Everton 0 Chelsea 1

JOE COLE'S decisive second-half strike broke Everton's hearts and sent Chelsea to their third Carling Cup final in four years.

The holders out-played the Merseysiders, who just could not find a way to cancel out Chelsea's one-goal lead from the first leg.

This semi-final second leg was a clinical exercise for Avram Grant's side. He may have said pre-match that the tournament did not mean much to him, but it certainly does to his players.

Everton boss David Moyes' side flirted with a first Wembley final in 13 years.

But the tie slowly stretched away from them, and Cole's 69thminute goal ended any hope of Everton reaching their dream. It will now be Chelsea who will face Tottenham at Wembley on February 24.

Everton trio Leon Osman, Manuel Fernandes and Andrew Johnson all passed late fitness tests.

It was the Londoners who had the first two chances, Alex firing a free-kick into the wall and Shaun Wright-Phillips seeing a 15-yarder deflected wide.

But after nine minutes it needed a fine Petr Cech save to his left to keep out a Joleon Lescott header from Mikel Arteta's corner, Everton getting themselves into the game in areas that mattered.

Chelsea were happy to defend deep, with just Nicolas Anelka up front, as they soaked up Everton's growing pressure.

Lee Carsley was booked for a high tackle on Wright-Phillips, with Chelsea beginning to ask questions in midfieldand attack.

Anelka, not cup-tied despite only being signed from Bolton between the two legs of this semifinal, tested Tim Howard with a low drive after 28 minutes.

And Florent Malouda skied a good opportunity over the bar from 12 yards after fine work by Juliano Belletti on down the right after 34 minutes.

Chelsea almost stunned Everton within a minute of the second- half starting when Anelka found space in the box for a shot that was deflected onto the bar by Phil Jagielka.

Everton needed to raise their game to unsettle Chelsea, but as Everton pressed, Chelsea struck from deep after 69 minutes. Malouda's long ball from the left found Joe Cole, and his clinical right-foot finished saw Chelsea ahead on the night.