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Chelsea win earns semifinal tie against Aston Villa

John Terry scored the second goal for Chelsea in their 2-0 FA Cup victory over Stoke City.
John Terry scored the second goal for Chelsea in their 2-0 FA Cup victory over Stoke City.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
  • FA Cup holders Chelsea beat Stoke City 2-0 in quarterfinal tie at Stamford Bridge
  • Frank Lampard and John Terry score the goals for Chelsea in easy win
  • Chelsea will play Aston Villa who beat Reading 4-2 in earlier tie Sunday
  • The other semifinal will be between Portsmouth and Fulham or Tottenham
RELATED TOPICS
  • Chelsea FC
  • John Terry
  • Aston Villa FC
  • FA Cup

(CNN) -- Chelsea cruised into the semifinals of this season's FA Cup with a 2-0 home win over Stoke City on Sunday with deposed England captain John Terry playing a key role.

Terry set up the opener for Frank Lampard and then scored the clinching second which earned them a semifinal against Aston Villa when the draw was made later on Sunday.

Villa looked to be going out as they trailed second-flight Reading 2-0 at halftime before mounting a stunning comeback with three goals in 10 minutes and a late penalty from John Carew to complete his hat-trick in the 4-2 win.

The other semifinal at Wembley will be between cash-strapped Portsmouth, who beat Birmingham 2-0 on Saturday, and either Fulham or Tottenham Hotspur who played to a goalless draw at Craven Cottage. They replay at White Hart Lane on March 24.

Holders Chelsea showed they are in no mood to give up the famous trophy easily with a generally dominant display against fellow Premier League side Stoke at Stamford Bridge.

The visitors had their best moment when from one of Rory Delap's trademark long-throws a Dean Whitehead shot was cleared off the line by John Obi Mikel.

But England midfielder Lampard put Chelsea ahead on the 35th minute as he ran on to Terry's pass to send a fierce deflected shot past Thomas Sorensen in the Stoke goal.

Chelsea had other chances to seal their quarterfinal passage until Terry charged forward to head home Lampard's corner just after the hour mark.

"It's never an easy game against Stoke. They really do put you under a lot of pressure, especially from the dead balls and long throws," said Chelsea assistant manager Ray Wilkins.

It's never an easy game against Stoke. They really do put you under a lot of pressure, especially from the dead balls and long throws
--Ray Wilkins

Earlier, Villa, beaten in the English League Cup final by Manchester United at Wembley last weekend, appeared to be suffering a hangover as Shane Long scored twice for this season's cup giantkillers.

But it all went wrong for Reading after the break as Ashley Young pulled one back within two minutes of the restart.

Villa's equalizer arrived just four minutes later when giant Norwegian striker Carew headed in Stewart Downing's clever cross.

Carew then put Villa ahead in the 57th minute with a skilful flick from Stephen Warnock's cross.

Reading pressed for an equalizer in front of their own fans at the Madejski Stadium but were caught on the break and conceded a penalty in stoppage time which Carew converted.

The semifinals will be played at Wembley on the weekend of April 10/11.

In the only English Premier League game played on Sunday, Europe-chasing Everton thrashed relegation battlers Hull City 5-1.

Spanish midfielder Mikel Arteta scored twice, either side of Tom Cairney's equalizer for Hull at Goodison Park.

David Moyes' men sealed three points through a Richard Garcia own goal and late strikes from LA Galaxy loanee Landon Donovan and youngster Jack Rodwell.