Stoke City reached the League Cup semi-finals for the first time since lifting the trophy in 1972 with a comfortable win over Sheffield Wednesday.
The Potters, who lost Peter Crouch to injury early on, led when his replacement Joselu crossed for Ibrahim Afellay to volley his first Stoke goal.
Wednesday's only meaningful effort saw Daniel Pudil fire over as Stoke dominated with 66% of the ball.
Phil Bardsley sealed the win, firing his first Stoke goal from 30 yards.
Mark Hughes' side - who knocked out holders Chelsea in round four - refused to become the Championship side's third Premier League scalp of the competition.
Their reward is a place in Wednesday's draw where they are guaranteed to be paired with a Premier League side for a two-legged tie.
The loss of Peter Crouch to injury was the only low point as Stoke progressed
Stoke's time for silverware?
Stoke are lower in the Premier League table than all of the sides still in the competition, but with the luxury of starting Xherdan Shaqiri and Bojan - two players who have won the Champions League - on the bench, they now have a squad capable of balancing league commitments with a trophy push.
"Over two legs, I would back ourselves against anybody," Hughes told the media after Tuesday's win.
Afellay - another Champions League winner - waited until his 15th game for City before breaking his duck with a confident volley past Joe Wildsmith, while Bardsley made amends for being sent off in the last round by slamming in off the post to put the result beyond doubt.
Wednesday arrived with only one loss in 14 but, sporting seven changes from Saturday's draw at Blackburn, they were comfortably dealt with, drawing just one routine save from Jack Butland late on.
It was efficient work by Stoke and the Britannia - noisy and hostile when it matters - will prove a tough away visit for whoever is paired with the Potters in the last four.
Ibrahim Afellay (left) opened the scoring with a low volley - his last goal was for Olympiakos in March
Not Wednesday's night
Wednesday fans will look back on their League Cup run with much positivity, particularly a raucous night at Hillsborough when the Owls beat Arsenal 3-0.
And with only goal difference separating Carlos Carvalhal's side from the Championship play-offs, a push for promotion will now take centre stage.
The Portuguese manager may have expected more of a threat from his side on a night when 4,600 visiting fans made the trip, but the health of Tom Lees will be a greater concern.
The defender has played in every league game this season but left the field with an injury and could now miss Sunday's visit of Derby County.
Manager reaction
Stoke manager Mark Hughes: "If we'd allowed them a foothold in the game they could have caused problems but we didn't, which is pleasing. We restricted them after scoring the first goal. We would love to go all the way but there are some good teams remaining in the competition."
Sheffield Wednesday manager Carlos Carvalhal: "I'm not unhappy with the team, I thank the fans who pushed the team all the way. The fans are amazing. They are unbelievable. We give everything for them on the pitch."
What's next?
Wednesday can move into the top six if they beat third-placed Derby, while Stoke, who have suffered just two defeats in 12 matches, host Manchester City at lunchtime on Saturday.
Lineup, Bookings (2) & Substitutions (6)
Stoke City
- 01 Butland
- 08 Johnson (Bardsley - 45' )
- 12 Wilson
- 26 Wollscheid
- 03 Pieters
- 20 Cameron
- 15 Van Ginkel Booked
- 19 Walters
- 14 Afellay
- 10 Arnautovic (Whelan - 88' )
- 25 Crouch (Joselu - 13' )
Substitutes
- 02 Bardsley
- 06 Whelan
- 11 Joselu
- 16 Adam
- 22 Shaqiri
- 27 Krkic
- 29 Haugaard
Sheffield Wednesday
- 28 Wildsmith
- 32 Hunt (McGugan - 45' )
- 15 Lees (Pudil - 38' )
- 05 Loovens (Nuhiu - 77' )
- 16 Wiggins
- 33 Wallace
- 20 Lee
- 04 Hutchinson
- 24 Sougou Booked
- 14 Hooper
- 18 Lucas João
Substitutes
- 06 Semedo
- 09 Nuhiu
- 10 McGugan
- 17 Helan
- 21 López
- 34 Price
- 36 Pudil
Match Stats
Live Text Commentary
Full Time Match ends, Stoke City 2, Sheffield Wednesday 0.
90:00 +3:59 Full timeFull Time Second Half ends, Stoke City 2, Sheffield Wednesday 0.
90:00 +1:22Foul by Phil Bardsley (Stoke City).
90:00 +1:22Lucas João (Sheffield Wednesday) wins a free kick on the left wing.
89:35Jonathan Walters (Stoke City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
89:35Foul by Rhoys Wiggins (Sheffield Wednesday).
87:46 SubstitutionSubstitution Substitution, Stoke City. Glenn Whelan replaces Marko Arnautovic.
86:53Attempt saved. Lewis McGugan (Sheffield Wednesday) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
85:59Foul by Marc Wilson (Stoke City).
85:59Kieran Lee (Sheffield Wednesday) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
85:06Offside, Sheffield Wednesday. Sam Hutchinson tries a through ball, but Lucas João is caught offside.
84:23Offside, Stoke City. Marco Van Ginkel tries a through ball, but Jonathan Walters is caught offside.
79:32Foul by Marko Arnautovic (Stoke City).
79:32Atdhe Nuhiu (Sheffield Wednesday) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
77:42Jonathan Walters (Stoke City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
77:42Foul by Sam Hutchinson (Sheffield Wednesday).
76:08 SubstitutionSubstitution Substitution, Sheffield Wednesday. Atdhe Nuhiu replaces Glenn Loovens.
74:33 Goal scoredGoal! Goal! Stoke City 2, Sheffield Wednesday 0. Phil Bardsley (Stoke City) from a free kick with a right footed shot to the centre of the goal.
73:08Marko Arnautovic (Stoke City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
73:08Foul by Sam Hutchinson (Sheffield Wednesday).
Corner, Stoke City. Conceded by Daniel Pudil.
71:28Delay over. They are ready to continue.
70:34Delay in match Modou Sougou (Sheffield Wednesday) because of an injury.
67:18Foul by Marco Van Ginkel (Stoke City).
67:18Gary Hooper (Sheffield Wednesday) wins a free kick on the right wing.
66:42Attempt missed. Daniel Pudil (Sheffield Wednesday) left footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Lewis McGugan with a cross following a corner.
66:35Delay over. They are ready to continue.
65:35Delay in match Rhoys Wiggins (Sheffield Wednesday) because of an injury.
64:55Corner, Sheffield Wednesday. Conceded by Phil Bardsley.
59:35 BookingBooking Marco Van Ginkel (Stoke City) is shown the yellow card.
59:32Foul by Philipp Wollscheid (Stoke City).
59:32Lucas João (Sheffield Wednesday) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
59:00Geoff Cameron (Stoke City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
59:00Foul by Gary Hooper (Sheffield Wednesday).
58:33Attempt blocked. Ibrahim Afellay (Stoke City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
58:31Attempt saved. Joselu (Stoke City) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Geoff Cameron.
57:41Foul by Marko Arnautovic (Stoke City).
57:41Glenn Loovens (Sheffield Wednesday) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
57:21Geoff Cameron (Stoke City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
57:21Foul by Lucas João (Sheffield Wednesday).
55:05Offside, Stoke City. Marco Van Ginkel tries a through ball, but Jonathan Walters is caught offside.
54:14Corner, Sheffield Wednesday. Conceded by Philipp Wollscheid.
54:13Attempt blocked. Gary Hooper (Sheffield Wednesday) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Lucas João with a headed pass.
53:00 BookingBooking Modou Sougou (Sheffield Wednesday) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
52:54Marko Arnautovic (Stoke City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
52:54Foul by Modou Sougou (Sheffield Wednesday).
48:41Erik Pieters (Stoke City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
48:41Foul by Gary Hooper (Sheffield Wednesday).
48:31Attempt saved. Joselu (Stoke City) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Ibrahim Afellay with a cross.
48:10Corner, Stoke City. Conceded by Rhoys Wiggins.
47:15Delay over. They are ready to continue.
46:25Delay in match Marko Arnautovic (Stoke City) because of an injury.
45:00Second Half begins Stoke City 1, Sheffield Wednesday 0.
45:00 SubstitutionSubstitution Substitution, Stoke City. Phil Bardsley replaces Glen Johnson.
45:00 SubstitutionSubstitution Substitution, Sheffield Wednesday. Lewis McGugan replaces Jack Hunt.
45:00 +4:10 Half timeHalf Time First Half ends, Stoke City 1, Sheffield Wednesday 0.
45:00 +2:43Glen Johnson (Stoke City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
45:00 +2:43Foul by Modou Sougou (Sheffield Wednesday).
45:00 +0:20Foul by Marco Van Ginkel (Stoke City).
45:00 +0:20Kieran Lee (Sheffield Wednesday) wins a free kick on the right wing.
41:56Offside, Stoke City. Ibrahim Afellay tries a through ball, but Erik Pieters is caught offside.
37:55Foul by Erik Pieters (Stoke City).
37:55Lucas João (Sheffield Wednesday) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
37:17 SubstitutionSubstitution Substitution, Sheffield Wednesday. Daniel Pudil replaces Tom Lees because of an injury.
32:42Delay over. They are ready to continue.
30:58Delay in match Tom Lees (Sheffield Wednesday) because of an injury.
30:29Foul by Geoff Cameron (Stoke City).
30:29Gary Hooper (Sheffield Wednesday) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
29:14 Goal scoredGoal! Goal! Stoke City 1, Sheffield Wednesday 0. Ibrahim Afellay (Stoke City) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Joselu with a cross.
28:31Corner, Stoke City. Conceded by Joe Wildsmith.
28:28Attempt saved. Marco Van Ginkel (Stoke City) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Marko Arnautovic.
27:52Attempt blocked. Ross Wallace (Sheffield Wednesday) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Gary Hooper.
25:06Attempt missed. Marko Arnautovic (Stoke City) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high from a direct free kick.
23:46Joselu (Stoke City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
23:46Foul by Sam Hutchinson (Sheffield Wednesday).
22:18Foul by Erik Pieters (Stoke City).
22:18Ross Wallace (Sheffield Wednesday) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
20:16Foul by Marco Van Ginkel (Stoke City).
20:16Kieran Lee (Sheffield Wednesday) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
18:52Jonathan Walters (Stoke City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
18:52Foul by Rhoys Wiggins (Sheffield Wednesday).
17:54Marco Van Ginkel (Stoke City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
17:54Foul by Ross Wallace (Sheffield Wednesday).
15:28Attempt blocked. Ibrahim Afellay (Stoke City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Marco Van Ginkel.
13:39Attempt saved. Jonathan Walters (Stoke City) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Glen Johnson.
12:50 SubstitutionSubstitution Substitution, Stoke City. Joselu replaces Peter Crouch because of an injury.
12:24Delay over. They are ready to continue.
11:27Delay in match Peter Crouch (Stoke City) because of an injury.
9:37Foul by Glen Johnson (Stoke City).
9:37Modou Sougou (Sheffield Wednesday) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
9:03Hand ball by Gary Hooper (Sheffield Wednesday).
7:23Offside, Stoke City. Ibrahim Afellay tries a through ball, but Jonathan Walters is caught offside.
5:22Marco Van Ginkel (Stoke City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
5:22Foul by Jack Hunt (Sheffield Wednesday).
2:16Corner, Stoke City. Conceded by Sam Hutchinson.
0:35Offside, Stoke City. Marko Arnautovic tries a through ball, but Peter Crouch is caught offside.
0:00First Half begins.
0:00Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
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