Fulham 3-0

Independent:

Fulham 0 Chelsea 3
Chelsea roar back into top three on John Terry-built triumph

By JACK PITT-BROOKE

David Luiz's opening goal was extraordinary but from then on it was a win of efficiency and control for Chelsea. Rafael Benitez manages his teams to peak at the right time and they look like doing exactly that, riding out some early pressure to win 3-0 at Craven Cottage and stride ahead of the pack chasing Champions League qualification.
Chelsea are now third, one point ahead of Arsenal, with a game in hand, three points ahead of Tottenham, with them yet to come to Stamford Bridge, and five ahead of Everton. Having won four of their last five in the Premier League, they must now be favourites to finish in the top four. And they have a Europa League semi-final against Basel to look forward to as well.
There is a growing feeling at Chelsea that for all the tension and friction of the season it may well end with success. The reign of the interim manager only has a few more busy weeks to run and the vocal Chelsea fans in the Putney End let Benitez know that he would not be missed. They would be more than open to the return of Jose Mourinho, with suggestions from Spain that he would leave Real Madrid this summer. Manuel Pellegrini of Malaga is also under consideration.
But Benitez, three days after Chelsea were knocked out of the FA Cup, is for now only focused on these two competitions. This was a night for his alternative team with John Terry, Frank Lampard and Fernando Torres coming into the side which lost to Manchester City at Wembley on Sunday. It might not have been his strongest XI but it had more than enough experience, in those players, and quality, in Juan Mata and Luiz, to win the game.
The match was over, effectively, once Chelsea were ahead. With half an hour gone Fulham allowed Luiz to carry the ball unchallenged within 40 yards of their goal. That is affordable against most opposition centre-backs but not the remarkable Brazilian, who accepted the invitation and hit the ball with exceptional clarity and force into the far top corner of the goal. Once Chelsea were ahead they result was never in doubt.
Before that, though, Fulham had been the brighter side. Martin Jol is having to constantly improvise in midfield but Urby Emanuelson and Eyong Enoh were both sharp from the outset and the hosts could have taken the lead. Bryan Ruiz somehow turned Sascha Reither's early cross over, Giorgios Karagounis hit the bar and John Arne Riise shot meekly at Petr Cech in the Chelsea goal. Fulham could even have had a numerical advantage; Branislav Ivanovic greeted Mladen Petric with both sets of studs by the corner flag and was lucky only to be booked.
Martin Jol was understandably frustrated that these chances were missed. “The first 30 minutes our possession game was good,” the Fulham manager said. “We played the four attacking players and had a good go at them. I'm disappointed that we didn't capitalise.”
For Benitez, the opening spell was the one frustration on an otherwise comfortable night. “We have had much better games than this one,” he admitted. “We were good, but they had some good chances before half-time. They went close but we improved defensively in the seocnd half. We had more control then.”
After Luiz's spectacular intervention this performance went precisely to Benitez's plan. Fulham's defensive laxity was punished again two minutes before the interval. Mata, almost too good to be rotated, swung in a perfect cross, John Terry ran between Philippe Senderos and Riether and headed powerfully past Mark Schwarzer. It gave Mata his 30th assist of the season and Chelsea a 2-0 lead which their incisiveness warranted.
In the second half Chelsea's plan was simple. Victor Moses, much more effective when playing on the break, induced a late challenge from Senderos which saw him booked. Another flowing attack nearly brought a third when Torres' cross evaded Mata at the far post by inches.
Chelsea's fans spent the second half reminding everyone that they were European champions and their team closed out the game with appropriate ease. Fulham had one chance which they vandalised for themselves: Senderos' goal-bound header was somehow cleared over the bar by an offside Petric.
Chelsea immediately showed Fulham how it was done. Moses forced a corner, Mata curled it in, Torres headed it at goal from the near post and this time their man on the line, Terry, put it into the net.
It was the captain's second goal of the night but even he must accept Benitez's rotation policy. Chelsea have trips to Liverpool on Sunday and Basel next Thursday and Terry may well play one but presumably not both. “The most important thing is the team,” insisted Benitez afterwards. “Every player wants to play every game, but they have to realise they can't do that, and be 100 per cent in each game.”
With that 3-0 lead Benitez could take off Hazard and Mata - more likely to stay in the team - to rest their legs for Sunday, and all the challenges at home and abroad, that still await.

Man of the match Mata.
Match rating 6/10.
Referee M Dean (Wirral).
Attendance 25,002.

===============

Guardian:

Chelsea's John Terry and David Luiz make short work of Fulham
Dominic Fifield at Craven Cottage

Performances as authoritative as this insist there is life in the old guard yet. Chelsea have thrust their way back into the Premier League's top three, eclipsing Fulham at a canter with players whose days at the club appear to be numbered thriving in the familiarity of a derby. Those crammed into the Putney End will have found reassurance in the sight of Frank Lampard and, in particular, John Terry excelling. This was a throwback, a saunter to enjoy on the banks of the Thames.
Both the veterans had sat out Sunday's FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City, a watershed given the significance of that occasion and the reality they have been permanent fixtures on the bigger stages when fit. The sheer weight of games has forced each into Rafael Benítez's policy of rotation though Lampard, his contract drifting to its conclusion, and Terry have started to feel more second-string than first-choice.
The 60th game of Chelsea's season offered a reminder of their qualities. When the team sought strength they rallied, albeit against opponents too wasteful to inflict their own wounds. A first away win in the league since mid-January was timely given the fixture clutter.
Lampard oozed calm authority on his 600th appearance for the club, even if he still seeks the two goals to equal Bobby Tambling's club record of 202. It was Terry who registered twice here, a header in either half puncturing Fulham's resistance, the captain ending the contest bare-chested and celebrating in front of the away support. "I'm really pleased with his performance, but the most important thing is always the team," said Benítez. "They all know that. The players have to be ready to perform and on their toes every game." With Gary Cahill close to a return from a knee injury, Terry's alternate selections may well be prolonged but, regardless, he can make his mark on the run-in.
Benítez had required his captain's strong-arm presence here. The reality is Chelsea had needed a spark to ignite what had initially been another understandably leggy display. Fulham had created the early opportunities, Dimitar Berbatov orchestrating their play, with the visitors limited to flurries of possession before David Luiz tired of all the pretty approach-play. He collected the ball some 30 yards out and with Bryan Ruiz too half-hearted in his attempt to close him down, lashed a shot which caught the wind gusting around the arena and careered beyond Mark Schwarzer into the top corner.
It was a staggering goal to pep the visitors' resolve. Half-time was close when Lampard belted a free-kick from distance and tapped into the same flight path, the ball swerving in mid-air and thudding into Schwarzer's chest before dribbling behind. Fulham never recovered their composure from the resultant corner, Juan Mata eventually floating a deep cross to the far post where Terry leapt unchallengedbetween Sascha Riether and Philippe Senderos to power a header into the net.
That lead was never likely to be properly challenged thereafter, Chelsea's composure established. For all Fulham's huff and puff, there was little surprise when the revitalised Fernando Torres flicked on a corner and Terry, from virtually on the goal-line, nodded in a second 19 minutes from time.
Fulham stewed in their frustration. They are not used to yielding to their local rivals so readily in this arena, with this a first defeat in four years, though the exasperation was born more of an inability to take their own chances. Martin Jol's side had forged the clearer opportunities when the game was goalless only to be blunted by profligacy.
The tone had been set in the opening attack Riether – a player Jol hopes to secure on a long-term basis from Cologne in the summer after an excellent season on loan – crossing beyond David Luiz only for Ruiz, alone in front of goal, to poke an awkward volley over the bar. Giorgos Karagounis and Berbatov also went close, the visitors rattled to the extent that Branislav Ivanovic lunged two-footed at Mladen Petric near the corner flag and was fortunate to escape only with a caution.
It took an excellent save from Petr Cech to deny Urby Emanuelson's skimmed attempt, the shot flicking off Lampard before it was touched round a post, though their toils were rather summed up by Mladen Petric contriving to deflect Senderos's goal-bound header over the bar from under the woodwork. "The linesman would have flagged him offside if he'd turned it in, so the real frustration was playing so well for the first half-hour but then failing to close David Luiz down," said Jol. "We had a good go at them, but never capitalised."
Chelsea did not make the same mistake, their ruthlessness hoisting them above Arsenal and back into third. Benítez returns to Anfield on Sunday; he will go back to Merseyside buoyed by a resounding success.


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Telegraph:

Fulham 0 Chelsea 3
Jason Burt

Chelsea have passed up seven trophy chances this season but there was only ever one big prize: ensuring they finish in the top four (ideally top three) and qualify for next season’s Champions League. Anything else, whatever baubles are on offer, is simply unthinkable.
Chelsea will hand the Champions League trophy back to Uefa on Friday — ahead of the Wembley final next month — but on Wednesday night they took a significant step towards ensuring they will be back in the competition come the autumn.
Emphatic victory here elevated Chelsea back into the top three. It might not constitute title success but if they were to stay there it would avoid a calamity and help them realign themselves in the summer under a new manager, such as Malaga’s Manuel Pellegrini – who would be easier to attract with a Champions League place. Rafael Benítez could go on his way with his job accomplished in what has turned into another demanding and extraordinary campaign for this soap opera of a club.
And that soap opera just carries on. On Wednesday night there were two goals from John Terry – both headers – the captain who, partly through injury, partly design, has gone from cornerstone to bit-part player.
He had to sit alongside Frank Lampard on the substitutes’ bench at Wembley Stadium last Sunday as Chelsea lost the FA Cup semi-final to Manchester City.
Invited to praise Terry’s contribution, Benítez did just that — while also suggesting that rotation remained the name of the game. The bench again beckons for the 'Captain, Leader, Legend’. The times are, indeed, a-changing at Chelsea and it would be no surprise to see Terry among the substitutes for Sunday’s trip to Liverpool.
Chelsea are moving on and there was another emphatic example of that in their opening goal — one of the goals of the season — which was wonderfully driven home by David Luiz, a dipping, fierce shot from fully 30 yards after the ball had been rolled across the pitch by Eden Hazard.
It showed again why Luiz, now Chelsea’s most important defender, is so valued by the club, despite the mistakes which still pepper his swashbuckling style. It was, to borrow Gary Neville’s famous description, a PlayStation goal from this PlayStation player.
And it was all the more dramatic because it came against the run of play. Until then, Fulham had eked out the best opportunities in this west London derby as they tried to ­capitalise on a Chelsea run of three straight league defeats away from home that was in danger of holing their campaign.
Fulham holed themselves on Wednesday night. There was what appeared to be the miss of the season by Mladen Petric — with the striker scooping the ball over the crossbar while ­appearing to actually be standing on the goalline. It was an incredible feat of ­physics.
It came with Fulham two goals down and desperately in need of something and, although Petric was flagged for offside, if he had simply let Philippe Senderos’s powerful header from a corner run past him then Fulham would have scored.
Manager Martin Jol did not rue that as much as a miss by Bryan Ruiz in the opening minutes when he was picked out by Sascha Riether close to goal but volleyed the ball wastefully over the bar.
A goal then would have preyed on Chelsea’s vulnerability — so many games, so quickly. In fairness, Jol had tried to do that by deploying an ­attacking line-up and with Dimitar Berbatov dropping off behind Petric to dictate play.
It created chances — with Giorgos Karagounis driving narrowly over and John Arne Riise shooting tamely at Petr Cech when teed up.
Then Luiz scored. Fulham responded – with Urby Emanuelson running across the face of the penalty area and shooting low, back across goal, only for Cech to stretch fully and push the ball out before Berbatov again collected possession and bent his effort with the outside of his boot. It was ambitious, with Cech scrambling, but it was also wide.
Also ambitious was Lampard with a clever swirling free-kick from 30-plus yards. Mark Schwarzer made a hash of it — with the ball cannoning off his chest for a corner, and although he immediately laughed in ­embarrassment and surprise, he was looking po-faced soon afterwards.
From that corner, the ball was played to Juan Mata, who flighted in a cross and Terry ran in to power home a header with Senderos static.
There seemed no way back for Fulham. Mata almost connected with Fernando Torres’s low cross and then Schwarzer tipped away Victor Moses’s fine, curling effort. From that corner, Torres flicked a header goalwards and there was Terry, stealing in to beat Riether to the ball and score. It killed the contest.
Terry would have felt that he made a point by collecting the points, but whether it will change his diminished status in the side in any way remains highly unlikely.

Match details

Fulham (4-2-3-1): Schwarzer; Riether, Senderos, Hangeland, Riise (Rodallega 67); Karagounis (Frimpong 76), Enoh; Ruiz, Berbatov, Emanuelson; Petric (Frei 82).
Subs: Etheridge (g), Richardson, Hughes, Manolev.
Booked: Senderos, Ruiz.

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Cech; Ivanovic, Luiz, Terry, Bertrand; Ramires (Mikel 75), Lampard; Moses, Mata (Ba 80), Hazard (Oscar 69); Torres.
Subs: Turnbull (g), Azpilicueta, Benayoun, Ake.
Booked: Ivanovic.

Referee: M Dean (Wirral).

=================

Times:

 Fulham 0 Chelsea 3

 Defence the best form of attack: John Terry at the double for Chelsea against Fulham
 Matt Hughes


 With Chelsea’s stuttering strikers having contributed only two goals in the Barclays Premier League this year, it is just as well that their central defenders are less reticent about finding the back of the net.
 David Luiz and John Terry, who are never backward about coming forward, stepped up with contrasting acts of marksmanship to give Chelsea a much-needed victory that took them to third in the table.

 Luiz’s 35-yard thunderbolt, which gave Chelsea the lead, will be remembered for far longer than an ultimately one-sided West London derby that was effectively over by half-time, but Terry did his best to upstage his team-mate by scoring a brace of headers.
 The captain never misses an opportunity to enhance his own legend and, as he left the pitch beating his naked chest as if paying homage to Tarzan, it was possible to believe that he remains king of the jungle at Stamford Bridge.
 The reality is rather different, however, as Rafael Benítez, the interim manager, made clear afterwards, by emphasising that the victory was all that mattered and that his rotation will continue. Terry’s goals will have felt particularly cathartic after he was forced to watch from the substitutes’ bench during Chelsea’s FA Cup semi-final defeat last weekend, but his relief is likely to prove purely temporary.
 The 32-year-old will return to the sidelines at Anfield on Sunday along with Fernando Torres, who, other than claiming an assist for Terry’s second goal, contributed little in attack and was most effective in helping to clear Fulham corners.
 The Spaniard fired his only shot well wide of the near post and never looked like scoring his first league goal since December.

 In truth, Chelsea displayed more graft than craft on a windy evening down by the Thames, but at this stage of the season, points matter far more than performances. Given their busy schedule, a certain amount of stodginess can be forgiven, and Benítez expressed delight that, after a ponderous opening, his side were looking imperious by the end.
 Chelsea’s lackadaisical start can partly be attributed to their strikers’ lack of confidence, as well as the fatigue factor. A stark illustration of the disadvantage that Benítez’s side face whenever they take to the pitch was provided by this being their 60th match of the season, whereas Fulham were playing only their 37th of a campaign that has been winding down since they secured safety.
 This disparity was initially evident on the pitch, with Fulham far sharper from the outset, missing a great opportunity to take the lead in the third minute when Bryan Ruiz volleyed over the bar from close range.
 Chelsea were lucky not to be behind, but showed no immediate sign of capitalising on their good fortune, as they continued to labour.
 Fulham, in contrast, were full of life, with the movement of Ruiz, Dimitar Berbatov and Urby Emanuelson causing the visiting side all manner of problems and, with better finishing, they should have taken the lead.
 Berbatov shot wide from the edge of the area after a square ball from Ruiz, Giorgios Karagounis fired over the bar after cutting in from the left and John Arne Riise could only aim a tame shot at Petr Cech after more good work from Ruiz.

 Chelsea had not threatened Fulham’s goal in the first 30 minutes, but their fortunes were transformed by two goals against the run of play in the space of 13 minutes before half-time. Luiz’s opener was a bolt from the blue, as he confirmed his growing importance to the club by beating Mark Schwarzer with a powerful drive that swerved through the blustery air from 35 yards.
 The Brazil defender’s improvement at both ends of the pitch has been dramatic since he marked an undistinguished full debut for Chelsea by conceding a late penalty on this ground two years ago.
 Terry’s career path is on the opposite trajectory, but for all his lack of pace, he remains a formidable threat in the air, as he demonstrated two minutes before half-time. Frank Lampard had surprised Schwarzer with a swerving free kick the Australian inadvertently saved with his chin, and Chelsea scored from the resultant corner.
 Fulham cleared Juan Mata’s initial effort, but Chelsea were given another opportunity, with the Spaniard playing a short pass to Hazard, who picked out Terry at the back post.

 Fulham thought they had an immediate opportunity to get back into the game when Ruiz went down in the penalty area a minute later, but Mike Dean, the referee, opted to book him and Chelsea took advantage to control the second half.
 Fulham created just one clear chance, which led to an extraordinary miss in the 70th minute, with Mladen Petric hooking Philippe Senderos’s goalbound header over the bar while standing in an offside position in the process.
 Chelsea went down the other end to finish them off two minutes later, with Terry capitalising on Torres’s flicked header to nod in his sixth goal of the season.
 Finishing in the top four is likely to prove more complicated because of a daunting run-in that features matches against Liverpool, Everton, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United, in addition to two legs of a Europa League semi-final.
 Champions League qualification will be crucial to the appointment of the club’s next manager, an intriguing race in which José Mourinho, their former manager, and Manuel Pellegrini, of Málaga, are jockeying for position.

 Fulham (4-2-3-1): M Schwarzer — S Riether, P Senderos, B Hangeland, J A Riise (sub: H Rodallega, 67min) — G Karagounis (sub: E Frimpong, 76), E Enoh — B Ruiz, D Berbatov, U Emanuelson — M Petric (sub: K Frei, 82). Substitutes not used: N Etheridge, K Richardson, A Hughes, S Manolev. Booked: Ruiz, Senderos.

 Chelsea (4-2-3-1): P Cech — B Ivanovic, D Luiz, J Terry, R Bertrand — Ramires (sub: J O Mikel, 75), F Lampard — V Moses, J Mata (sub: D Ba, 80), E Hazard (sub: Oscar, 69) — F Torres. Substitutes not used: R Turnbull, C Azpilicueta, Y Benayoun, N Aké. Booked: Ivanovic.

 Referee: M Dean.

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Mail:

Fulham 0 Chelsea 3: Luiz rocket and Terry double give Benitez's boys derby day spoils and Champions League advantage

By MATT BARLOW

It was, as they say, a game of two centre halves - one from east London, the flag-bearer for Chelsea's glorious recent past, and one from Sao Paulo, the fuzzy-haired vision of a Blue Brazilian future at Stamford Bridge.
First there was David Luiz, striding forth to lash in a 35-yard swirling shot which opened the scoring and gave the visitors a  foothold in what had been shaping up to be an awkward derby in  windswept conditions.
Then there was John Terry, the club's lion-hearted captain, dropped at Wembley on Sunday and back with two headers to secure the points and a first away win in the Barclays Premier League for three months.
Terry's first was a powerful  connection at the back-post, converting a cross from Juan Mata before the break, and his second settled the game, a poacher's finish from an inch or two, to make sure a header from Fernando Torres was going in.
As the skipper left he pitch, stripped to the waist, beating his chest, Luiz put an arm around Rafa Benitez and gave the interim manager a gentle hug.
Terry and Luiz are very different characters and defenders with  differing styles, scoring very  different goals, and they are  representative of the direction this club wants to go.
There will be lots more of Luiz and not so much of Terry in the years ahead, but last night they combined to produce a very important victory for Benitez ahead of his return to Liverpool on Sunday.
It eased Chelsea above Arsenal into third place in the Premier League and with a game in hand over the Gunners, who dropped points at home to Everton on Tuesday. It was a strong response to defeat in the FA Cup semi-final and will provide a psychological lift within the camp.
For Chelsea, this was the 60th game of the season, 23 more than Fulham, who themselves are no strangers to long and winding European trails but have been able to focus on their league campaign this season.
Martin Jol's team are safely in mid-table and started at a healthy tempo, with the energy of a team who were fresh and stress-free.
Bryan Ruiz escaped Luiz in the third minute but sliced Sascha Riether's cross over. Terry deflected an effort wide from Dimitar  Berbatov and Giorgos Karagounis went close as Chelsea were forced to defend.
Branislav Ivanovic launched into a fierce tackle on Mladen Petric. It was Serb on Croat near the corner flag by the Cottage and, although he took the ball, plenty of Fulham fans thought it worthy of a red card.
It was certainly two-footed and risky but referee Mike Dean thought a caution was enough.
Chelsea had offered  little in attack but the pattern changed when Luiz stepped out of defence and fired his team ahead.
Collecting a pass from Hazard, the Brazilian shuffled into the inside-right position and went for goal.
The ball appeared to be gliding smoothly towards  the top  corner but suddenly wobbled, dipped and flew past a confused Mark Schwarzer. 'I've seen him scoring these goals in training sessions,' said Benitez.
Luiz pointed to the sky. He made his full Chelsea debut at Craven Cottage in February 2011, when he conceded a last-gasp penalty, saved by Cech. He has become an influential figure in two years since and this was a vital strike.
Cech produced a wonderful low save to thwart Urby Emmanuelson before Terry grabbed the second, two minutes before half-time.
Schwarzer conceded a corner when he misjudged a swerving free-kick from Frank Lampard. It smacked the goalkeeper in his chest, spun wide and Fulham could only clear the corner as far as  Eden Hazard.
The Belgian rolled a short pass to Mata, who supplied a deep, in-swinging cross to the back post. Terry had drifted away from his markers and timed his run nicely to arrive between Riether and Philippe Senderos to score with a firm header from eight yards.
It was a significant contribution from Terry, one of four changes to the team, along with Lampard, who was unable last night to add to his 200 goals in his 600th appearance for the club.
Lampard remains two goals short of Bobby Tambling's Chelsea record and games are vanishing fast for a player who will be out of contract in June.
He had Chelsea's first effort of the night after nine minutes when Fulham failed to clear a cross from the right and Torres nodded the ball towards him. It was not an easy chance by any means but one of those he often converts, twisting his body and finding the target with a right-foot volley.
This time Schwarzer had it covered.
From this point, the visitors applied more control but, even so, Fulham should have pulled a goal back 20 minutes from time when Senderos arrowed a header towards the bottom corner. It was going in, with Cech beaten, until Petric inexplicably intervened.
Trying to sweep it over the line, the striker somehow contrived to divert it over the bar. He was also flagged offside. Had he turned the ball in, it would have been ruled out. As it was, he managed to screw it into the crowd.
It summed the night up for Jol's team and, within seconds, Chelsea had scored again. Torres flicked a corner towards goal and Terry stooped to nod the ball over the line.
'Their defenders scored three goals, that says it all,' said Jol.

===============

Sun:

FORGET Sideshow Bob — David Luiz took centre stage at Craven Cottage.

The Chelsea defender was the undisputed star of the show after scoring one of the goals of the season.
A perfect way to celebrate his 100th outing for the Blues.
And in-out skipper John Terry got in on the act, too.
He grabbed a brace of headers as the European champions put on a display to remember against their local rivals.
And interim boss Rafa Benitez says Terry is finally ready to play two games in a row.
The Spaniard was not convinced Terry had fully recovered from a long-term knee problem — but after last night that has all changed.
Benitez said: “Terry’s fitness is coming back and I’ve told him if he can train every week it’ll be easier for me to pick him for every game.
“Now we’ve competition for places at the back and it’s good for us.
“It gives me a problem with selection for our next game but I prefer to have these problems.
“He must be happy scoring twice and everyone is pleased for him. It’s good for John and the team.”
No one and no team could have prevented the stunning opener from Luiz. It was an absolute stonker. A classic 30-yard thunderbolt that screamed past Mark Schwarzer.
As the Brazilian centre-half picked the ball up in midfield, there looked little danger.
He had a quick look up, a look around and then decided to let fly.
The ball launched from his right boot like a rocket — first looping up, then swerving to the left before nestling into the top corner. Gasps of amazement all around, even from the Fulham fans. And then a roar of delight from the Chelsea contingent. No wonder, for this was not only a great goal, it was a vital one.
A precious Champions League spot in the balance — yet Chelsea had been slumbering through another first half until that moment.
A hangover from Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final heartache at Wembley against Manchester City partly to blame maybe.
But they have been notoriously slow starters this season and this was yet another example.
They certainly did not start like a team desperate for a win to ensure a return to the top three.
No, it was Fulham who made the early running. Bryan Ruiz almost grabbed an early lead when he lunged in to meet a Sascha Reither cross only to steer his effort over.
Frank Lampard, on his 600th outing for Chelsea, replied with a half-hit, half-volley that found Schwarzer rather than the back of the net.
But Fulham made their neighbours defend for long spells.
Branislav Ivanovic was booked for a reckless two-footer on Fulham’s Mladen Petric. Next it was Giorgos Karagounis cutting in from the left to lash a dipping shot over the bar.
Moments later, Ruiz set up John Arne Riise but he opted to side-foot it rather than put his laces through it and so Petr Cech was able to stoop down for a comfortable save.
But all that pressure and pressing was totally upstaged when Luiz struck on the half hour.
A goal that would have knocked the stuffing out of most sides.
Fulham did not mope around though. Urby Emanuelson tried to feed Dimitar Berbatov but the Bulgarian just could not stretch enough to provide the all-important touch.
So next time Emanuelson went it alone, drifting in from the left to test Cech with a right-foot shot.
Luiz then produced the pass of the match, a superb crossfield delivery that saw Fernando Torres cutting in from the right but the £50million man could not match his team-mate’s prowess in front of goal.
The man in the mask guilty of slicing a wild shot wide.
Berbatov then shot wide before Lampard almost caught out Schwarzer with a trademark free-kick.
The Aussie keeper was totally bamboozled by the ball’s pace and flight but managed to chest it away at the last moment.
But Chelsea’s second was not long in coming. Three minutes before the break Chelsea’s chief creator Juan Mata curled in a left-foot cross.
Philippe Senderos missed it — Terry did not, burying a header for 2-0.
Then, to complete the home side’s misery, Ruiz was booked at the other end for trying to con a penalty when challenged by JT in the box.
Chelsea almost made it three immediately after the break. Lampard released Torres, who tried to pick out Mata’s run at the far post but just over-hit his cross.
But by now the Blues were in control and the Cottagers reduced to huffing and puffing in possession without any penetration or threat.
With 20 minutes left, Fulham fans did finally enjoy some goalmouth excitement of their own.
Senderos sent in a powerful header but the cheers turned to groans as it struck Petric on the line — and to add insult to injury he was offside.
A minute later, it was 3-0. Victor Moses demanded a fine save from Schwarzer as he drilled in a low shot aimed for the bottom, far corner.
It was the briefest of reprieves.
Mata’s corner was superbly turned towards goal from the apex of the six-yard box by Torres and Terry nodded it over the line.

DREAM TEAM STAR MAN - DAVID LUIZ (Chelsea)

FULHAM: Schwarzer 7, Riether 7, Senderos 6, hangeland 6, Riise 6, Tuiz 6, Enoh 6, Karagounis 7, Emanuelson 7, Berbatov 7, Petric 6. Subs: Rodallega (Riise 67) 2, Frimpong (Karagounis 76) 2, Frei (Petric 82) 2. Not used: Etheridge, Richardson, Hughes, Manolev. Booked: Senderos, Ruiz.

CHELSEA: Cech 8, Ivanovic 6, Terry 8, Luiz 9, Bertrand 7, Ramires 7, Lampard 7, Moses 6, Mata 8, Hazard 6, Torres 7. Subs: Oscar (E Hazard 69) 3, Mikel (Ramires 75) 2, Ba (Mata 80) 2. Not used: Turnbull, Azpilicueta, Mikel, Benayoun, Ake. Booked: Ivanovic.
REF: M Dean 6

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Star:

FULHAM 0 - CHELSEA 3: DAVID LUIZ GIVES BLUES A BIG LIFT
Adrian Kajumba

DAVID LUIZ lit up Craven Cottage with a sensational bolt from the blue.
The Brazilian defender marked his 100th Chelsea appearance with a contender for goal of the season to set up a win that lifted the Blues into third in the table.
Luiz found the top corner with a 35-yard rocket as Chelsea looked to boost their Champions League bid.
The defender’s stunner was just what Rafa Benitez’s men needed after seeing yet another trophy chance disappear in the FA Cup on Sunday.
And considering he was once accused by Gary Neville of playing like he is being controlled by a 10-year-old on a Playstation, it was ironic that Luiz’s strike was the sort of fantasy goal that wouldn’t look out of place on a computer game.
Luiz’s centre-back partner John Terry then weighed in with two goals to put Chelsea fi rmly on course to take advantage of their top four rivals slipping up 24 hours earlier.
Arsenal and Everton’s goalless draw opened the door for Chelsea to leapfrog the Gunners and go third.
Things are rarely that simple for Chelsea when it comes to the Cottagers these days, though.
Fulham love wrecking their bitter rivals plans and had held Chelsea to draws in the previous four league derbies by the Thames.
On top of that Chelsea’s recent away form in the Premier League had been wretched.
They hadn’t won on the road since mid-January, losing three and drawing one of their last four games.
The good news for Chelsea was that Terry and Frank Lampard – who was making his 600th appearance for the club – were back.
They had been left kicking their heels on the bench while Manchester City dumped them out of the FA Cup.
Victor Moses and Fernando Torres also came in as Benitez shuffled his pack again for the 60th game of Chelsea’s punishing season.
For Fulham, Damian Duff missed out on facing his old club due to a thigh injury and Kieran Richardson dropped to the bench. Mladen Petric and John Arne Riise came in.
Fulham might have little to play for other than a top-10 finish but they were fired up for this one.
Nobody summed that up early on better than Dimitar Berbatov, who was everywhere, pulling the strings in attack and even chasing back to defend in his own half.
Bryan Ruiz came close to volleying Fulham ahead just three minutes in but poked Sascha Riether’s cross over on the stretch.
And after Lampard – who is two short of Bobby Tambling’s club record goal tally of 202 – tested Mark Schwarzer, Giorgis Karagounis thumped a dipping drive just over. By that stage Chelsea could have been a man, as well as a goal down.
But referee Mike Dean let Branislav Ivanovic off with a yellow after he launched himself into a needless two-footed challenge on Petric, even though he took the ball.
Fulham threatened again but Riise’s shot from Ruiz’s cutback was tame and straight at Petr Cech before Luiz showed his fellow defender how it is done.
He had little else on after receiving Eden Hazard’s pass midway inside the Fulham half so he tried his luck – and found the top corner with a stunning strike.
Urby Emanuelson and Berbatov both came close to finding what would have been a deserved Fulham equaliser.
Instead they ended up falling further behind when Chelsea got their second two minutes before half-time.
Fulham looked to have escaped when Schwarzer awkwardly bundled Lampard’s dipping free-kick behind.
But the Cottagers failed to properly clear their lines and Terry crept in behind the sleeping Phillipe Senderos to nod in Juan Mata’s deep cross.
The scoreline was already harsh on Fulham and it was made worse in the 71st minute.
That was when Mata’s corner was nodded on by Torres – and skipper Terry nodded in his second.


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Express:

Fulham 0 - Chelsea 3: David Luiz gets a kick to lift Blues

DAVID LUIZ was the victim of a boot up the backside at Wembley on Sunday – but the Brazilian delivered a kick in the teeth to Fulham last night.

By: Tony Banks

Chelsea moved back into third place in the Premier League table and strengthened their hold on a crucial Champions League place, thanks to the brilliance of Luiz and two goals from John Terry.
Luiz, kicked on the backside by Sergio Aguero as Chelsea were beaten by Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-final on Sunday, showed that he had recovered his dignity as he struck a glorious 35-yard goal to give his side control.
And Chelsea wrapped up the points against their near neighbours when Philippe Senderos blundered and missed a cross, and Terry nodded home.
Terry then added to Fulham’s misery in the second half when he grabbed his second goal of the game.
Rafa Benitez had just three days to lift his weary squad after their demoralising FA Cup semi-final defeat. But in the 60th game of this relentless season, the crucial battle for a top-four place had to be resumed.
Benitez made four changes to the side that lost at Wembley, as Frank Lampard returned to make his 600th appearance, and skipper Terry and striker Fernando Torres – complete with mask – were also recalled.
Fulham, with only one defeat in their last six games, were in good shape going into the SW6 derby.
And it was the Cottagers who should have taken the lead after only two minutes, when Sascha Riether’s cross fell invitingly for Bryan Ruiz, but the Costa Rican somehow blazed over from six yards.
Chelsea went into the game as Champions League holders – but only for another 24 hours. Tomorrow Terry will officially hand the trophy over to UEFA president Michel Platini in Whitehall.
So to make sure they had the chance to compete for it again, a win was vital last night, with Benitez’s side ahead of fifth-placed Tottenham only on goal difference.
But it was Fulham who looked by far the livelier side, and when Dimitar Berbatov, playing in a withdrawn role, set up Giorgos Karagounis, the Greek cut inside and his 20-yard drive clipped the bar.
Chelsea had not made any kind of effort on goal at that stage, with Fulham harrying and pressing them. Berbatov was pulling the strings, and John Arne Riise tested Petr Cech. Then suddenly, out of the blue, Chelsea were ahead – thanks to a wonder goal.
Eden Hazard played the ball in to Luiz as the centre-back ventured forward, and the Brazilian let fly with a glorious 35-yard drive which dipped into the top corner and left Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer utterly helpless. To say it was against the run of play would have been an understatement – but to their credit Fulham bounced immediately back.
Urby Emmanuelson cut inside to crack in a low drive which Cech had to turn round a post. Berbatov then curled an effort just wide but Chelsea now had their rhythm.
Schwarzer luckily pawed away Lampard’s dipping free-kick, and a minute later, disaster for Martin Jol’s side. Juan Mata swung in a simple cross from the right, but Senderos completely missed it, and Terry was left with the simple task of nodding in from six yards out.
Fulham now had a mountain to climb, and their frustration showed as Senderos was booked for a clumsy challenge.
Jol’s team had held Chelsea to a goalless draw at Stamford Bridge in only Benitez’s second game in charge after succeeding Roberto Di Matteo. But last night though their defence was far less secure.
Luiz, in his 100th game for Chelsea, was in imperious form at the back and the Brazilian’s forays forward, as they had with the goal, kept threatening more problems for Fulham, for whom Berbatov, while superbly creative, is not a man who likes chasing back.
Chelsea could have had another goal when Torres, having a quiet game, crossed low and Mata missed the ball by an inch six yards out.
Lampard saw a shot saved and Terry did well to clear Riether’s low cross, but Mladen Petric blazed wide when he should have done better.
But Fulham then wasted another glorious chance as Senderos headed goalwards from six yards and Petric somehow, incredibly, lifted the ball over the bar from virtually on the line.
The Cottagers were instantly punished once again. Victor Moses forced Schwarzer to tip his shot round a post and from Mata’s corner, Torres glanced the ball on and Terry was there to nod in from point-blank range. He hugged Torres in consolation – but that was no comfort to Fulham.

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