FERNANDO Torres snubbed the chance of scoring a goal in Chelsea's FA Cup win at Birmingham.

The Spanish striker, desperate to find the net after a run of just five goals in 50 games, turned down countryman Juan Mata's offer of taking a penalty.

Mata, whose soft spot-kick was saved by Birmingham keeper Colin Doyle, said: “I asked him if he wanted to take it because he provoked (won) the penalty.

"He said 'I'm not first on the list to shoot (take it)' so that's what happened.”

Mata has had no problem finding the net, though the saved penalty was his second consecutive blank from the spot, both times against the same goalkeeper.

Torres, however, is a different story. He looked more lively playing for caretaker boss Roberto Di Matteo last night than in recent performances for the sacked Andre Villas-Boas .

But in his case, goals are what Chelsea paid a record £50m for, and there was some surprise at his reluctance to take the penalty.  

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