Half-time: Chelsea 1 Stoke 0

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Oscar put Chelsea ahead in the FA Cup fourth-round clash at Stamford Bridge with a stunning 30-yard free-kick.

The Brazilian superbly swept the ball over the Stoke wall and into the far corner of the net on 27 minutes – and he later hit the woodwork.

Chelsea were well on top before the opener and Samuel Eto’o almost put them ahead in only the third minute.

Eto’o, a surprise choice ahead of Demba Ba, turned cleverly and sent a low shot inches wide of the post.

At the other end, Peter Crouch headed wide after holding off David Luiz to meet Jon Walters’ left-wing cross.

Jose Mourinho’s side continued to dominate after going ahead – an unmarked Branislav Ivanovic could not quite jump high enough to get his head to a free-kick from Frank Lampard, who was then just unable to get a touch to Eden Hazard’s cross.

And moments after Stephen Ireland almost equalised on the counter-attack, shooting into the side netting from nine yards out, Oscar fired against the post.

Mourinho, who had hinted that Ba would start up front, handed Nemanja Matic a starting place following the midfielder’s recent move from Benfica.

Lampard, who twice belted over, is captaining the side, with John Terry among Chelsea’s substitutes.

Chelsea: Schwarzer; Ivanovic, Luiz, Cahill, Cole; Matic, Lampard; Schurrle, Oscar, Hazard; Eto’o.
Subs: Cech, Azpilicueta, Terry, Mikel, Ramires, Willian, Ba.

Stoke: Begovic; Cameron, Shawcross, Wilson, Pieters; Walters, Nzonzi, Ireland, Palacios, Arnautovic; Crouch.
Subs: Sorensen, Muniesa, Shotton, Whelan, Adam, Assaidi, Guidetti.

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