Costa helps ease Chelsea through
PEDRO and Diego Costa were on target as Chelsea ended Wolves’ gallant run in the competition at Molineux.
On a day of shocks normal order was restored as Wolves, conquerors of Stoke and Liverpool, were beaten 2-0 in the fifth round by the Premier League leaders.
Chelsea academy graduate George Saville hit a post after five minutes for Wolves – and an hour later the hosts’ resilience was punctured when a clinical counter-attack concluded with Pedro heading in at the back post.
Diego Costa was outplayed by namesake Helder Costa for much of a contest in which Eden Hazard was a peripheral figure, but both had a role in Pedro’s goal and Costa struck late on to send Chelsea into the quarter-finals.
Chelsea drew 1-1 at Burnley last Sunday, but Conte was determined his side would not suffer the same cup fate as the Clarets, beaten earlier in the day by non-League Lincoln.
Wolves had lost their last three Championship games, but a side showing five changes from the one which began the defeat against Wigan in midweek started well.
With Pedro, one of four players retained in Chelsea’s starting XI, at left wing-back, Wolves thrived down their right.
It was a Jack Price cross from that flank which Kurt Zouma was unable to connect with, allowing the ball to drop for Saville. Ten yards out and with the goal gaping, Saville sliced the ball against the left-hand post.
Cesc Fabregas repeatedly tried to unlock the the Wolves defence, playing Willian through but Wolves goalkeeper Carl Ikeme did well to spread himself and deny the Brazilian.
Andreas Weimann went asking a penalty soon after that as he bounced off Willian’s shoulder but the appeal was dismissed.
Helder Costa fired at Asmir Begovic after some trickery down the right and then Matt Doherty crossed from the left, but no-one in a Wolves shirt was able to meet the ball.
Diego Costa did meet a Victor Moses cross soon afterwards, but his back was to goal and he could only direct the ball over.
Wolves were creating problems for Chelsea, who were struggling to fashion chances. Diego Costa fired into the side-netting after finally evading his marker and creating a shooting opportunity 17 minutes into the second half.
Chelsea have been devastating on the counter attack this season and proved to be once again. Fabregas played in Diego Costa in the right channel and the striker found Hazard, who played the ball to Willian and he teed Pedro up to head in at the back post.
Chelsea sent on N’Golo Kante and Cesar Azpilicueta late on and the defensive reinforcements made life more difficult for Wolves.
The visitors had another opportunity on the break when Hazard found Fabregas, but his shot deflected wide.
A second goal soon followed, though as Kante and Fabregas combined on the edge of the Wolves box and the ball broke off Doherty, falling to Costa who swept the ball in.