Chelsea thrash City to reach quarter-finals

Chelsea 5 Manchester City 1

Second-half goals from Willian, Gary Cahill, Eden Hazard and Bertrand Traore took Chelsea into the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.

Two minutes after Diego Costa’s diving header from Hazard’s cross, teenager David Faupala – one of five players making their full debut in a vastly under-strength Manchester City side – equalised for the visitors.

But Willian struck two minutes into the second half, Cahill volleyed home after a mistake by Fernando, and Hazard curled in a free-kick to put the Blues in control.

Oscar had a penalty saved and Traore hit the post before heading in the fifth from Oscar’s cross with two minutes remaining.

City’s youngsters had Chelsea, who will be away to Everton in the next round, worried before the irrepressible Willian restored the hosts’ lead.

He rampaged forward, found Hazard and collected the Belgian’s return pass before firing into the far corner.

When Fernando failed to properly clear Hazard’s ball into the box four minutes later, Cahill was on hand to score.

And Hazard delightfully steered in the fourth – only his second goal of the season, with both of them coming in the FA Cup.

Oscar had the chance to make it five after fellow substitute Traore was fouled by Martin Demichelis, but his spot-kick was saved by Willy Caballero.

Oscar atoned by setting up Traore, who scored with a looping back-header.

It meant a second successive domestic 5-1 victory for Chelsea and their third win by that scoreline in five matches – and Traore has netted in all three.

They dominated most of the game and Pedro almost gave them an early lead when he exchanged passes with Cesc Fabregas before nudging the ball beyond Caballero and against the far post.

Fabregas was involved in the opening goal too, lifting the ball towards Hazard, whose left-wing delivery enabled Costa to score from five yards out – the striker’s 13th goal of the season.

Although Chelsea were on top, forwards Faupala and Kelechi Iheanacho, both 19, looked a threat on the counter-attack.

Faupala had an effort saved by Thibaut Courtois and Iheanacho fired over before a slick City move culminated in Iheanacho teeing his strike partner up to score from close range.

Chelsea were somewhat unlucky as Cesar Azpilcueta’s attempted clearance struck Faupala and rebounded into the net.

And they would have quickly regained the lead had Caballero not made a stunning save to deny Pedro at point-blank range following Fabregas’ cross.

Within six minutes of the start of the second half, though, Chelsea were two goals to the good, and Hazard struck on 67 minutes.

As City’s impressive youngsters wilted, Chelsea brought on one of their own bright prospects in Traore, who shot against the post after Hazard had pulled the ball back for him but eventually got his name on the scoresheet.