Blues penalty knocks out QPR
Written By: Robert Halter
Queens Park Rangers tackled Chelsea again in another West London derby at Loftus Road, this time in the fourth round of the F.A. Cup at the end of January. But since the Hoops 1-0 win in the league over the Blues in October last year, the R’s now had a new manager installed as Mark Hughes replaced Neil Warnock in charge. A slip by Luke Young gave Juan Mata the chance to breakthrough on eleven minutes but the Blues number ten directed his shot straight at Paddy Kenny. Six minutes into the second half, Fernando Torres set up Daniel Sturridge but the Chelsea striker drove the ball over. After Petr Cech clawed away a low cross from Shaun Wright-Phillips, QPR then conceded a dubious penalty on the hour mark as referee Mike Dean pointed to the spot after Clint Hill appended Sturridge in the box. Mata stepped up and directed his kick into the bottom right corner to put the Blues ahead in the tie. After the loss of Ramires to injury, Oriol Romeu took over for the final quarter of the game for Chelsea as at the same time QPR switched Akos Buzsaky for Rob Hulse, with a delay resulting in seven minutes of stoppage time being played. A full length save by Cech in the dying moments, kept out Young’s well struck drive which ended the R’s F.A. Cup campaign as Mata’s spot kick proved decisive for Chelsea as the Blues went into the fifth round draw.