Chelsea have qualified for the FA Cup semifinals this season after they swept giant-killlers Middlesbrough aside in their quarterfinal clash at the weekend. Middlesbrough came into the game on the back of eliminating both Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur in the previous two rounds of the competition.

English Championship side Middlesbrough received a lot of plaudits for their resilient display in the fourth round after beating hosts Manchester United on penalties. The two teams had shared two goals at the end of regulation time and extra time before young Swedish winger Anthony Elanga missed the decisive spot kick during penalty shootout to send Middlesbrough into the fifth round of this season’s FA Cup.

Middlesbrough repeated their giant-killing feat in the fifth round when they beat North London side Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 at home tomove into the sixth round (also known as quarterfinals). The English Championship outfit would go on to fail where they excelled in the fourth and fifth rounds courtesy the 2-0 defeat at the hands of Chelsea. The Chris Wilder-led Championship side suffered FA Cup elimination at the quarterfinal stagewith two first half goals from the Blues. Moroccan star Hakim Ziyech and record signing Romelu Lukaku were on target for Chelsea against their lower league opponents away from home.

After overcoming Boro in the last round, Chelsea will now face fellow London team Crystal Palace in the semifinals next month to determine who will qualify for the FA Cup final in May. The Blues discovered their semifinal opponents when the draw took place on Sunday evening. In the other semifinal, Liverpool and Manchester City will battle each other with the winner facing the London outfit from the Chelsea and Palace semifinal tie.

Chelsea are hoping to go one better than last season after they were beaten by holders Leicester City in last season’s final.