Stoke couldn't make it three thrilling cup upsets as they fell to a goal in each half by England pair Frank Lampard and the rightly abused John Terry.
The Potters travelled down in high hopes that they could at least bring the Londoners back to the Brit for what would have been an electric replay but their dogged resistance was undone by two deflected goals with Thomas Sorenson and Andy Wilkinson in particular putting everything on the line in search of a first FA cup semi final in 38 years and the subsequent trip to Wembley.
The teams were read out and the task was clear, contain and try to get a result against a side with some of the worlds top defenders, midfielders and strikers in...easy?...no! At least Hilario in goal meant we had a chance but first we had to get close enough to test him.
The game started with the Potters faithdul predictably in full voice whilst the home fans sat on their hands, not much changed thorughout the 90 minutes, I'm sure some home fans had to be told when they'd scored, with John Terry feeling the full force of the Stoke fans wrath following his recent antics which resulted in Terry losing the Three Lions armband and Wayne Bridge ending his England career as a result.
The chants were varied, humourous and straight to the point and at times were a pleaseant distraction from the keep ball that Chelsea were playing as they tried, and failed for long periods, to break through a stubborn Stoke rearguard.
The opening exchanges brought about chances for both sides with Anelka, Ferriera, Ivanovic and Malouda all wasted good openings in the opening half hour with Stoke seeing Sidibe clear Huth's header off the line, yes you read that right, and Whitehead volley cleared off the line by a confused looking Mikel, who has stood moments earlier debating where to put himself as the throw in was put in. Fuller also nearly teed up Sidibe at the back post but recovery work from the defender put the ball behind for a corner.
Tuncay then went through down the left but a poor firt touch allowed Alex to come across and slam the ball into the stands denying the Turkish captain what should have been a clear run on goal. The hosts were frustrated by the Potters organisation and Drogba lashed two efforts over before the breakthrough finally arrived ten minutes before half time. A corner is only half cleared to Lampard who runs in and smashes, in typical Lampard fashion, through the wall of bodies, off the back of Abdoulaye Faye and past keeper Thomas Sorenson.
City's followers were still in good spirit but the players looked like they lost something with that goal, maybe a result of all the recent games, but Tuncay wasted a free kick from the edge of the box on half time whilst Sorenson was alert to gather efforts from Lampard and Drogba before the interval, City losing Irishman Glenn Whelan to a hamstring injury before the break.
Chelsea showed their experience and ability at the start of the second half as they kept the ball, making the jaded Potters chase it for long periods. They did have the odd crack at goal, Lampard skying one over the bar and Drogba's free kick testing Sorenson, with Robert Huth hitting a free kick that had similarities to a certain penalty by Chris Waddle at the other end.
City rolled their last two set of dice on the hour mark when Mama Sidibe, who did little in the game, was replaced by the more fiery and dangerous David Kitson and Tuncay, who was disappointingly absent from the Potters attacking play, replaced by Liam Lawrence. Kitson stepped up to the plate and got stuck in, pressurising the defence and showing great touches to keep the ball going in the final third but Lawrence struggled to get involved and contributed little in his teams search for a way back into the FA Cup 2009/10.
Kitson put Pugh away and he forced a corner. That led to another corner, that led to another corner, that led to real optimism that we were going to pull level, only to be denied when Huth headed over the bar and the pressure was relieved.
For all our efforts trying to score we needed to remain committed at the back and Wilkinson certainly was in the 67th minute, throwing himself at Anelka's effort to block the ball and clear it off the line. The corner had a different outcome however when a header from Terry flew off the shoulder of Wilkinson into the roof of the net. Sorenson can count himself unlucky with both goals as he seemed to be getting both before the deflections.
City had to go for it and this opened the game up with Faye, on three occasions, narrowly missing the target and Kalou, Lampard and Anelka all being denied a chance to put the game beyond doubt by Sorenson.
Fuller went on a solo run in injury time, beating three defenders before nutmegging the keeper as he attempted to get a consolation but Hilario's clean sheet bonus was saved by his heel diverting the ball behind for a corner.