Fulham 0 Chelsea 3
John Terry scored twice as Chelsea won the west London derby and took a big step towards a Champions League place.
David Luiz’s 35-yarder and the captain’s header put the Blues in command before half-time – despite Fulham creating several chances.
And Terry, back in the starting line-up along with Frank Lampard, netted again 18 minutes from the end to seal a victory which took his team back up to third.
Luiz’s stunning strike into the corner just after the half-hour mark came after Bryan Ruiz and Giorgos Karagounis had gone close to putting the home side ahead.
Ruiz missed the target after being found by Sascha Riether’s cross and Karagounis sent a fierce shot just over before John Arne Riise fired straight at Petr Cech.
Fulham continued to press after going behind, with Cech tipping away Urby Emanuelson’s deflected shot and Dimitar Berbatov placing an effort narrowly wide.
Having been forced to soak up pressure for much of the half, Chelsea doubled their lead four minutes before the interval.
Juan Mata served up a fine cross from the right and Terry sneaked behind Philippe Senderos to head home from six yards.
Fulham would have reduced the deficit on 70 minutes had the offside Mladen Petric not contrived to divert Senderos’ goal-bound header over the bar from no more than two yards out.
Terry made no such mistake when Fernando Torres’ header was going in.
He gleefully added the finishing touch to cap a resounding Chelsea triumph.
Fulham: Schwarzer; Riether, Senderos, Hangeland, Riise (Rodallega 67); Ruiz, Enoh, Karagounis (Frimpong 77), Emmanuelson, Berbatov, Petric (Frei 82).
Subs not used: Etheridge, Richardson, Hughes, Manolev.
Chelsea: Cech; Ivanovic, Luiz, Terry, Bertrand; Ramires (Mikel 75), Lampard; Hazard (Oscar 68), Mata (Ba 80), Moses; Torres.
Subs not used: Turnbull, Azpilicueta, Benayoun, Ake.
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This post was last modified on 18/04/2013