FA Cup: Five-goal Chelsea punish Man City's selection gamble

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 yesterday

London: 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 yesterday.

Manuel Pellegrini. Pic/AFP

It was men against boys as Chelsea 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.

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