Goals from Michael Ballack and Frank Lampard gave Chelsea a nervy victory over Fenerbache at Stamford Bridge and edge them into the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League.

Ballack headed the opener in the fourth minute to enable the Blues to level the tie, with Joe Cole then hitting the post four minutes later.

But Fenerbahce came back into the game and it was a nervous Stamford Bridge before Frank Lampard scored with three minutes to go from a Michael Essien cross.

The Blues have now reached the semi-finals of the competition for the fourth time in five years and will face Liverpool, who beat Arsenal 4-2 at Anfield to progress.

It will be the third time in four years the English pair have met in the last four of the competition but there is growing belief at Stamford Bridge that this could finally turn out to be Chelsea's year.

But their victory was marred by an injury to goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini which plunged Chelsea's goalkeeping crisis to a new low as first-choice stopper Petr Cech is out for at least two weeks after undergoing facial surgery.

Chelsea's desire to eradicate their one-goal disadvantage was evident from the start and they were given a massive lift in the fourth minute when Ballack put them level on aggregate.

Fine header

A free-kick from Lampard found the Fenerbahce defence dreaming and the Germany captain glanced a fine header into the far corner of the net.

It was the perfect start for Grant's side but it almost got even better four minutes later when a superb run by Salomon Kalou on the left flank ended with Joe Cole hitting a post from the Ivorian's cross.

Ballack then tested Volkan Demirel from the rebound with a low drive which the Fenerbahce goalkeeper did well to save at his near post.

Chelsea were in the groove and every attack promised to punish the Turks further.

Drogba skipped past Gokhan Gonul before trying his luck with a curling shot that dipped just too late to hit the target.

But in the 25th minute, Chelsea's goalkeeping crisis plunged to new depths when Cudicini signalled to the bench that he could not continue, and on came Hilario.

Fenerbahce seized the opportunity to try and unnerve the Portuguese four minutes later when Semih Senturk sent a 20-yard drive just wide of his right-hand upright.

But the Turks should have equalised a minute later when a free-kick from Alex found Lugano in space on the edge of the six-yard box.

Unfortunately he could not direct his header on target and a golden opportunity to restore their aggregate lead went begging.

The double scare demonstrated Fenerbahce's ability to open up the Chelsea rearguard but moments later the English side squandered another chance to increase their lead on the night.

Joe Cole and Drogba combined superbly on the right flank and when the ball dropped invitingly for the Ivorian striker, he forced Volkan into another diving save.

Second period

In the second period, Drogba was unlucky with a shot on the turn that fortunately for Volkan was hit straight at him.

Drogba continued to cause the Turks problems and his sheer strength enabled him to carve out another chance in the 66th minute but again his low drive, from the edge of the penalty area, was just not accurate enough to beat Volkan.

In the 76th minute, Drogba for once turned provider and set up Joe Cole but the England midfielder, clear of the Turkish defence, was beaten to the ball by Volkan.

The Fenerbahce stopper then had to dive to his left to prevent a Drogba free-kick from finding the corner of the net as Chelsea continued to search for a second goal.

But with nine minutes left Chelsea had stand-in goalkeeper Hilario to thank for earning them a place in the semi-finals.

He made two stunning saves within seconds to deny Gokhan and then Colin Kazim-Richards.

But Chelsea wrapped-up the tie with three minutes of normal time remaining when Michael Essien's cross was turned home by Lampard from close range.

However, some of the gloss was taken off their victory when Essien was shown a yellow card - a misdemeanour that rules him out of the first leg against Liverpool.

Teams

Chelsea  Cudicini (Hilario 26), A. Cole, Terry, Carvalho, J. Cole (Malouda 85), Lampard, Essien, Makelele, Ballack, Drogba, Kalou (Belletti 58)
Subs Not Used  Shevchenko, Alex, Mikel, Anelka
Booked  Essien, Carvalho
Goals  Ballack 4, Lampard 87

Fenerbahce  Demirel, Dracena, Lugano, Gonul, Wederson (Bilgin 89), Aurelio, Alex, Maldonado (Kezman 60), Senturk (Boral 75), Deivid, Kazim-Richards
Subs Not Used Turaci, Sahin, Kulbilge, Cakmak
Booked
Goals
Attendance 39,369

Referee H. Fandel (Germany)