Chelsea vs Manchester City. The FA Cup Fifth Round.
Stamford BridgeAttendance41,594.
Sunday 21 February 2016 23:03, UK
Chelsea booked their place in the FA Cup quarter-finals with a 5-1 victory over a young Manchester City side at Stamford Bridge on Sunday evening.
Diego Costa headed Chelsea in front before David Faupala, one of five full debutants for City, equalised from close-range, but two goals in five minutes after half-time put Guus Hiddink's side in control.
Willian slid home a third and Eden Hazard's free-kick made it four, and there was still time for Willy Caballero to save Oscar's penalty before substitute Bertrand Traore added a fifth.
But the Blues condemned the actions of a section of supporters after referee Andre Marriner removed a number of coins from the pitch close to the area where Faupala celebrated City's goal.
City have now lost three games in a row for the first time under Manuel Pellegrini, while Chelsea, who face Everton at Goodison Park in the quarter-finals, have scored five in back-to-back home matches.
With an eye on their Champions League tie against Dynamo Kiev next week, Pellegrini made nine changes from the Tottenham defeat, including full debuts for five academy prospects.
And against a strong Chelsea side unchanged from their loss in Paris, they began the brighter as Faupala forced Thibaut Courtois into an early save.
The fast start didn't last long, though, and Pedro soon hit the post after a neat interchange with Cesc Fabregas.
Hiddink's side continued to press and opened the scoring 10 minutes before half-time through Costa. Fabregas' lofted pass found Hazard in the box, and his hooked cross was turned home by the Chelsea striker for his seventh goal in seven games at Stamford Bridge.
City were only behind for 94 seconds as young French forward Faupala swiftly equalised from three yards. Signed as a free agent last summer after leaving Lens, he deflected Cesar Azpilicueta's clearance into the net after good work from Kelechi Iheanacho.
Shortly after the goal, and in the wake of Chris Brunt being struck by a coin on Saturday, Marriner removed a number of objects from the area of the pitch where City celebrated their goal, with a Chelsea spokesman subsequently condemning the incident.
Chelsea nearly went back in front just before the break, but Caballero palmed clear Pedro's volley after more impressive play from Fabregas.
The home side dominated the second half and took control just after the interval. Willian played a one-two with Hazard, taking the return pass and sweeping home to put Chelsea back ahead.
Gary Cahill smashed home number three after a poor clearance from Fernando five minutes later, the ball squirting underneath Caballero.
Willian then deferred to Hazard when the Belgian won a free-kick in a central position, and he made the most of poor positioning from the City goalkeeper to whip into the far corner.
The goal, added to two assists, capped an impressive performance from Hazard, whose involvement in three goals is as many as he had been in 24 previous appearances.
Costa was replaced by Traore to a standing ovation, and the substitute was immediately involved, winning a penalty after a challenge from Martin Demichelis. Oscar stepped up, but Caballero guessed correctly.
The respite was short-lived as Chelsea eventually grabbed a fifth through Traore, who scored for the second successive FA Cup match after his goal at MK Dons.
The striker had been denied by the post moments before, but found the net with an improvised header in the 89th minute.
