Holders Chelsea reached the FA Cup quarter-finals with a 4-1 win after Cardiff had briefly threatened to cause a massive shock.
Didier Drogba put Chelsea in front in the second minute but Michael Chopra stunned the home side with an equaliser before the interval.
But second-half goals from Michael Ballack, Daniel Sturridge and substitute Salomon Kalou put Carlo Ancelotti's side into the last eight.
Source: PA