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| March 27, 2003 | Thursday | Muharram 23, 1424 |
Arsenal on course for another double
LONDON, March 26: Arsenal put on a fine display of flair and discipline to beat Chelsea 3-1 in their FA Cup quarterfinal replay on Tuesday helped by an own goal from John Terry and fine strikes by Sylvain Wiltord and Lauren.
Chelsea, who came from behind to draw 2-2 at Highbury in the teams’ first meeting three weeks ago, pulled one back 11 minutes from time when Terry scored with a diving header.
Arsenal, who remain on course to repeat their league and Cup double of last season, made light of their numerical disadvantage in the final 24 minutes after defender Pascal Cygan was sent off for a second bookable offence.
Chelsea’s eagerness to make amends for their 2-0 Cup final defeat by the champions last season often left them exposed at the back and the league leaders exploited the weakness.
It was France striker Sylvain Wiltord who broke free in the 24th minute and accelerated through the middle before passing to compatriot Vieira.
Hapless Chelsea captain Terry, selected 48 hours ago for the first time for England’s senior squad, turned Vieira’s penalty-box through ball into the net.
Vieira, who had been doubtful for the game after nursing a nagging knee injury, was instrumental in Arsenal’s second goal too. He picked up the ball well into his own half and left the Chelsea midfield standing with a blistering run down the centre.
He slipped a pass to Wiltord on the left and the Striker had no trouble tucking his shot past keeper Carlo Cudicini in the 34th minute.
Six minutes earlier Chelsea had almost equalised when Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s free kick from 30 metres forced Stuart Taylor into a fine save, tipping the dipping ball over the bar.
The home side, who have not won an FA Cup match against their north London rivals since 1947, came out guns blazing in the second half, earning two early corners and forcing another diving save from Taylor when Petit’s scissor kick looked to be heading home.
But the move exposed them even more down the middle and Arsenal should have scored on the hour after a Francis Jeffers run but Ray Parlour, who scored in the 2002 Cup final, found no-one on the end of his cross.
It was not until the 79th minute that the home side’s hard work paid off, Terry’s head getting on the end of a pinpoint Hasselbaink cross.
But their joy was short lived. Three minutes later Arsenal were on the break again and Lauren tore Chelsea’s defence apart with a swirling run down the right before cutting inside for a clinical left-footed finish low into the Chelsea goal.—Reuters
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