Match report from tonight's home win in the encounter versus Bolton Wanderers
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Chelsea sailed into the quarter-finals of the Carling Cup with an emphatic display against woeful Bolton Wanderers at Stamford Bridge.
Goals from Salomon Kalou, Florent Malouda, Deco and Didier Drogba competed the rout.
Within 12 seconds Joe Cole had a shot on goal, but it was easily held by Ali Al Habsi.
Two minutes later and Matt Taylor saw his right-wing free-kick go straight to Chelsea keeper Henrique Hilario.
But within a quarter-of-an-hour the Blues hit the back of the net. Captain Michael Ballack put in a inch-perfect left-wing cross deep into the Bolton area and Kalou rose unchallenged to power home a fierce header past Al Habsi.
A minute later and Bolton could have been level but Hilario dived at the feet of the in-rushing Taylor and the midfielder's shot smashed off the face of the keeper.
The Chelsea goalkeeper collapsed to the ground seconds later - seemingly a result of the injury and was replaced by Ross Turnbull for his debut.
Hilario was taken straight away to the local hospital for a scan on his head.
It was the Blues who struck again on 26 minutes, Frenchman Malouda tucking home an easy left-foot shot from five yards out after his first shot had deflected off defender Zat Knight.
Kalou almost hit his second on 39 minutes when Malouda set the Ivory Coast hit-man free, but his left-foot shot from just inside the Bolton area was parried away to safety by the goalkeeper
Turnbull's first piece of action came on 54 minutes when he snuffed out Mark Davies' daisy-cutter of a drive.
A sharp counter-attack from the home side two minutes later saw Cole slide the ball to striker Daniel Sturridge but the young striker fluffed his big moment, sending the ball wide of the Bolton goal.
Seconds later he just missed another golden chance to open his account but sent a low left-footed drive wide of the Bolton goal.
The 20-year-old lasted two more minutes before being subbed for Drogba.
Bolton failed to learn from the previous goal and, on 67 minutes, another quick counter-attack saw Deco get the ball off Cole and arrow a low right footer past a prone Al Habsi from just inside the Bolton penalty area.
The visitors did hit the Chelsea post with four minutes remaining through Ivan Klasnic and the ball was cleared to safety.
Drogba powerfully headed home Cole right-wing cross on 89 minutes to complete the demolition. |
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