Fernando Torres stole the show at Stamford Bridge today, as he scored two and set up another 2 in a convincing 5-2 victory over Championship side Leicester City.
Salamon Kalou also scored, after a Gary Cahill opener, who revealed a touching t-shirt tribute to former team-mate Fabrice Muamba, after the devastating scenes we saw yesterday.
The visitors looked dangerous, and it was no surprise that this seasons FA Cup top scorer Jermaine Beckford got a consolation for Leicester, who were already well beaten at 3-0 down.
Ben Marshall also got a goal for the visitors, with a lovely long range strike which brought it back to 4-2, shortly before Meireles scored Chelseas fifth, and ended the rout.
The game started in lively spirits; both teams started brightly and had a couple of chances, until Cahill rose well to head home after 11 minutes, to put the Midlands side on the back foot.
It didn’t take long for the Blues to extend their lead, with Salamon Kalou finishing off a great move just 5 minutes later, and it seemed like it would be plain sailing for Di Matteo and his men.
The game fizzled out somewhat until half-time, Leicester keen to reduce the two-goal deficit before the break, but Chelseas patched up defence was more than a match for them.
Mata and Kalou left the field for Malouda and Essien, and it was Malouda who nearly extended the lead with a rasping shot which Schmeichel did well to stop.
As we reached the three-quarter stage of the tie, Stamford Bridge rose, as Torres has time to turn in the box, and guide his shot into the bottom corner, for his first goal in over 25 hours of football.
The home crowd were rampant, but Beckford made the tie interesting again with 15 minutes left, as he was on hand to finish a Neil Danns effort, which had bounced back off the upright.
The scoring was far from finished yet though, El Nino picked his position in the box, and a Raul Meireles cross found him unmarked, which he guided into the corner with his head, as the Bridge erupted yet again, more with relief than anything.
The visitors refused to let their heads dropped, and although played well throughout, were met by a Chelsea side who were just finding form again.
It was the away side who scored the goal of the tie though, Ben Marshall smashing home from outside the area a minute from the end, to muffled applause from the away contingent.
Chelsea weren’t finished yet though. The crowd wanted a Torres hat-trick, and a fifth goal from their side. As Leicester pushed forward for a third, they broke fantastically, and when it looked like Torres would strike at goal for his third, he unselfishly returned the favour from early, as he teed up Meireles for the fifth in injury time.
The win means Chelsea will go to Wembley for the semi finals, and while the other three ties are yet to be decided, the Stamford Bridge faithful can sit back and relax, knowing that they are well on their way to a 4th FA Cup win in just seven years.
Heads will now turn to Wednesdays match though, where they will face Manchester City, at the Etihad Stadium.
By Brad Smith