Nicolas Anelka.
The first half saw Villa on top, and in the 16th minute they fell foul to a poor decision by referee Howard Webb who denied them a surefire penalty.
Maybe Howard Webb needs to go to Specsavers along with Mike Dean.
This was the let-off Chelsea needed.
From then on it was Chelsea's show all the way.
Surely but surely as the minutes passed Chelsea grew stronger.
But it took until the 67th minute before the Villa defence was breached.
Drogba had the relatively easy task of stroking home the ball from eight yards out after good set-up play by John Terry
Without a doubt he was man of the match and drove Chelsea forward. His goal wounded Aston Villa and Chelsea grew in confidence.
In the 89th minute the valliant Aston Villa defence could take no more when substitute Michael Ballack got hold of the ball and unleashed a pinpoint cross, which landed beautifully on the foot of the in-running Malouda.
The Frenchman blasted home from close range to secure the match.
Chelsea hit the third deep into stoppage time when Lampard caressed the ball into the net from the edge of the penalty area.
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