Goals from Didier Drogba and Alex proved enough to earn Chelsea a 2-0 FA Cup quarterfinal win at Championship side Coventry, putting them through to the last four for the third time in four seasons.
Chelsea crashed out of the competition at the same stage last season to another Championship side Barnsley. But there was never any danger of another shock on Saturday as the Premier League giants dominated for almost the entire 90 minutes. Drogba, enjoying a new lease of life at Chelsea following the sacking of Luiz Felipe Scolari and the temporary appointment of Guus Hiddink, opened the scoring in the 15th minute. Central defender Ben Turner allowed himself to be muscled off the ball by Drogba and the striker calmly took the ball around goalkeeper Keiran Westwood before firing his shot into the net.
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Coventry pressed forward looking for an equalizing goal but with 17 minutes remaining they were caught on the break and substitute Ricardo Quaresma’s pinpoint cross from the right was expertly drilled home by Brazilian defender Alex. The result kept up Hiddink’s 100 per cent record since taking charge while the re-appearance of Ghanaian midfielder Michael Essien — who has been out of action since August with a knee ligament injury — is another boost to the club as they challenge for trophies on three separate fronts.
