Chelsea secured a 2-0 home victory over 10-man Liverpool on Wednesday to book their place in the Carling Cup semi-final. The first-half ended goalless, thanks to some fine goalkeeping from Liverpool guardian Charles Itandje and his opposite number Petr Cech. However, French keeper Itandje could do nothing to stop Frank Lampard open the scoring in the 59th minute. The England midfielder's shot from inside the area deflected off Jamie Carragher and looped into the back of the net. Liverpool's hopes of leveling the score suffered a blow when striker Peter Crouch was handed a straight red card one minute later. The giant frontman made a reckless two-footed challenge on Nigerian midfielder John Obi Mikel and was understandably dismissed. Ukrainian striker Andriy Shevchenko made sure of the victory in stoppage time. He struck home from an acute angle after being set-up by the header of Michael Ballack, who returned to action for the first time since April.
