16/01/2002  Chelsea 4 Norwich 0
 
In an FA Cup tie that otherwise turned out to be a tale of 
two keepers, Gianfranco Zola conjured a goal of sheer, 
impudent class to set the seal on Chelsea's progress to the 
fourth round.

In the original third round match at Carrow Road, Chelsea 
keeper Carlo Cudicini had performed heroics to keep Norwich at 
bay in a second-half onslaught.

However, in a replay at Stamford Bridge, Norwich were 
undone when an inadvertent foul by Frank Lampard on their own 
keeper, Robert Green, went unpunished in the build-up to Mario 
Stanic's early opener.

And then, as the same three-man script continued, Green 
spilled a long-range effort from Stanic to allow Lampard to 
pounce from close range.

However, while the result was then beyond any doubt, the 
star of the show duly arrived on cue with 62 minutes after 
Graeme Le Saux had swung over a corner.

Put it like this, the crowd actually cheered just as loudly 
when Zola's reverse, volleyed flick was replayed on the video 
screen when they realised just how the Italian had bamboozled 
Green at the near post from eight yards out. 
It almost defies explanation. A mid-air goalscoring Cruyff 
turn is all that comes close.

What is clear, however, is that although the Italian has 
only recently enjoyed a recall to the side - indeed, this was 
only his third goal of the season - and may be in the twilight 
of his career at 35, his class surely remains intact.

Kanu's finish for Arsenal at Middlesbrough the season 
before last came close to this, but there are few players 
around who would even have attempted such an audacious test of 
natural skill.

One is Paolo di Canio and Chelsea, with Mikael Forssell 
also striking late on, have now set up a fourth round meeting 
with Zola's compatriot, provided that he has not left West Ham 
for Old Trafford by then, of course.

The only shame was that a ground less than two-thirds full 
witnessed such a goal, despite Chelsea' proud record in this 
competition.

With a change in tactics, wing-backs Le Saux and Stanic 
penetrated forward down the flanks as they came at Norwich 
from the start but the inspiration throughout was Zola.

Back in his preferred withdrawn striking role due to an 
injury to Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, the Italian, who had only 
been able to win a place on the left flank recently, was at 
his impudent best early on.

A beguilingly casual flick put Eidur Gudjohnsen through but 
his strike partner lifted his shot over the bar and was then 
denied by Green, who also parried that most unlikely of 
species, a Zola header.

However, Lampard's boot then thudded, albeit accidentally, 
into Green's chest as he attempted to swoop on the ball after 
it had been headed goalwards by Stanic as he contested a 
corner with defender Darren Kenton.

It looked as though Lampard could be penalised for raising 
his foot, but referee Peter Jones still awarded the goal.

Chelsea's neat approach play continued to create openings, 
with Gudjohnsen, Lampard and Le Saux threatening further.

However, Norwich at least had the character to knuckle down 
following that early setback and they soon started to threaten 
intermittently themselves, mainly through livewire striker 
Alex Notman.

He dragged one effort wide, saw another shot strike the bar 
after he had - correctly been flagged offside - and then 
provided the cross from which Steen Nedergaard's volley sped 
across the face of goal.

Notman also wasted a half-chance soon after the break, but 
Chelsea were soon in complete control.

Stanic was given too much space in which to advance and 
line up a 30-yard drive but Green should have held onto the 
ball rather than spilling it out for Lampard to swoop from 
close range.

Cue Zola's moment of inspiration. It was a goal that will 
be replayed time after time, and will probably improve with 
each showing.

All that was left was for substitute Mikael Forssell, who 
had twice come close, to make no mistake with his third chance 
and Chelsea were deservedly home and dry.

But Zola had undeniably stolen the show.