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Superb second-half strikes from Andrei Shevchenko and Shaun Wright-Phillips helped Chelsea advance to the FA Cup semi-finals with a 2-1 victory over Tottenham.

The first-half failed to live up to expectations, but the game was brought to life by two brilliant Blues goals just after the break.

Robbie Keane pulled one back from the penalty spot to set up an enthralling last ten minutes, but Chelsea held on to set up a tie against Mark Hughes' Blackburn Rovers next month.

The game began at a frenetic pace, both sides seemingly having the intention of avoiding extra-time with the majority of players heading off for international duty following the game.

However, neither goalkeeper was particularly troubled in the first-half as both defences were clearly on top, unlike the original fixture, which yielded six goals at Stamford Bridge.

Tottenham went close first as only a last-gasp block from Ashley Cole denied Keane from Dimitar Berbatov's flick and the Bulgarian's header soon after was comfortably claimed by Petr Cech.

Michael Ballack twice saw tame efforts from distance fail to trouble Paul Robinson while Wright-Phillips fired over from the edge of the area for Chelsea.

Jermaine Jenas' corner was met well by Michael Dawson, but the Spurs stopper was unable to keep his header down, before Berbatov was inches from connecting with a superb ball in, Jenas again the provider.

Following a disappointing first 45, Spurs fashioned two quick chances just after the re-start. The first came from a corner when Pascal Chimbonda's acrobatic volley was smartly stopped by Cech, who also got down to gather Steed Malbranque's drive moments later.

Spurs were certainly looking the more likely to score, but against the run of play they were struck by a moment of magic from Shevchenko.

The Ukrainian international picked the up ball down the left, ran at Malbranque before cutting inside on his left foot and curling an unstoppable shot into the far corner of Robinson's goal from just inside the area.

Chelsea doubled their advantage seven minutes later with another fine finish. Didier Drogba chested the ball into Wright-Phillips' path and the winger's first-time shot went across Robinson and nestled in the net.

The two goals sparked Martin Jol into action, with Jermain Defoe brought on, but Spurs' early attempts at a response were from Didier Zokora whose ambitious efforts were well off target.

A clumsy challenge from Ricardo Carvalho on Berbatov in the area gave Spurs a route back into game from the penalty spot. Keane coolly converted from 12 yards, sending Cech the wrong way.

Spurs threw everything forward in the final minutes of the match, but were unable to test Cech in the Chelsea goal as Jose Mourinho's side sealed their passage into the semi-finals.

Teams

Tottenham Hotspur Robinson, Chimbonda, Dawson, Lee, Rocha (Stalteri 84), Jenas, Lennon, Malbranque (Defoe 64), Zokora, Berbatov, Keane
Subs Not Used Cerny, Huddlestone, Ghaly
Booked Chimbonda
Goals  Keane (pen) 79

Chelsea Cech, Carvalho, A. Cole, Terry, Ballack, Diarra (Ferreira 90), Lampard, Mikel, Wright-Phillips (Kalou 86), Drogba, Shevchenko (Robben 81)
Subs Not Used  Cudicini, Boulahrouz
Booked  Diarra, Drogba, Cech
Goals  Shevchenko 55, Wright-Phillips 61

Attendance 35,519

Referee  M. Atkinson