Avram Grant hailed the match-winning performance of Petr Cech on Wednesday, which came just hours after the Chelsea goalkeeper became a father.Cech was the star of Chelsea's Carling Cup semi-final success over Everton at Goodison Park.

The Czech Republic international's wife Martina - back home in Prague - gave birth to a baby girl, Adela, in the early hours of Wednesday morning as the Blues star was asleep in the team hotel.

Grant said: "He did not make a mistake, and is certainly amongst the best in the world.

"He had a long night awake, talking to his family on the phone back home in Prague. He was delighted with his new baby and overjoyed for his wife.

"And after all that emotion he was able to play a game like that to get Chelsea to Wembley."

Defender Ricardo Carvalho also praised Cech, who produced four outstanding saves to keep Everton at bay to ensure Chelsea won the second leg of the tie 1-0 and progressed 3-1 on aggregate. They will now face Tottenham in the final on February 24.

Carvalho said: "Petr was magnificent. He kept a clean sheet, produced some outstanding saves and he is one of the best goalkeepers in the world. He proved that at Goodison Park."

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