Chelsea are through to the semi-finals of the FA Cup following a thoroughly-deserved 2-0 success over surprise package Stoke City.

The Potters eliminated the likes of Arsenal and Manchester City in previous rounds, but Chelsea ensured there would not be another scalp in their cup run at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea started brightly, but they could have gone behind had John Obi Mikel not been well-placed to hook Dean Whitehead's volley off the line with 15 minutes played.

Nicolas Anelka dragged a left-footed shot wide moments later, and then Frank Lampard opened the scoring with a trademark shot from the edge of the penalty area that beat Thomas Sorensen with the aid of a deflection.

The home side continued to create the better chances and Sorensen did well to get a hand on Didier Drogba's low shot while Lampard blazed over after the ball fell kindly to him following the break.

Stoke never threw in the towel, but their resistance was finally broken after 68 minutes when John Terry's near-post header from Lampard's corner deflected in off Andy Wilkinson's shoulder.

Chelsea could and should have padded their lead as they continued to carve out decent goalscoring opportunities, but it did not matter as Carlo Ancelotti's side booked a semi-final date at Wembley.

Former Chelsea defender Robert Huth headed the ball goalwards only for Mamady Sidibe to flick the ball over the bar.

Responded

Three minutes later Chelsea responded with a shot from Anelka which was well saved by Stoke stopper Sorensen.

But Stoke were unlucky not to open the scoring when Sidibe's effort at the far post was blocked by Alex.

And in the 14th minute it required a clearance off the line from Mikel to prevent Stoke going ahead. Delap's long throw was punched clear by Hilario but only to Whitehead on the edge of the penalty area. The Stoke midfielder's drilled shot was heading for the bottom corner until Mikel's timely intervention.

Chelsea striker Drogba required treatment off the pitch after a collision with Huth but was soon back in action.

Chelsea squandered a great chance in the 29th minute when Whitehead was caught in possession inside the penalty area but Anelka fired beyond the far post from six yards.

Stoke were frustrating Chelsea but they also looked dangerous on the break. In the 31st minute Tuncay raced into the Chelsea penalty area but a superb tackle from Alex prevented the City midfielder from pulling the trigger.

Chelsea won a succession of corners and one of them paid off in the 35th minute when Lampard fired them in front with the 18th FA Cup goal of his Chelsea career.

Florent Malouda's corner found Terry at the far post and the Chelsea captain laid the ball into the path of Lampard for the England midfielder to send a rising drive into the net for his 16th of the season. It was also his 146th career goal for the club and pushed him closer to Peter Osgood's tally of 150.

Well saved

Drogba almost made it two just seconds before the break but his shot was well saved by Sorensen.

A long throw by Branislav Ivanovic almost brought Chelsea a second in the 48th minute. Stoke failed to clear the throw but Lampard put his volley high over the crossbar from just inside the penalty area.

Sorensen then had to be alert to deal with a Drogba free-kick as Chelsea stepped up the tempo.

Anelka sent a rasping drive beyond Sorensen's left-hand post in the 58th minute and such was their dominance that Stoke boss Tony Pulis opted to make a double substitution on the hour.

Stoke had to thank Wilkinson in the 66th minute when he cleared off the line from Anelka. Drogba's cross found the France striker unmarked at the far post and his header was stopped by Wilkinson with Sorensen struggling.

But two minutes later Chelsea went 2-0 in front through captain Terry. He planted a firm header into the net from a corner by Malouda and then ran to the corner flag pointing at his captain's armband in celebration.

Lampard almost grabbed a second in the 75th minute but his dipping 20-yard effort was well saved by Sorensen.

Stoke almost profited from another Delap throw in the 82nd minute but Abdoulaye Faye put the ball over with Hilario nowhere.

Anelka squandered the chance to get on the scoresheet in the 89th minute when he fired wide after latching on to a pinpoint pass from Lampard.

Teams

Chelsea  Hilario, Ivanovic, Alex, Terry, Ferreira, Lampard, Mikel, Malouda, Anelka, Kalou, Drogba
Subs Not Used  Turnbull, van Aanholt, Matic, Kakuta, Deco, J. Cole, Sturridge
Booked  Terry
Goals  Lampard 35, Terry 67

Stoke City  Sorensen, Wilkinson, Ab. Faye, Huth, Collins, Delap, Whelan (Pugh 45), Whitehead, Tuncay (Lawrence 60), Sidibe (Kitson 61), Fuller
Subs Not Used Simonsen, Davies, Moult, Am. Faye
Booked 
Goals 

Attendance 41,322

Referee  M. Atkinson