Chelsea 5 Leicester 2
Fernando Torres finally ended his barren run as Chelsea breezed into the semi-finals of the FA Cup.
The Spaniard scored twice in a comprehensive victory for the Blues – their fourth win in as many games since interim boss Roberto Di Matteo was placed in charge.
Gary Cahill, Salomon Kalou and Raul Meireles also got on the scoreheet, but it was Torres who stole the show.
Cahill set Chelsea on their way, heading in Juan Mata’s corner, before Kalou doubled the lead by slotting home after being found by Torres’ 18th-minute cross.
Torres netted midway through the second half with a scuffed shot beyond keeper Kasper Schmeichel after collecting a pass from Meireles.
It was hardly a vintage finish from the Spaniard, but it ended his five-month wait for a goal and sent the Stamford Bridge crowd into raptures.
Championship side Leicester kept battling and were rewarded with a goal by Jermaine Beckford 13 minutes from the end.
Beckford pounced on the rebound after Neil Danns’ shot bounced back off the post.
But Chelsea’s two-goal cushion was restored by Torres’ glancing near-post header from Meireles’ corner.
Leicester substitute Ben Marshall then scored the best goal of the game, smashing an unstoppable effort into the top corner with two minutes left.
There was still time for Chelsea to score a fifth – and man of the moment Torres was again involved, unselfishly teeing up Meireles to fire home.
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This post was last modified on 18/03/2012