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 Sunday.
With City due to make the long flight to the Ukraine Monday ahead of its Champions League last 16 first leg tie at Dynamo Kiev 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 was in danger of being stretched to breaking point, the Chilean boss prioritized 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 unrecognizable 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 quarterfinals thanks to a pair of assists and a goal from Hazard.
Diego Costa put Chelsea ahead and, although David Faupala equalized for the visitors, second half goals from Willian, Gary Cahill, Hazard and Bertrand Traore handed City a third successive defeat.
Earlier, Crystal Palace dumped London rival Tottenham out of the FA Cup 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.
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 host 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 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.
