With more than 900 appearances for Chelsea between them in a double act that has brought eight trophies to Stamford Bridge, John Terry and Frank Lampard have shared much.
Yet they can rarely have combined better. The captain supplied the vice-captain for the first goal; the favour was returned for the second. Lampard's winner ensured Chelsea's name was engraved on the FA Cup that Terry lifted last year. Now their efforts enabled a return to Wembley for the semi-finals, where they will meet Aston Villa.
Theirs has been a smooth progression to the last four, aided by professional performances and favourable draws while others fell by the wayside. Stoke presented much the sternest test to date yesterday. They were marginally the better side until Lampard opened the scoring and threatened an equaliser until Terry doubled the advantage. He pointed to the armband as he wheeled away in celebration. Sacked by England and cherished at Chelsea, Terry remains first among equals on his own turf.
"We are delighted to have John in our ranks and he has done an exceptional job for us over the years," said Ray Wilkins, the first-team coach. "He continues to be an exceptional captain for us."
"Chelsea have been very supportive, the players as well, so I would like to thank everyone for that," said the defender, who suggested the key element was the response to last week's 4-2 defeat to Manchester City. "We were hurt and disappointed by the way we played," he added.
Having struck twice then, Lampard could be exempted from criticism. The scorer of the winner against Everton in last season's final, he provided another high-quality finish at a time when Chelsea lacked conviction. Stoke were unable to clear a corner and Terry displayed the composure to lay the ball back to Lampard. His was a sweet strike, a minor deflection off Abdoulaye Faye neither helping nor hindering its passage to the back of the net. It was his 16th goal of the season. Twenty represents a once-in-a-lifetime achievement for most midfielders; for Lampard, it is a landmark he reaches on an annual basis.
The goal represented a welcome change from the fare that preceded it. Chelsea's first clear-cut chance was scarcely crafted. A poor touch by Dean Whitehead afforded Anelka the opportunity to intercept. He did so with alacrity, but dragged his shot past Thomas Sorensen and wide.
Indeed, while a fractious Didier Drogba hobbled around and wandered off, receiving more treatment than passes, Chelsea's most threatening attacker was their third-choice left-back. It was a reflection of the underwhelming impression his colleagues made, but also a sign of the verve with which Paulo Ferreira advanced on the left flank. His cross resulted in a chance for Drogba on the stroke of half-time, the Ivorian drawing a fine save from Sorensen.
Stirred into action, a display of force and finesse from Drogba almost provided Anelka with a second goal. Instead, Andy Wilkinson reacted well to thwart Chelsea. The reprieve was shortlived; Lampard took the resulting corner and Terry headed it in. Once again, Wilkinson applied a touch; on this occasion, he could not turn it past the post. Anelka, whose movement was better than his finishing, spurned a late chance to garnish the scoreline, though Stoke had already been seen off. But that is no mean feat. Having eliminated first Arsenal and then Manchester City, Stoke are both giantkillers and, as the league's tallest team, giants.
They possess an abrasiveness that makes them awkward and a not-so-secret weapon. Rory Delap's first long throw was flicked on by the former Chelsea defender Robert Huth and headed over the bar by Mamady Sidibe. A second throw caused still greater problems. Henrique Hilario punched weakly, Whitehead volleyed crisply and John Obi Mikel stretched vitally on the goal-line to deny the Stoke midfielder.
While the Potters' set-piece expertise is well known, two Chelsea corners, albeit one indirectly, made the difference.
"We weren't able to play too much football but we are delighted to be in the semi-final," Wilkins added.
"Wembley is a great day for the fans and the club," said Lampard. "We had a great day out there last year and we wanted to get back." And get back they have.
rjolly@thenational.ae
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-finals, first leg
Liverpool v Roma
When: April 24, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Anfield, Liverpool
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
The specs: 2018 Audi Q5/SQ5
Price, base: Dh183,900 / Dh249,000
Engine: 2.0L, turbocharged in-line four-cylinder / 3.0L, turbocharged V6
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic / Eight-speed automatic
Power: 252hp @ 5,000rpm / 354hp @ 5,400rpm
Torque: 370Nm @ 1,600rpm / 500Nm @ 1,370rpm
Fuel economy: combined 7.2L / 100km / 8.3L / 100km
MANDOOB
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UAE SQUAD
Ahmed Raza (Captain), Rohan Mustafa, Jonathan Figy, CP Rizwan, Junaid Siddique, Mohammad Usman, Basil Hameed, Zawar Farid, Vriitya Aravind (WK), Waheed Ahmed, Karthik Meiyappan, Zahoor Khan, Darius D'Silva, Chirag Suri
Coffee: black death or elixir of life?
It is among the greatest health debates of our time; splashed across newspapers with contradicting headlines - is coffee good for you or not?
Depending on what you read, it is either a cancer-causing, sleep-depriving, stomach ulcer-inducing black death or the secret to long life, cutting the chance of stroke, diabetes and cancer.
The latest research - a study of 8,412 people across the UK who each underwent an MRI heart scan - is intended to put to bed (caffeine allowing) conflicting reports of the pros and cons of consumption.
The study, funded by the British Heart Foundation, contradicted previous findings that it stiffens arteries, putting pressure on the heart and increasing the likelihood of a heart attack or stroke, leading to warnings to cut down.
Numerous studies have recognised the benefits of coffee in cutting oral and esophageal cancer, the risk of a stroke and cirrhosis of the liver.
The benefits are often linked to biologically active compounds including caffeine, flavonoids, lignans, and other polyphenols, which benefit the body. These and othetr coffee compounds regulate genes involved in DNA repair, have anti-inflammatory properties and are associated with lower risk of insulin resistance, which is linked to type-2 diabetes.
But as doctors warn, too much of anything is inadvisable. The British Heart Foundation found the heaviest coffee drinkers in the study were most likely to be men who smoked and drank alcohol regularly.
Excessive amounts of coffee also unsettle the stomach causing or contributing to stomach ulcers. It also stains the teeth over time, hampers absorption of minerals and vitamins like zinc and iron.
It also raises blood pressure, which is largely problematic for people with existing conditions.
So the heaviest drinkers of the black stuff - some in the study had up to 25 cups per day - may want to rein it in.
Rory Reynolds
The biog
Favourite food: Fish and seafood
Favourite hobby: Socialising with friends
Favourite quote: You only get out what you put in!
Favourite country to visit: Italy
Favourite film: Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.
Family: We all have one!
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
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The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
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Du Football Champions
The fourth season of du Football Champions was launched at Gitex on Wednesday alongside the Middle East’s first sports-tech scouting platform.“du Talents”, which enables aspiring footballers to upload their profiles and highlights reels and communicate directly with coaches, is designed to extend the reach of the programme, which has already attracted more than 21,500 players in its first three years.
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
Scores in brief:
- New Medical Centre 129-5 in 17 overs bt Zayed Cricket Academy 125-6 in 20 overs.
- William Hare Abu Dhabi Gymkhana 188-8 in 20 overs bt One Stop Tourism 184-8 in 20 overs
- Alubond Tigers 138-7 in 20 overs bt United Bank Limited 132-7 in 20 overs
- Multiplex 142-6 in 17 overs bt Xconcepts Automobili 140 all out in 20 overs
