Everton torn apart by Zola's genius

Chelsea 4 Everton 1

They came to see a 17-year-old but left praising a man more than twice his age. Wayne Rooney may be the future but Gianfranco Zola is not ready to be consigned to history just yet. Neither scored at Stamford Bridge last night but while Rooney missed a late penalty, 36-year-old Zola made the first-half goals with which Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Emmanuel Petit broke Everton. Mario Stanic and Hasselbaink rubbed in Chelsea's superiority as they cruised into the last eight of the Worthington Cup. There they will play Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Afterwards, Zola confessed he was enjoying his football so much he was rethinking his retirement plans. "I don't feel 36," he said. "I am surprising myself. I run up and down as much as everybody else and don't get any more tired than them. Age is irrelevant as long as you enjoy it."

Although this was only a fourth-round tie in the least appreciated of competitions, and a cold night, a decent crowd was present, the curious as well as the committed drawn by the chance to assess "Roonaldo".

The prodigy began brightly, feeding Tomasz Radzinski with a neat overhead flick and winning a dangerous free-kick after being felled by Frank Lampard.

For the rest of the opening half he was, though, a peripheral figure, hamstrung by Everton's set-up. With his selection limited by injuries, David Moyes opted for a 4-3-3 formation with Rooney wide on the left. Chelsea, though, are the last team to play midfield-lite against. Everton struggled to gain meaningful possession and Moyes later admitted: "Maybe the way we played didn't suit us."

Only twice while the game was still competitive did Everton threaten. After 13 minutes William Gallas's error enabled Radzinski to set up Mark Pembridge. Unmarked, 12 yards out, the Welshman volleyed wide. Later, Campbell headed a Rooney cross into Carlo Cudicini's arms.

By then Chelsea were ahead. Lampard, having broken up an attack, took the care to start one. The ball reached Zola and the veteran Sardinian curled a pass inside Joseph Yobo for Hasselbaink. He drew Richard Wright then clipped the ball past him.

Two minutes from the break Zola opened Everton up again. Petit slipped Zola the ball then broke forward darting into the chasm between Yobo and David Weir. As they stood motionless, Zola chipped a ball over them and Petit neatly turned it in. Yobo had looked a class act, as he has for most of this season, but he had been done for both goals. Clearly the belief that the Worthington Cup no longer matters has reached Nigeria.

Zola, though, plays every game as if it could be his last and he continued to sparkle, dipping a wonderful free-kick on to the bar. When he departed just before the hour, it was to applause from both sets of fans.

His substitution brought Everton little relief as Stanic rose to head in Hasselbaink's corner. With Everton reeling, another corner came back to Hasselbaink who shot through a crowd of players for his fourth goal in three games. Gary Naysmith's late goal was no consolation, especially as it followed Rooney's failed spot-kick. "It was a tough night for Wayne but he'll be better for it," said Moyes. Chelsea are now undefeated in eight games against Everton. They meet again at Goodison Park on Saturday.

Chelsea (4-4-2): Cudicini; Melchiot, Gallas, Terry, Babayaro; Gronkjaer (De Lucas, 64), Lampard, Petit, Stanic (Morris, 70); Zola (Gudjohnsen, 57), Hasselbaink. Substitutes not used: De Goey (gk), Desailly.

Everton (4-3-3): Wright; Pistone, Yobo, Weir, Unsworth; Gravesen, Li Tie (Gemmill, 68), Pembridge (Naysmith, 35); Radzinski, Campbell, Rooney.

Substitutes not used: Simonsen (gk), Stubbs, Hibbert.

Referee: P Durkin (Portland)

QUARTER-FINALS
Wigan v Blackburn Rovers
Aston Villa v Liverpool
Sheffield United v Crystal Palace
Manchester United v Chelsea

(Ties to be played 17 or 18 December)