CHELSEA’S Eden Hazard broke Cherries’ hearts as his strike six minutes from time knocked the Dorset club out of the Carabao Cup.

Cherries had been bidding to reach the semi-finals for the first time and the teams had appeared on course for penalties after the visitors put up a resilient rearguard display.

But substitute Hazard secured a 1-0 victory for the Blues when his shot skimmed off the underside of Charlie Daniels’s arm and into the right corner.

Cherries boss Eddie Howe made six changes to the side which had lost at Wolves in the Premier League.

In came Callum Wilson – linked with a move to Chelsea this week – Lys Mousset, David Brooks, Diego Rico, Jack Simpson and Artur Boruc.

Defender Tyrone Mings was deemed only fit for the bench after sustaining a hip injury at Molineux, while Nathan Ake was shifted into central midfield.

Chelsea also showed six changes with Olivier Giroud, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Ross Barkley, Cesc Fabregas, Emerson and Andreas Christensen coming in.

Hazard, who had been struggling with a foot problem, was named among the substitutes.

Boruc was called on three times in the first seven minutes as Chelsea made a powerful start.

The Pole made a couple of saves from Willian – the first an awkward, dipping cross – before palming away Barkley’s effort from distance following a strong run by Loftus-Cheek.

Cherries then carved out a clearer opening. Mousset rocketed purposefully forward from midfield and fed Wilson, who was well-placed but saw his first-time effort go wide.

Boruc had to be alert to save from Giroud at the near post and midway through the half, Brooks spun away from Fabregas and fired into Kepa Arrizabalaga’s arms, Wilson then bumping over the Spaniard as he got to his feet.

Brooks spearheaded an invigorating counter-attack which saw the ball go through Mousset, Junior Stanislas and Wilson, but the Welsh international’s eventual shot hit Mousset and went behind.

The giant frame of Boruc was again required in the 31st minute, the veteran stopper out quickly to brilliantly block from Willian, who was one-on-one having sped away from Jordon Ibe.

Ex-Liverpool winger Ibe then made his presence felt in an attacking sense, flying forward from his own half and picking out Mousset, who brought a full-length save out of Arrizabalaga.

Barkley thumped an effective rugby conversion over the top three minutes before the break as Chelsea’s frustrations grew.

After the restart, Steve Cook got just enough weight on the ball to redirect Loftus-Cheek’s pass back to Boruc with Willian ready to pounce.

Loftus-Cheek then jinked away from a couple of red and black shirts and pinged a left-footed effort a fraction past the right post.

Chelsea had stepped up the pace and boss Maurizio Sarri threw on the big-hitters with Pedro and Hazard entering the fray.

The hosts looked more dangerous with Hazard involved but meaningful chances were still at a premium and Fabregas and Hazard fired over, either side of Fraser doing the same at the other end.

Blues skipper Cesar Azpilicueta survived handball appeals with 16 minutes left after Wilson’s shot struck him.

And Hazard settled the tie after Pedro had backheeled into his path, the ball taking a slight touch off Emerson on its way to the Belgian.

Boruc then produced two more stunning saves from Emerson and Giroud in the dying embers.

MATCH STATS

Chelsea: Arrizabalaga, Azpilicueta, Christensen (David Luiz, 81), Rudiger, Emerson, Fabregas, Kovacic, Barkley (Hazard, 61), Loftus-Cheek, Willian (Pedro, 55), Giroud.

Unused subs: Zappacosta, Kante, Hudson-Odoi, Caballero (g/k).

Booked: Fabregas.

Cherries: Boruc, S Cook, Simpson, Daniels, Ibe, Stanislas (Fraser, 63), Ake, Brooks (Defoe, 88), Rico, Mousset (King, 73), Wilson.

Unused subs: Daniels, Surman, Pugh, Ramsdale (g/k).

Booked: Stanislas, Simpson.

Referee: Anthony Taylor (Cheshire).

Attendance: 40,432.