QPR VS CHELSEA (MATCH REPORT: goal)
After a forgettable first half, Mata delivered the telling goal from the spot on the 62nd minute to put Chelsea's name in the hat for the fifth round draw.
The winning goal was shrouded in controversy though as referee Mike Dean deemed Clint Hill's push on Daniel Sturridge in the box enough to warrant a penalty, much to the disbelief of the home fans.
The game started brightly with Ashley Cole's crunching tackle setting the tone for the game. However any hopes of a feisty west London clash quickly diminished as Chelsea settled into their stride. QPR found it hard to gain and retain possession as the away side stroked the ball across the Loftus Road pitch.
Mata had the first real chance of the game in the 12th minute, pouncing on Luke Young's slip to drive at the heart of the QPR defence. His shot from just inside the area was on target but close enough to Paddy Kenny to have it parried away for a corner.
The first half saw few chances as both teams cautiously worked their way into the game. David Luiz's overhead kick from a Terry flick-on required a much more deft touch to trouble Kenny's goal.
Shaun Wright-Phillips was booked for a lunge borne more from frustration at a loose touch than genuine malice and that summed up an opening period that offered supporters little cheer.
Chelsea were reduced to shots from range as Fernando Torres drifted wide in search of the ball and it nearly paid off as Raul Meireles found room on the edge of the box to take a touch on his thigh and volley the ball at goal. The well-struck shot fizzed wide of Kenny's right-hand post.
There were moments of magic though and the most notable invariably came from Mata, whose backheel on 40 minutes played Ramires into the right channel of the box. For the Spaniard's good work, the Brazilian fluffed his lines, over-hitting his cross well past the waiting Florent Malouda at the back post.
Half-time led to Mark Hughes making one change, introducing Manchester United loanee Federico Macheda for the largely innocuous Heider Helguson but Villas-Boas' team provided the early threats on goal.
Torres' fine work inside the right corner of the box saw him elude two QPR defenders and feed Sturridge marginally behind him. The young English striker's powerful first-time left foot strike looked to be headed in but rose just over Kenny's crossbar.
Chelsea's intent was obvious and Luiz combined to a more positive start to the half, roaming to the edge of the box before unleashing his drive just wide.
Then came the minute of drama. QPR produced their first glimmer of threat as Macheda and Wright-Phillips teamed up to unlock the Chelsea defence. As Cole was left on his heels, Wright-Phillips nipped down the right channel but his flashed drive across goal was beaten away by Petr Cech.
The Chelsea break, perhaps stirred by the QPR chance, showed intent but it was smothered in controversy. As Mata cut back and crossed towards Sturridge, the striker felt contact from Hill and tumbled in the box. Referee Mike Dean had no hesitation in pointing to the spot amid boos from the home support, who had presumed Sturridge was guilty of simulation.
Regardless, Mata composed himself before striding towards the penalty spot and sending Kenny the wrong way to give Chelsea the lead in front of the away support
LIVERPOOL VS MAN UTD(match report: goal)
Daniel Agger opened the scoring for the Reds, heading home a Steven Gerrard corner, but Park Ji-sung brought the visitors level shortly before half-time.
United enjoyed plenty of possession in midfield but struggled to find their way past the Liverpool defence and they were punished when Kuyt provided the decisive strike.
Tensions between the two clubs had been high prior to this match following the fallout of their last meeting at Anfield, but while Patrice Evra was booed by the home fans throughout, the game itself proved a low-key affair until Kuyt's dramatic winner.
Kenny Dalglish opted to remove, Kuyt, Craig Bellamy, Glen Johnson and Charlie Adam from the team that beat Manchester City in the League Cup on Wednesday. Instead Andy Carroll started in attack, with Maxi Rodriguez replacing Kuyt on the right wing. Martin Kelly came in at right-back, with Jamie Carragher providing a defensive presence in central midfield.
Wayne Rooney failed to recover from injury in time for the tie, so Sir Alex Ferguson added an extra man in midfield in the form of Paul Scholes while Park replaced the injured Nani on the left wing.
Chances from distance for Rodriguez and Ryan Giggs aside, the battle of the opening 15 minutes took place largely in midfield. In terrific form but without his partner in crime, Nani, on the opposite flank, Antonio Valencia would be relied upon as a primary creative force for United on the right-hand side and he burst past Rodriguez before thumping a 20-yard shot against Pepe Reina's far post.
United goalkeeper David De Gea has sometimes looked uncertain when dealing with high balls into the penalty area this season and Liverpool were determined to exploit that potential weakness from the first minute. Each set-piece saw the Spaniard crowded by three or four red shirts and he was left stranded when Gerrard curled a corner into the six-yard box that Agger rose to head home.
The away side dominated the ball for long periods from that point, patiently probing for a gap to take advantage of in the Liverpool defence. They found it when Valencia's flick drew Jose Enrique and Rafael into a race for the ball that the Brazilian won. The right-back cut a cross back into the penalty area into the path of Park, who hammered a first-time shot beyond Reina.
Agger and Chris Smalling both survived handball appeals in their own area early in the second half; the home side's claim on the latter incident was strongest, but both were from close range and neither could be judged as deliberate.
Match details drafted from goal.com
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