Full-Time: EVERTON 0-1 CHELSEA.

Chelsea have been the better team and deserve the chance to retain the Carling Cup when they play Spurs in next month's Wembley Final.

Avram Grant makes his final change as Tal Ben Haim comes on for Anelka.

Ashley Cole will have a few seconds of action as he jogs on to replace Belletti.

Arteta, and particularly Cahill, have been unable to stamp their authority on the game and lone striker Johnson has been starved of the ball.

The home fans know the game is up, but at least they've still got the UEFA Cup to play for and the chance to snatch a top-four place in the Premier League.

Apart from the opening 20 minutes, Chelsea have dominated this game and thoroughly deserve their victory.

Chelsea make their first change as goalscorer Joe Cole makes way for Claudio Pizarro.

Yet another booking as Neville upsets the referee.

A fifth yellow card of the game and fourth in 14 minutes as Nuno Valente hacks Malouda down.

Arteta tries to find some space for himself but Chelsea have closed down all his options and win back possession easily.

Another change by Moyes as Fernandes makes way for James Vaughan.

Everton suddenly look very tired while Chelsea are as solid as ever.

The flurry of yellow cards continues as Juliano Belletti goes into the referee's notebook.

Fernandes is booked for dissent after arguing that he should have been awarded a free-kick.

It looks certain to be a Spurs v Chelsea Final at Wembley next month now.

Cech is forced to make a smart save to deny Johnson an equaliser.

Moyes makes an immediate change with Victor Anichebe coming on for Carsley.

EVERTON 0-1 CHELSEA. That would appear to be that as JOE COLE controls a long ball in an instant before blasting a shot past Howard.

Johnson is flattened by Alex - Chelsea are suddenly giving away needless free-kicks in dangerous situations.

Makelele is booked for not retreating ten yards at a free-kick.

Anelka falls over in the area under Lescott's challenge but play is waved on.

Another scramble in the Chelsea box but the hosts survive as Johnson is crowded out.

Everton have the bit between their teeth again as Chelsea are forced on to the back foot.

The near miss has given the home fans renewed optimism as Phil Jagielka nearly flicks the ball home - much better play by Everton.

A short corner comes to Neville whose on-target shot is parried by Cech. The ball almost falls at the feet of Johnson before the danger is averted.

Everton are finding it impossble to find Johnson and pick their way through the Chelsea defence.

Phil Neville does well to keep the ball in play but Everton then promptly lose their way again as they gift possession back to Chelsea.

Anelka, who has been very lively, starts yet another Chelsea attack.

Nuno Valente requires treatment for what appears to be a blow to the face.

Wright-Phillips' pace looks to have given him the chance to shoot, but Lescott gets back to clear the ball away.

The game hangs on a knife-edge though as both sides continue to probe for an opening.

The way Chelsea are playing, if that had gone in the match would be as good as over.

Cole finds some space for himself inside the area and lays the ball back to Anelka who lashes a shot past Howard and back off the crossbar.

Chelsea, in their lovely luminous shirts, get the second half underway.

Half-Time: EVERTON 0-0 CHELSEA.

Tim Cahill has had a very quiet first half. Everton could do with the Australian getting more into the match after the interval if they are to break the deadlock.

Nuno Valente almost gets free down the left but Cole does well to track back and avert any problems for the visitors.

Anelka has a half-chance but Lescott does well to snuff out the danger.

Arteta finds Johnson whose deflected shot finds the side-netting. Better by Everton though.

It's not been a classic so far but the match has ebbed and flowed nicely. Everton are enjoying a spell of pressure now with Arteta at the heart of all their good play.

Nuno Valente gives away possession in a dangerous position but Malouda mishits his shot and it drifts high and wide.

David Moyes' side have hardly touched the ball in the last ten minutes as the visitors dominate possession.

Everton have lost their way after a bright opening 20 minutes. Chelsea are definitely on top now.

Sidwell finds Anelka who twists and turns before whipping in a shot that Howard does well to keep out. It's all Chelsea now though.

Joe Cole eventually whips in a cross but Tim Howard is alert to the danger and comes off his line to claim the ball.

Chelsea are easing themselves back into the game as the Goodison crowd starts to get restless.

Now it's Lee Carsley's turn to upend Wright-Phillips - it's a yellow card for the Everton midfielder.

Arteta is caught by Claude Makelele. The Spaniard takes the free-kick but it is headed away from danger by Alex.

Chelsea appear to have weathered the storm as the crowd goes quiet for the first time since the kick-off.

Johnson tries his luck from 25 yards out but drags his low effort wide.

Florent Malouda finds some space in midfield and almost sets Anelka free - the striker is flagged offside though.

Everton are really up for this game as they keep the frenetic pace going.

Everton come again, but the Chelsea defence continues to hold firm.

Everton continue to hold the upper-hand but Chelsea will be dangerous on the break.

Whenever Mikel Arteta gets the ball he has at least two Chelsea players by his side.

Avram Grant will be wondering what happened to his side's marking at that corner particularly as Lescott has been deadly from set-pieces this season.

Everton win a corner and the unmarked Joleon Lescott's header appears to be creeping into the net until Petr Cech makes a smart save.

Chelsea try to take the sting out of the game as they play the ball about at the back.

Manuel Fernandes has made a bright start as Everton edge the opening minutes.

The home fans are in good voice as Everton launch another attack.

After three excellent semi-final encounters so far in the Carling Cup, this game has all the makings of another classic.

Alex's effort hits the wall but the ball eventually finds its way to Wright-Phillips whose effort is deflected for a corner.

Nuno Valente concedes a free-kick for a high boot and Alex fancies his chances.

Chelsea hack the ball away after an almighty scramble on the edge of their area.

Everton get the match underway.

Chelsea are also weakened as Michael Essien, Salomon Kalou and Didier Drogba are all in Ghana, but Nicolas Anelka starts in attack and Shaun Wright-Phillips has recovered from injury to play. Steve Sidwell replaces the injured Michael Ballack.

Everton are without Joseph Yobo, Steven Pienaar and Yakubu who are all on Africa Cup of Nations duty so Andrew Johnson starts as a lone striker.

Ten-man Chelsea earned a hard-fought 2-1win in the first leg at Stamford Bridge two weeks ago and are favourites to progress to the Final of a competition they won last season.

Everton and Chelsea meet in the second leg of their Carling Cup semi-final at Goodison Park for the right to meet Tottenham in next month's Wembley Final.