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London: Second-half goals from Ramires and Victor Moses secured FA Cup holders Chelsea a 2-0 fifth round win at second tier Middlesbrough on Wednesday and set up a mouth-watering quarter final at Manchester United.
Chelsea, taken to a replay by third tier Brentford in the previous round, improved after a scrappy first half but got a stroke of luck on 51 minutes when Brazilian Ramires let fly from 20 metres and his well-struck shot took a large deflection.
The Premier League side made the game safe 17 minutes from time after fine work from substitute Eden Hazard.
The Belgian exploited a tiring Middlesbrough defence with a strong run down the left, played a one-two with Oscar before squaring for Moses to double the lead.
Interim manager Rafael Benitez made eight changes from the side beaten 2-0 by Manchester City on Sunday, a defeat followed two days later by the Spaniard denying media reports that he was involved in a training ground row with his squad, and in particular with captain John Terry.
A defiant Benitez wasn’t in any mood to celebrate after the match, however.
“They should concentrate on supporting the team,” Benitez said of the club’s fans. “In the end, they are not making any favours to the club, to the rest of the fans and the players.
“They put pressure on the players and don’t create a good atmosphere at Stamford Bridge. They have to realize they rare making a big mistake.... It would be much better to have a good atmosphere.”
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