Robbie Earle and Michael Hughes got the goals which loosened Chelsea's grip on the Worthington Cup and gained Wimbledon revenge for last month's 3-0 Premiership defeat at Stamford Bridge.

Ian Brown reports from Selhurst Park

It also went some way towards making up for two recent wins for Chelsea in the latter stages of the FA Cup.

Even the Worthington Cup's top scorer Gianluca Vialli could not stop them although he did score late on to put the pressure on the Dons, who were already two goals ahead.

Gianluca Vialli: The formation confused the players

As expected, Chelsea boss Vialli rang the changes and brought himself back in for the competition he has made his own this season.

With five goals in two games he was clearly confident and started as a lone striker with Tore Andre Flo on the bench.

There were just four survivors from Chelsea's starting line-up from the weekend with captain Dennis Wise back after a four match suspension.

Wimbledon made two changes with Neal Ardley and Hughes coming in and it was the home side that made the early running.

Free header for Earle

The cup-holders had a few early scares as their defence started uncertainly, and it was nowhere to be seen for the first goal.

Earle leaps high and Wimbledon take the lead

Frank Leboeuf felled Hughes on the Wimbledon right, and Ardley swung in the free kick from the touchline.

Earle charged in for a typical headed goal, as Dmitri Kharine left the cross to defenders who were not alert to the Jamaican international's trademark run.

Robbie Earle: Trademark header

On 32 minutes Dan Petrescu almost threaded the ball through to Vialli but it was cut out on the edge of the area only for Wise to drive the ball over from 25 yards.

It was Wimbledon who were providing the greater threat though and in the 43rd minute another set piece into the box provided Kharine with problems.

The keeper did come for the ball this time but failed to make contact, although Hughes eventually shot wide.

For the second period, Vialli clearly realised he could not do all the front running himself and Flo came on for Bjarne Goldbaek.

Joe Kinnear: This might be our year

But it was Wimbledon who had the first good chance as Kharine was troubled by a Hughes drive.

The goalkeeper spilled the ball into the only space in front of him not occupied by one of three Wimbledon players in the box, and Chelsea escaped.

Within two minutes the away side fashioned their best chance so far - Vialli held the ball off a number of challenges in the box before laying the ball sideways for Poyet.

The Uruguayan's shot curled inches wide.

Chelsea were beginning to impose themselves on the game and Poyet almost replicated Earle's goal, although his header from a corner was straight at Sullivan.

Leboeuf guilty

On 70 minutes the away side sent for more reinforcements, with Roberto Di Matteo coming on for Jody Morris.

But it did not herald a comeback from the holders and it was the home side who made it 2-0 within five minutes.

Leboeuf was the offender again, fouling Marcus Gayle in the area and the excellent Hughes stepped up to confidently blast the penalty past Kharine.

With four minutes to go, Chelsea finally got the goal.

Flo found himself on the edge of area and cut in a low cross from the byline which Vialli met under pressure to divert past Sullivan.

Ferrer wasteful

Inevitable pressure from the holders followed and their chance to force extra time came almost three minutes after the end of 90 minutes.

Substitute Albert Ferrer had a glorious opportunity on the left hand side of Wimbledon's penalty area, but with only Sullivan to beat he shot wastefully wide.

There was no more time for the holders and to a massive Selhurst Park roar Wimbledon went into the semi-finals for the second time in three seasons.

Chelsea will have to console themselves with the hope that Vialli's late strike may make him the competition's top scorer, even without competing in the last two rounds.

Wimbledon: Sullivan, Cunningham, Perry, Blackwell, Thatcher, Earle, Gayle, Ardley, Leaburn, Hughes, Euell. Subs: Kimble, Ekoku, Roberts, Heald, Kennedy.

Chelsea: Kharine, Petrescu, Babayaro, Leboeuf, Goldbaek, Poyet, Vialli, Wise, Duberry, Lambourde, Morris. Subs: Hitchcock, Di Matteo, Ferrer, Flo, Nicholls.