The only goal came on just before the half hour, Oscar bending a free kick from 22 yards out into the far left corner after a foul on Samuel Eto'o by Erik Pieters, as Chelsea beat Stoke by a single goal at Stamford Bridge. The first half started at a fast tempo, and both sides had a good chance to open the score. Inside the first six minutes Samuel Eto'o received the ball with his back to goal inside of the box, turned and fired inches wide of the far post, then peter Crouch headed wide from four yards after Simon Walters cross was deflected. The game began to settle as both sides struggled for momentum, but that changed when Oscar showed his dead ball prowess. In the final five minutes of the half the game really opened, Frank Lampard coming so close to tapping in the excellent Eden Hazard's cross, Stephen Ireland hitting the side netting at the other end before Chelsea returned fire with Oscar hitting the near post and Lampard hitting over from Branislav Ivanovic's cutback. Chelsea started the second half how they ended the first, with Andre Schurrle smacking the post from 15 yards after Asmir Begovic's poor clearance was seized upon by the Blues. However, the second goal was proving elusive. Hazard and Oscar continued to torment the Stoke defence, the latter having a couple of efforts straight at Begovic, who also saved well from a Lampard volley from the edge of the box. Hazard continued to weave his magic, earning a free kick and booking for Pieters to follow the yellows for fouls on the Belgium winger from Marc Wilson and Geoff Cameron. Hazard created the best chance of the second half when he waltzed to the byline and crossed for Ramires, who missed a tap in under heavy pressure. The ball fell to Eto'o, only four yards out, but he sliced wide. The onslaught from the Potters never came and it was Chelsea who had the best chance in the final ten minutes. A David Luiz thunderbolt free kick tested Begovic and the Bosnian flew to his right to make a fabulous save. Four minutes of injury time came and went without much fanfare as Chelsea deservedly progressed into the fifth round. For Mark Hughes, thoughts quickly turn to Wednesday night's vital trip to Sunderland. Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Schwarzer; Ivanovic, Cole, Luiz, Cahill; Lampard, Matic; Schurrle (Ramires 70), Hazard, Oscar (Willian 81); Eto'o (Ba 84) Unused subs: Cech, Terry, Azpilicueta, Mikel, Stoke (4-1-41): Begovic; Pieters (Muniesa 85), Cameron, Wilson, Shawcross; Palacios (Assaidi 72), Nzonzi; Walters, Ireland, Arnautovic; Crouch Unused Subs: Sorensen, Shotton, Whelan, Guidetti Booked: Cameron, Wilson, Pieters
