By DPA
London : Shaun Wright-Phillips scored twice as Chelsea beat Everton 2-1 at Stamford Bridge in the first leg of their Carling FA Cup semi-final Tuesday.
In a fractious game, Chelsea seemed to have squandered a significant early advantage after the dismissal of Mikel John Obi, but an injury-time header from Wright-Phillips gave them a slender advantage to take into the second leg at Goodison Park in a fortnight.
The home side had much the better of the first half, but the tenor of the evening was changed after 55 minutes when Mikel was sent off for a studs up lunge on Phil Neville.
Mikel’s suspension will have little effect because this was his last game before leaving for the African Cup of Nations, but it was the fourth of his brief Chelsea career and hurt his team.
Wright-Phillips gave Chelsea a 25th-minute lead, taking down Florent Malouda’s cross and guiding a calm finish into the corner.
Michael Ballack went within a fraction of a second with a free-kick, and Everton keeper Tim Howard saved well from Joe Cole.
Damage limitation seemed the aim for Everton, but with the man advantage they seized the initiative.
With 64 minutes played, Chelsea keeper Hilario flapped at a James McFadden free-kick, and Yakubu lashed in the loose ball. McFadden then hit the post after nutmegging Ricardo Carvalho and at that point Everton looked the more likely winners.
But Chelsea rallied to seize the late winner.