Chelsea check Boro's progress

Second-half goals from Ramires and Victor Moses were enough for Chelsea to comfortably account for Middlesbrough and set-up an FA Cup quarter-final visit to Manchester United.

The European Champions went into the lead when Ramires' shot struck Fernado Torres on its way into the net six minutes after the break.

And with eighteen minutes remaining substitute Eden Hazard swapped passes with Oscar and enabled Moses to double the advantage.

Defender Andre Bikey blocked from Hazard as the home side restricted their opponents on what proved a night of few clear opportunities.

However, Boro almost went in front when Scott McDonald headed Nicky Bailey's cross wide before Petr Cech fumbled Mustapha Carayol's shot - but there were no available takers.

Chelsea though assumed control of the tie when Ramires' effort flicked off Torres on the edge of the box following sharp work from Oscar shortly after the break.

The visitors stepped up the pressure with the introduction of substitute Hazard and both the Belgian and Oscar were wide, until the latter helped Moses for an easy tap-in on 73 minutes.

Boro substitute Ishmael Miller couldn't trouble Cech with a volley at the other end but did later test the big Czech keeper at his near post.

Meanwhile, Merouane Zemmama's free-kick was similarly dealt with and Bailey also headed wide.

Middlesbrough: Steele, Bailey, McManus, Bikey (Hines 35), Friend, R. Williams, Leadbitter, Haroun, Carayol (Zemmama 74), Main (Miller 62), McDonald

subs (unused): Leutwiler, Smallwood, Emnes, Ledesma

Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Ferreira, Terry, Bertrand, Ramires, Oscar (Marin 79), Moses (David Luiz 76), Benayoun (Hazard 58), Ake, Torres

subs (unused): Turnbull, Cole, Lampard, Ba

Goals: Ramires (51), Moses (73)

Ref: Atkinson

Att: 27,856

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