Chelsea demolish Man City; Palace knock Spurs out of FA – Emenike, Payet at the double as Hammers rout Blackburn

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LONDON, Feb 21, (Agencies): Chelsea punished Manuel Pellegrini’s controversial decision to field a remarkably inexperienced team as Eden Hazard inspired a 5-1 demolition of Manchester City in the FA Cup fifth round on Sunday.

With City due to make the long flight to the Ukraine on Monday ahead of their Champions League last 16 first leg tie at Dynamo Kiev on Wednesday, Pellegrini had pleaded with the FA not to bow to demands from television networks to move the Chelsea game from its original Saturday date.

But Pellegrini’s request was ignored and, concerned that injury-hit City were in danger of being stretched to breaking point, the Chilean boss prioritised European success and next weekend’s League Cup final against Liverpool, admitting that he didn’t consider the Stamford Bridge showdown “a real game”.

Pellegrini had warned fans they wouldn’t get value for money because he would rest stars like Sergio Aguero and Yaya Toure and he was true to his word as he fielded an unrecognisable starting line-up featuring six teenagers, five of whom were making their full debuts.

In contrast, Guus Hiddink, with the luxury of having played in the Champions League already this week, named his strongest available side and it was men against boys as they swept into the quarter-finals thanks to a pair of assists and a goal from Hazard.

Diego Costa put Chelsea ahead and, although David Faupala equalised for the visitors, second half goals from Willian, Gary Cahill, Hazard and Bertrand Traore handed City a third successive defeat.

Pellegrini will face accusations of disrespecting the FA Cup, but he won’t care about that if City can take a step towards the Champions League quarter-finals and win the League Cup this week.

French forward Faupala was one of City’s debutants and the 18-year-old showed no signs of being overawed when he left two defenders trailing in his wake before testing Blues goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.

After a slow start, Chelsea threatened when Pedro’s clipped shot bounced to safety off the far post.

Meanwhile, Crystal Palace dumped London rival Tottenham out of the FA Cup on Sunday with a 1-0 victory, while West Ham came from behind to beat Blackburn 5-1 to reach the quarterfinals.

Martin Kelly hit the decisive goal for Crystal Palace at White Hart Lane just before halftime, controlling a pass from Wilfried Zaha before lashing past Michel Vorm from inside the penalty area.

Tottenham came close to equalizing in the second half through Christian Eriksen, who was denied by a smart save from Palace goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey, and Alan Pardew’s side held on for a narrow victory.

Earlier on Sunday, West Ham avoided an fifth-round upset with a comeback victory at second-tier Blackburn in a match that both sides finished with 10 men.

Ben Marshall put the hosts ahead with a low, left-footed strike after 20 minutes, before Victor Moses equalized for the Hammers after a run from the halfway line six minutes later.

Dimitri Payet put West Ham ahead with a free kick from 25 yards (meters).

Emmanuel Emenike then struck twice in the second half to make West Ham safe, before Payet got his second goal in stoppage time.

Chris Taylor was sent off for Blackburn and Cheikhou Kouyate for West Ham, both in the second half.

“After the first 20 minutes we played fantastic,” West Ham manager Slaven Bilic said. “We played really great football and it looked easy.”

Draw

FA Cup quarter-finals draw (Premier League unless stated):

Reading (II) vs Crystal Palace

Everton vs Chelsea

Arsenal or Hull City (II) vs Watford

Shrewsbury Town (III) or Manchester Utd vs West Ham United

Ties will be played 11-14 March.

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