LONDON — A superb free kick from Oscar gave Chelsea a 1-0 win over Stoke in the fourth round of the FA Cup Sunday, while Fulham needed an equalizer 15 minutes from time to draw 1-1 with third-tier struggler Sheffield United, which was down to 10 men. The Brazil midfielder scored in the 27th minute at Stamford Bridge with a curling 20-meter shot that ended in the top corner as Stoke goalkeeper Asmir Begovic dived in vain. Dangerous on the break and dominant in midfield, Chelsea almost doubled its lead soon after when Oscar hit the post. Andre Schurrle also hit the woodwork after the interval with a shot from a tight angle as Chelsea kept creating the better chances. Samuel Eto'o missed the target from close range after Ramires failed to convert Eden Hazard's precise cross, but the home side had done just enough by the final whistle. Hugo Rodallega scored Fulham's equalizer with a low shot that spared his side more misery this season. The London club is just one point above the relegation zone in the Premier League standings. Chris Porter put the host ahead in the 31st minute as he diverted a shot past David Stockdale. But the League One club had Michael Doyle sent off for a kick at Muamer Tankovic early in the second half and could not hold on to its lead. Oviedo suffers double fracture Everton midfielder Bryan Oviedo suffered a double fracture of his left leg during his side's 4-0 FA Cup win at Stevenage Saturday, an injury set to rule him out of the World Cup. Roberto Martinez's team was leading 1-0 when the 23-year-old Costa Rica international collapsed in agony after a first half challenge on Stevenage's Simon Heslop. He needed lengthy treatment from medical staff before eventually being stretchered off. Everton later tweeted: “Bryan has broken two bones in his left leg. He will remain in hospital over the weekend and have an operation Monday.” Oviedo seems unlikely to recover for the World Cup in Brazil which starts on June 12 and where Costa Rica faces England, Italy and Uruguay in the group stage. AFC plans Asian Cup expansion to 24 teams The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) plans to expand the Asian Cup from 16 to 24 teams as part of a raft of changes designed to increase the number of international matches for member nations. The AFC competitions committee made the proposal at a meeting in Oman on Saturday, at which it also announced plans to merge regional preliminary qualification rounds for the World Cup and Asian Cup. “Competitions are the main products of AFC and I am happy that it is in good hands,” AFC president Sheikh Salman Bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa said in a statement. “We must market our product and generate income to sustain football across the continent. “I am sure that the changes that happen will have big impact in Asian football and will benefit our member associations. Australia will host the 16th edition of the quadrennial Asian Cup next year with the first expanded tournament likely to take place in 2019. Any proposals made by the AFC competitions committee must first be ratified by the confederation's executive committee to take effect. There are 47 member nations in the AFC. — Agencies
