GIANFRANCO ZOLA stamped his class all over Selhurst Park as Chelsea repeated their FA Cup semi-final win over London neighbours Wimbledon, this time with three Premiership points as the prize.

The silky skilled Italian, who could give England's World Cup hopes another kick in the teeth next week when he plays for his country against Poland, created Dan Petrescu's 14th minute winner with a perfectly-executed through-ball which glided through Wimbledon's central defence for the Romanian to drill in his fourth goal of the season.

Chelsea started with only four of the team which beat Joe Kinnear's side 3- 0 in the semi final nine days ago, but manager Ruud Gullit again employed a flat back foui Just as in the Highbury tie.

And Zola was again in scintillating form, despite the comparatively low-key occasion.

He set up a series of chances for Gianluca Vialli, who deputised for injured Mark Hughes. But Vialli was again out of luck with his finishing, including an extravagant second half scissors kick easily collected by goalkeeper Neil Sullivan.

Zola produced another defence-splitting pass to give Petrescu the chance of his second goal late in the game, but this time he shot straight at Sullivan

Zola finally retired from the match in the last minute, giving 18 year old youth team striker Joe Sheerin the privilege of replacing him.

Wimbledon made typically frantic late efforts to save the match but in the end received only confirmation that their dim hopes of qualifying in for Europe are now all but extinct.

Chelsea were glad to see substitute Marcus Gaye's fierce shot fly inches wide soon afterwards.

Chelsea, however, still have a faint chance of UEFA Cup insurance in case their big day at Wembley against Middlesbrough next month goes wrong.