Chelsea 4-0 Norwich City (Sky Sports)
Zola Special Helps Blues
Silence Canaries
Stephen Turner reporting An incredible Gianfranco Zola goal got the biggest cheer of the night at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea demolished Norwich 4-0 at the second time of asking to set up a fourth round clash with West Ham. With Graeme Le Saux's 63rd-minute corner apparently past the Italian on the angle of the six-yard box, a balletic leap and a flick of his right foot took the ball behind his front leg and inside Robert Green's near post before the keeper could move. Earlier, two goals claimed by Hammers old-boy Frank Lampard, one of which he actually scored, had put the Blues in a comfortable position before substitute Mikael Forssell gave the score a more realistic look. Claudio Ranieri's side were utterly dominant, and the Canaries had not so much as a chirrup in answer to their hosts' superior movement and passing ability. Only the heroics of Carlo Cudicini had prevented Chelsea from coming a cropper at Carrow Road in the goalless first game, and from the outset it was clear that Norwich keeper Green would need a performance of similar stature if his side were to stay in the competition. At first it seemed as though he would provide just that, as his alertness distracted Eidur Gudjohnsen just enough for the normally cucumber-cool Icelander to loft his shot high and wide of the target. Two smart stops in two minutes shortly afterwards kept the scores even, as Gudjohnsen was denied at the near post before Green ended up in the back of the net but kept the ball out from Zola's header. But the floodgate hinges which had been severely tested by wave after wave of Blue attack finally gave way under the merest drop of pressure 11 minutes in. Form Le Saux's right-wing corner the ball seemed lodged between the torsos of Mario Stanic and Darren Kenton as they challenged for it, but eventually it squeezed goalwards and wended a slovenly way over the line before Darel Russell could clear. Despite Lampard's claim that he helped the ball on its way, the only impact his studs made was on Green's midriff and Norwich will count themselves unlucky that the goal was not ruled out. Steed Nedergaard's volley across the face of goal was as close as Nigel Worthington's side got to an equaliser before the break, and when Lampard was first to the rebound after Green had spilled a Stanic dipper four minutes before the hour, any hopes of a second-half comeback were effectively over. Zola added his touch of class to proceedings before Finnish striker Forssell took centre stage with a hit-and-miss 20-minute cameo. The youngster had already come off second best in a one-on-one with Green and skidded a drive inches wide from the edge of the box when, with a minute on the clock, Dalla Bonna sent him through again to notch his goal via Green's less-than-rigid forearms. Stamford Bridge somewhat over-exuberantly 'Oled' their team's every move until the final whistle - they may find a London derby against a resurgent West Ham side less comfortable. Chelsea: Cudicini,
Melchiot, Gallas (Zenden 69), Desailly, Le Saux, Stanic, Morris (Jokanovic
45), Lampard, Dalla Bona, Gudjohnsen (Forssell 62), Zola. Att: 24,231
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