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The 19-year old youngster blasted two goals to send the Londoners into the fourth round of the Worthington Cup at the expense of Gillingham.
With first-choice strikers Eidur Gudjohnsen and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink injured, Cole is set for a run in the side and could start on Saturday against Birmingham City.
His first goal came after 20 minutes when he beat the offside trap and coolly rounded goalkeeper Jason Brown to plant the ball into the empty net. He was set up beautifully from an inch-perfect throughball by William Gallas
"Cole is one of the best youngsters in England," beamed Ranieri. "He has a bit of everything. He still has a lot to learn but I'm very please with him," added the Italian.
Gillingham started brightly and after two minutes Guy Ipoua had a shot on target held by Carlo Cudicini after a Gallas error.
Cole's second goal, which effectively ended Gillingham's cup hopes came on 51 minutes. It was a powerful header from eight yards from an Albert Ferrer right-wing cross after excellent set up play be Quique De Lucas.
Chelsea controlled the pace of the game and looked to be comfortable winners until the last minute when Marlon King ghosted in to score from close range, when Cudicini parried a Chris Hope free-kick.
"I was pleased with my team's performance," said player-manager Andy Hessenthaler.
"Chelsea had world-class players all over the pitch and could easily have gone up a gear if they needed. Carlton Cole was a handful tonight and is a massive prospect and one for the future."
| Kickoff 6 November 2002 19:45 at Stamford Bridge | |
| Referee: D'Urso, A. P. | Attendance: 28,033 |
Final Result | |
Chelsea 2 | Gillingham 1 |
C.Cole (20) (52) | M.King (90) |
Yellow Cards | |
M.Saunders, 45, unsporting behaviour | |
Red Cards | |
Match Squads | |
Chelsea 2 | Gillingham 1 |
1. C.Cudicini 2. A.Ferrer 3. C.Babayaro 4. W.Gallas 5. J.Terry 6. G.Le Saux 7. E.De Lucas 8. F.Lampard 9. J.Morris 10. C.Cole 11. G.Zola | 1. J.Brown 2. B.Ashby 3. D.Perpetuini 4. C.Hope 5. A.Hessenthaler 6. P.Shaw 7. P.Smith 8. N.Nosworthy 9. M.Saunders 10. M.Sidibe 11. G.Ipoua |
Substitutes | |
12. L.Pidgeley 13. W.Bogarde(69) 14. J.Gronkjaer(64) 15. E.Petit 16. F.Oliveira(62) | 12. V.Bartram 13. K.James 14. D.Spiller(84) 15. T.Johnson(55) 16. M.King(46) |