CHELSEA reached the quarterfinals of the FA Cup with a 5-1 victory against an understrength Manchester City side Sunday, while London rivals Crystal Palace and West Ham also advanced.

    Palace defeated Tottenham 1-0, and West Ham came from behind to thrash second-tier Blackburn 5-1.

    At Stamford Bridge, City manager Manuel Pellegrini showed that the focus was on his side’s Champions League last 16 first-leg match against Dynamo Kiev tomorrow — handing five players their debut.

    “I have 13 players (fit), I cannot take the risk to have one player more injured” Pellegrini said, when asked if he had devalued the FA Cup by fielding a weakened team. “I think we did the correct thing.”

    Defeat ended City’s chance of an unlikely quadruple, while Chelsea heads for a quarterfinal against Everton — team it beat in the 2009 FA Cup final, during Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink’s first spell in charge.

    When Chelsea took the lead after 35 minutes, it was two of Pellegrini’s senior players — rather than the youngsters — who were at fault.

    Diego Costa was allowed space on the six-meter box between Aleksandar Kolarov and Martin Demichelis, and when Eden Hazard hooked the ball across goal, Costa had as much time as he liked to stoop and head powerfully past Willy Caballero.

    But the lead only lasted two minutes. City forward Kelechi Iheanacho received a pass on the right and spread the ball into Chelsea’s six-meter area.

    Cesar Azpilicueta tried to clear, but David Faupala stretched out a leg in anticipation and scored a debut goal.

    As he celebrated with teammates in the corner of the pitch, coins were thrown at the City players from the stand where Chelsea fans are sat.

    “There were coins thrown to the Man City players in their celebration,” Hiddink said. “We condemn it, I condemn it strongly. Those people, they should not come into stadiums.”

    Faupala’s goal marked an encouraging first half for City’s youngsters but Chelsea’s experience proved too much after the break.

    Hazard, whose movement and passing resembled the player who propelled Chelsea to the Premier League title last season, threaded in Willian in the 48th and he finished ruthlessly, lashing the ball fiercely past Caballero and into the far corner.

    Five minutes later, Chelsea added a third when Fernandinho made a feeble attempt to clear Willian’s corner and Gary Cahill fired in from the edge of the area.

    Hazard then marked his impressive display with a goal, whipping a free kick low past Caballero in the 67th before substitute Bertrand Traore scored with a header in the 89th.

    It could have been a heavier defeat for City, but Caballero saved a 75th minute penalty from Oscar.

    (SD-Agencies)