Shevchenko fires Chelsea to final

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LONDON, England -- Andriy Shevchenko got back in Jose Mourinho's good books as his double strike sent Chelsea through to the League Cup final with a 4-0 win against Wycombe Wanderers at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday.

Shevchenko had been frozen out by manager Mourinho in recent weeks after failing to live up to his 30 million pounds price tag, but he went some way to redeeming himself with two clincial finishes.

Former AC Milan striker Shevchenko, making just his second start of 2007, also set up the first of Frank Lampard's two goals in a semifinal second leg victory that sealed a 5-1 aggregate triumph.

Shevchenko was the only player ignored by Mourinho when he consoled his players as they walked off the pitch after Saturday's defeat against Liverpool, further fuelling talk of a rift.

But, despite not scoring since December 5, Shevchenko was granted a chance in a full-strength Chelsea side that also included Ricardo Carvalho, fit after recovering from a fever.

Shevchenko should have given Chelsea the lead after less than a minute when Ashley Cole's cross from the left picked him out, but he headed tamely wide from no more than six yards.

But the breakthrough that Chelsea's dominance deserved arrived after 22 minutes and it was Shevchenko who finally delivered.

Midfielder Tommy Doherty's careless pass gifted possession to Shevchenko who surged into the penalty area and slide his shot past Batista.

And Wycombe's task was made almost impossible just before half-time.

Michael Ballack lifted a pass over the defense and Shevchenko sprinted clear before stabbing a clinical strike into the net from 12 yards.

Any doubts that Chelsea would clinch a second League Cup final appearance in three years were erased when Shevchenko set up his side's third in the 69th minute.

He lofted a long ball forward and, as Batista charged out of his goal, Lampard chipped over Sam Stockley and knocked the ball into an empty net.

Lampard put the seal on a much-needed win for the English champions as he tapped-in Drogba's cross in injury-time.

Chelsea will face either Tottenham or Arsenal, who play the first leg of their semifinal on Wednesday, in an all-London club League Cup final in Cardiff on February 25.

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