Oscar’s winner sees off stubborn Bolton

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Chelsea 2 Bolton Wanderers 1

Oscar’s long-range strike took Chelsea into the fourth round of the Capital One Cup.

Kurt Zouma scored on his Blues debut before Matt Mills headed the Championship side level just after the half-hour mark.

But the lead was restored when Oscar fired past the outstanding Andy Lonergan nine minutes into the second half, clinching a deserved victory and setting up a trip to face League Two outfit Shrewsbury in the last 16.

Chelsea, with keeper Petr Cech in the side – as captain – and Loic Remy making his first start, dominated most of the game and would have won by a much greater margin but for Lonergan.

The Bolton keeper produced several fine saves, including a fingertip stop to nudge Andre Schurrle’s 16th-minute free-kick onto the bar.

Lonergan could do little when his defence was unable to clear Oscar’s corner and after headers from Gary Cahill and then Remy, Zouma belted into the net from six yards out.

Schurrle went close to scoring a number of times
Schurrle went close to scoring a number of times

Mohamed Salah then almost doubled the lead when he curled wide from near the edge of the penalty area.

Jose Mourinho’s team seemed to be in complete control but were suddenly pegged back when centre-back Mills rose to head home Liam Feeney’s free-kick.

Bolton rode their luck early in the second half when Darren Pratley escaped after handling the ball in the area.

And Lonergan produced another fine save to push over Oscar’s near-post header from Schurrle’s right-wing free-kick.

Oscar did eventually find a way past the Wanderers stopper before Schurrle, who was at the heart of much of Chelsea’s best play, shot wide after a lovely jinking run.

Schurrle was also denied by a combination of Lonergan and the post when a chance fell to the German late on.

Chelsea were fairly comfortable winners but had to withstand some Bolton pressure in the final few minutes, during which Jermaine Beckford was just unable to make contact with Joe Mason’s deflected shot.

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Cech; Azpilicueta, Zouma, Cahill, Felipe Luis; Mikel, Ake (Matic 90); Salah (Hazard 79), Oscar, Schurrle; Remy (Drogba 71).
Subs not used: Schwarzer, Ivanovic, Christensen, Baker.

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