Chelsea's Pedro, Costa muzzle Wolves in FA Cup
Wolverhampton - Second-half goals from Pedro and Diego Costa earned Premier League leader Chelsea a 2-0 win in a difficult FA Cup fifth-round tie at second-tier Wolverhampton on Saturday.
Pedro headed in after 65 minutes following an intricate buildup involving Costa, Cesc Fabregas, and Willian.
Costa sealed a place in the quarter-finals in the 89th minute after defender Matt Doherty inadvertently deflected a pass into his path.
Having accounted for the Premier League scalps of Stoke City and Liverpool in previous rounds, Wolves looked in the mood to add the division's leader to that list.
In front of Molineux's biggest crowd for 36 years, the home side made an electrifying start.
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte had still fielded a strong lineup, however, with former England international John Terry continuing his ever-present status in the FA Cup and Fabregas handed a start.
Fabregas looked capable of picking a hole in the home defence and did precisely that after 12 minutes when his lofted pass sent Willian sprinting into the area.
The Brazilian attempted to chip over Wolves 'keeper Carl Ikeme, who did well to put a touch on the shot and steer it over his net.
(Photo courtesy: Reuters)
The tie had plenty of aggression and a raucous atmosphere, especially when the home supporters claimed Andreas Weimann had been brought down by Willian in the area midway through the first half.
That appeal was turned down by referee Jonathan Moss, but Wolves maintained the pressure when Helder Costa turned neatly and unleashed a low shot that Asmir Begovic smothered well.
Wolves opened the second half in similar, threatening fashion, with Pedro the first Chelsea player cautioned for a crude trip on the dangerous Helder Costa.
But it was Chelsea's Nathaniel Chalobah who was presented with the first shot of the half, a low strike from the edge of the area that went directly at the goalkeeper.
Chelsea's Costa also received yet another neat pass from Eden Hazard and almost set up Chalobah for an attempt on goal, only to be denied by more committed Wolves defending.
Wolves' Costa eased the pressure momentarily with a high free-kick that Danny Batth headed into the arms of Begovic.
But soon after, his namesake was played in by yet another Fabregas pass and left Batth on the floor before shooting into the side-netting.
The opening goal was not long in coming, although Dave Edwards looked like he might head in an equaliser minutes later, only to be denied by an important defensive header from Kurt Zouma.
In the closing stages, Fabregas should have doubled their advantage when he shot wide from Hazard's pass, before Costa's strike - his 16th of the season - put the game to bed.