Man Utd 1-0

Independent:

Chelsea 1 Manchester United 0
Demba Ba and Petr Cech give Rafael Benitez a moment of sweet satisfaction
Rafa Benitez scores victory over old foe Sir Alex Ferguson, dashing the Scot's double hopes

By SAM WALLACE

Rafa Benitez has long come to accept the fact that he will leave Stamford Bridge in May unloved, unheralded and unlamented but, whatever happens between now and then, he will always have 1 April.
Today was the standout result of Benitez's largely unhappy 17 weeks in charge of a club that has descended into recrimination and rage since his appointment – and if he wanted reassurance of the significance of beating Manchester United in the FA Cup, it was the fact that he was spared his usual abuse.
At the final whistle, Benitez tugged his jacket around him, shook Sir Alex Ferguson's hand for the second time that afternoon and left Stamford Bridge to its own celebrations. After losing to Southampton on Saturday, being allowed to slip away was far preferable to the consequences of another defeat. In recent years, Chelsea have, in the modern parlance, owned the FA Cup, so a place in the semi-finals against Manchester City on 14 April is the very least the support expect.
This Chelsea team, which had six changes from the side that lost at St Mary's, did not overrun United, but in the moments that really mattered – those moments when the finesse of the really top players tells – it was Chelsea who prevailed. Those two occasions were Demba Ba's expertly taken goal shortly after half-time and then Petr Cech's save from Javier Hernandez just after the hour.
It has been a strange season at Chelsea, even by their own very high standards in that category, but the feeling today was that this team has the potential to challenge next season. Eden Hazard and Oscar will have another season under their belts; Juan Mata gets better and better; and if they can just find another striker and some poor soul to manage the team then there could yet be a title challenge.
In the meantime they have to contemplate the price of victory. First of all, an injury to Ashley Cole, whose hamstring gave out as he went through the gears in a chase with Danny Welbeck down the wing in the first half. Secondly, there is the prospect of fixture congestion if they reach the Europa League semi-finals, including the possibility of having to play 15 games in 45 days, starting on Thursday, to the end of the season.
Once again, Benitez will be forced into making tough choices about his team selections as the big games come relentlessly in the last seven weeks of the season. He knows that every Chelsea manager's priority is to ensure the team's participation in the Champions League, yet the prospect of winning the Europa League or the FA Cup, or both, will be sorely tempting for a manager besieged on all sides.
Yesterday, he unleashed the first string on United, which meant Frank Lampard and John Terry were on the bench, while Ferguson made seven changes from the side that beat Sunderland on Saturday. There was no Wayne Rooney again – he has a groin problem that should be resolved in time for the Manchester City game on Monday. Robin van Persie was a substitute who could not change the game when he came on.
It is nine appearances for Van Persie now without a goal and, as for United, they find themselves in a strange kind of limbo. They are strolling to the league title and, although it would be very nice for them to beat City on Monday, there is not the imperative to do so. In many respects this has been a great season for them, and when they look back on it they will see it that way, but at the moment there is the inescapable sense that it could have been better.
It would not have taken a vintage performance from United to win this game but in the end they did not come close. Rio Ferdinand was just a fraction too late getting tight to Ba when Mata picked him out with a clever ball into the area and the striker took it on the full, guiding rather than blasting it past David de Gea, who had no chance at all.
All in, it was a poor Cup tie between two sides who looked set on doing the least possible required to win the game. Hernandez's header from Welbeck's ball to the back post was heading in the opposite direction to Cech's dive but he managed to readjust and make the save brilliantly. Van Persie had a late chance from Patrice Evra's cross that he could not keep on target.
In the first half, Welbeck had looked the pick of United's side, switching from a central role behind Hernandez, to out on the right wing, where he encountered Cole. He, like many of his team-mates, faded in the second half. Out on the left wing, Tom Cleverley looked very far from the parts of the pitch where he can exert influence. Michael Carrick also struggled after the break.
When Ferguson cast around for an option to jolt his side back into life it was Ryan Giggs to whom he eventually turned. Giggs' ball to Hernandez that eluded David Luiz was crossed back in by Antonio Valencia but Van Persie failed again with the header. Otherwise United felt strangely flat, even in those final stages when they were fighting to stay in a competition they have not won now in nine seasons.
At the start of the match, as he waited for Benitez, Ferguson made a point of shaking Lampard's hand – an interesting moment, given the latter's free agent status in the summer. The United manager identified Valencia as the only player who had lived up to the standards expected of him, along with, he said, Phil Jones, in the early stages of the game.
Ferguson could not ignore the fact that the instinct that has turned United this season into the "killing machine" – as Joe Hart memorably described them – was badly missing. They could not raise their game above mediocre against opponents who were not playing at the height of their ability either.
Yet as ever with the modern FA Cup, the big issues lie elsewhere, most notably league titles and Champions League qualification. These days, managerial careers do not live or die by their FA Cup performances but Benitez is only too aware that if he wins one, it will be another bulwark against those who would seek to diminish him.

Substitutions: Chelsea Bertrand (Cole, 21), Moses (Oscar, 90), Torres (Ba, 90). Man Utd Van Persie (Cleverley, 61), Giggs (Nani, 65), Young (Welbeck, 80). Booked: Chelsea Bertrand, Azpilicueta, Mata, Oscar. Man Utd Cleverley.
Man of the match Mata. Match rating 6/10.
Possession: Chelsea 44%. Man Utd 56%.
Attempts on target: Chelsea 5. Man Utd 2.
Referee P Dowd (Staffordshire).
Attendance 40,704.

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Guardian:

Chelsea beat Manchester United thanks to Demba Ba's touch of brilliance
Daniel Taylor at Stamford Bridge

It will probably register as the most satisfying result of Rafael Benítez's short and difficult time in office and not just because it was possibly the first time he was spared the condemnation of Chelsea's supporters. His team can look forward to an FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City and, after all the personal indignities Benítez has suffered, he will probably not care too much that it was such a scruffy game to get them to Wembley.
The classic that had been anticipated never materialised but Chelsea will cherish this moment as one of the few bright spots in an often alarming season, not just for seeing off a Manchester United side 22 points better off than them at the top of the Premier League but also going back to the fact they were 2-0 down and looking entirely rudderless 11 minutes into the initial tie at Old Trafford.
Their endurance has to be admired when there is so much negativity swirling around the club. Demba Ba's extraordinary goal inflicted the damage and, long after the final whistle, John Terry and Frank Lampard could be seen in an impromptu game with assorted sons and daughters in the middle of the pitch. For the first time in a long while, Stamford Bridge felt a relatively happy place.
The decisive moment came four minutes into the second half with a piece of forward artistry largely out of keeping with everything that had preceded it. Juan Mata's vision to pick out Ba's run was exceptional even before we get to the superlatives that attach themselves to what happened next.
Mata's pass was floated with all the delicacy of an elite golfer dinking a little wedge shot pin-high. Ba had eluded Rio Ferdinand for a split second, a wonderful demonstration of how to play off an opponent's shoulder, but the finish still required something exceptional. On the turn, jutting out his right leg, he caught the ball at its furthest-away point yet still had the ability mid-air to hook a diagonal volley, right to left, across David de Gea and into the corner.
It was a stunning piece of penalty-area action and Ba will deserve all the accolades that come his way, yet Petr Cech's contribution to this victory should not be overlooked either. Cech's save to keep out Javier Hernández's header on the hour was bordering on implausible in its brilliance – twisting, one-handed, changing his body direction and all from point-blank range – and must surely rank high in his already considerable collection. A goal had seemed inevitable.
It was crucial, too, because an equaliser for United at that stage would have changed the complexion of the match. As it was, Ferguson's team were strangely subdued during those late exchanges when they would ordinarily have been expected to be laying siege to the opposition goal.
United have not won the FA Cup since 2004 and probably the most frustrating part for Ferguson was the passive nature of their performance.
Tom Cleverley looked as though a long season was catching up with him; Michael Carrick was not as influential as usual and a midfield with Phil Jones at its centre was low on penetration and ideas. Nani, in particular, chose a bad day to be at his bewildering worst and there were cheers from the away section when he was substituted.
Danny Welbeck threatened sporadically with his enthusiasm and long stride but this was a poor day for United in terms of their attacking play and creativity and, ultimately, a performance riddled with errors. Perhaps Ferguson made a mistake by choosing to play Robin van Persie at Sunderland and start him on the bench here despite Wayne Rooney being absent because of a groin injury he had picked up on England duty.
Van Persie, however, is not the prolific striker we saw scoring from any angle and distance earlier in the season. His chance to equalise came in the 87thminute and an undistinguished volley was slashed into the crowd.
For Chelsea, the only downside was the sight of Ashley Cole grimacing with pain and instinctively reaching for the back of his leg as Welbeck hared past him midway through the first half. It was the telltale signs of hamstring damage and, if the scans reveal a serious tear, it could be a lengthy lay off for a man going for an eighth FA Cup winner's medal in 12 years.
Chelsea, like United, had taken a long time to get going but Ba's goal had therapeutic effects. Mata grew into the game, such a wonderful thinker as well as being so adept on the ball. Eden Hazard might have spared the crowd some late anxiety, having intercepted Carrick's loose pass and run past Chris Smalling, if his finish had been more accurate.
As well as Van Persie, Ferguson also brought on Ryan Giggs and Ashley Young to try to add some fresh impetus. The sight of United chasing a game is normally exhilarating. On this occasion, they were flat and uninspired. Chelsea had played with spirit and togetherness and deserved their victory.
Man of the match Juan Mata (Chelsea)

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Telegraph:

Chelsea 1 Manchester United 0
Henry Winter

Chelsea’s love affair with the FA Cup continues. This was a huge victory for the holders, a result that lends lustre to a strange season, a win rooted in the brilliance of Demba Ba at connecting with a dropping ball.
Fittingly, Ba’s goal was watched by the 88-year-old Roy Bentley, the legendary Chelsea forward who himself scored a spectacular goal to knock Manchester Unitedout of the Cup at the same quarter-final stage back in 1950.
United’s manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, had warned his players of Ba’s threat, reminding them of the hooked finish that the Senegalese striker scored against them at St James’ Park on Jan 4, 2012. Rio Ferdinand was caught out that day by Ba’s movement and was second best again.
Also indebted to Petr Cech’s remarkable save from Javier Hernandez, Chelsea were well worth the passage to an April 14 semi-final date with Manchester City, keeping alive the possibility of a fifth FA Cup in seven seasons.
Eden Hazard, Juan Mata and Oscar all impressed in the second half, opening Ferguson’s side up with their fluid movement.
Missing the injured Wayne Rooney, United were disappointing, looking slightly tired, and lacking imagination. Really only Danny Welbeck, Phil Jones, Antonio Valencia and David De Gea performed well. Nani was particularly poor.
As their Double dream ended, United paid the price for not finishing Chelsea off when leading the original tie by two goals at Old Trafford, a point made in florid language by the Matthew Harding Upper and Lower at the final whistle.
Fighting to regain a place in the Champions League, Chelsea fans inevitably celebrated this victory secured by Ba.
In design and execution, Ba’s glorious goal early in the second period came in stark contrast to a first half of minimal incident. With Roy Hodgson looking on, Jones had worked well in midfield closing down Hazard, Mata and Oscar. Welbeck was lively, running at such speed past Ashley Cole that the England left-back’s hamstring gave way.
For 49 minutes, Ferdinand looked untroubled, reading the game well, ignoring the Chelsea chants of “England”. United’s sizeable following vented their spleen at John Terry, who was warming up. At least there was peace between the dug-outs with a handshake between Ferguson and Rafa Benitez.
All the while, Ba was seeking to elude Chris Smalling and Ferdinand. Just after the half-hour, Hazard slipped the ball right to Ba, whose low shot was cleared by De Gea’s feet. Cech also managed a save with his boots, repelling a shot from Hernandez that moved like a beach ball through the air.
The game came to life four minutes after the break. The build-up to Ba’s decisive strike began with Chelsea doing well to stifle a United surge down the right.
Nani backheeled the ball into the path of Valencia, who charged forward, eventually running into an ambush staged by John Obi Mikel and Cole’s replacement, Ryan Bertrand. Mikel slid in and nicked the ball away from Valencia. Bertrand collected the loose ball and squared it to Ramires.
Mata took Ramires’ pass through the middle, turned and picked out Hazard on the left. The Belgian moved inside, the ball bewitched at his feet, before he slid it across to Mata. United were slow to press and Welbeck stood slightly off the Spaniard. Mata can fashion chances even in the most cramped of spaces so giving him a couple of yards to exploit was dangerous.
Ba had already made his move, breaking into the box, feinting as if to change direction and gaining a yard on Ferdinand. Mata spotted the run and delivered the ball with a beautiful left-footed pass ahead of Ferdinand and in front of Ba, who never took his eyes off the ball. With Ferdinand trailing, Ba stretched out his right foot to guide the ball past De Gea.
It was a masterpiece of technique, balance and concentration. On the bench, Benitez turned away in quiet celebration. John Terry’s vocal response was rather louder.
United would surely respond. It’s in their nature. They tried to rally but were denied by an unbelievable piece of goalkeeping by Cech on the hour. Welbeck crossed from the right, targeting Hernandez who had escaped from Cesar Azpilicueta.
The Mexican’s scoring record against Chelsea is good, and he directed his header back past the diving Cech, seemingly into the net.
Cech, recovering incredibly, stretched out his left hand to claw the ball up and just over the bar. It was a save so good that tributes even flowed from those with United connections. Peter Schmeichel tweeted “what a save”. Hernandez himself could only smile at Cech in astonishment and admiration.
Ferguson immediately sent on Robin Van Persie for Tom Cleverley and then Ryan Giggs for Nani. Jones went to right-back, Valencia pushed on, Welbeck was spending more time on the left as United were almost 4-2-4 at times. As United pushed forward, space opened up for Chelsea.
Hazard darted through but placed his left-footed shot wide. Jones then dispossessed Hazard with a sliding tackle.
United still had chances to force extra time. Van Persie was presented with the type of opportunity he was putting away effortlessly earlier in the season. The ball arrowed to his left foot but he skied his shot. Hernandez headed Giggs’ cross wide.
Then Van Persie headed over Ashley Young’s cross. After four minutes of added time, Phil Dowd’s final whistle was drowned out by Chelsea fans.
Twenty minutes, as the stadium had largely emptied, Bentley walked around the pitch. Frank Lampard, who was doing some sprints in the middle, spotted Bentley and ran across to embrace him, to celebrate another reminder of Chelsea’s passion for the FA Cup.


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Mail:

Chelsea 1 Manchester United 0
Ba on target in Cup replay as stunning Cech save sees Blues book last-four date against City

By MATT BARLOW

The FA Cup has carried a strange curse for Chelsea managers this century, whereby those who deliver the trophy to Stamford Bridge are usually handed the sack in return.
From Gianluca Vialli in 2000 to Roberto Di Matteo last May, not one of the five who have won it has been in the job 12 months after his Wembley triumph.
In this sense, perhaps Rafa Benitez has the edge. His taxi is already booked for the end of the season, as he explained during his outburst at Chelsea fans after winning at Middlesbrough in the fifth round.
Compared to his irritated demeanour at the Riverside, the interim manager has rediscovered some of his inner peace, absorbed in his extreme squad rotation on the run from what ought to be known as end-of-season Burnoutez.
Having seen off his old enemy Sir Alex Ferguson and wrecked Manchester United’s hopes of winning the Double, he was even cracking jokes.
Demba Ba scored the only goal of an unspectacular quarter-final replay with a splendid volley early in the second half, and Petr Cech protected the lead with an exceptional save to deny Javier Hernandez.
Victory keeps Chelsea on course for a 70-game season. They move on to their next test, at home to Rubin Kazan in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final on Thursday, and they tightened their grip on the FA Cup.
Chelsea have won the trophy four times in six years since the final returned to Wembley and have not lost a tie in open play since a defeat at Barnsley under Avram Grant in 2008.
It is a competition they care deeply about at the Bridge and Benitez, despite reiterating his belief that a top-four finish is the priority, found himself on a rare wavelength with everyone else as he selected a strong team, albeit one minus John Terry and Frank Lampard.
Terry and Lampard were left to have a kickabout on the pitch with their children after watching their team beat a strangely flat United, who arrived with a plan to contain and counter-attack but seemed unable to free themselves after going behind.
With Antonio Valencia at right back and Tom Cleverley wide on the left, Ferguson’s team lacked its usual fluency but there was little to concern the Scot in the first half.
David de Gea stuck out his left boot to block a low drive from Ba and Cech made a meal of an ambitious long-range effort struck by Hernandez.
Having collected a long drop-kick from De Gea, Hernandez took a chance and made the ball swerve late. Cech dived too early and swept the ball clear with his foot.
Aside from this, the most notable incident of the first half was an injury to Chelsea left back Ashley Cole, who was replaced by Ryan Bertrand after twanging a hamstring as he sprinted in pursuit of Welbeck in the 21st minute. He will be out for at least two weeks.
Ba changed the dynamic soon after the break with an exquisite volley. Mata found a pocket of space and clipped a pass into the penalty box.
Ba spun away from Ferdinand and as the ball dropped over his right shoulder met it at full-stretch with the instep of his right foot. The Senegal international directed it up and over De Gea, who could only watch as it dropped inside the right post. It was Ba’s 18th goal of the season, his fifth since moving to Chelsea, and the technique was wonderful.
Even Benitez punched his fist ever so slightly and resisted the urge to scribble a note. Behind the interim manager, Terry was whooping with delight.
The goal lit the game. United abandoned their caution and sought more adventure, releasing full backs and quickening their tempo.
Tackles flew in and Ferguson threw on Robin van Persie and Ryan Giggs but the outcome was to open more spaces for Mata, Eden Hazard and Oscar.
Phil Jones was shuffled from holding midfield to right back and Michael Carrick was left to shoulder the responsibility of protecting his centre halves but Chelsea’s creative forces enjoyed more possession in dangerous areas.
Hazard burst on to a loose pass by Carrick, his acceleration taking him clear of the red shirts, but the Belgian turned his shot wide. Ramires galloped on to another pass after Mata had seized on a misplaced header by Jones but missed the target.
Mata peppered the goal, Oscar forced a save from De Gea and then fired wide after a neat exchange of passes with Hazard.
There was one moment, in the 61st minute, when United thought they were level.
Welbeck delivered a cross from the right with such pace it seemed Hernandez only had to connect to score. The Mexican drifted deep, away from his marker, and appeared to have done enough but Cech reacted by throwing up his left hand to deflect the ball an inch over the bar.
It was the closest United would come. Van Persie had three very difficult chances in the final 10 minutes — one cross from Valencia he was unable to reach, an awkward volley from a Patrice Evra cross and a header he could not keep down from an Ashley Young centre in added time.
Defeat leaves Ferguson with little to do other than make sure the 15-point lead at the top of the Premier League does not evaporate.
He revealed Wayne Rooney had suffered a groin injury on England duty but is confident the striker will be fit for the derby with City at Old Trafford next Monday.
Meanwhile, Benitez continues to tiptoe through the minefield of fixtures, balancing dressing-room egos and his personal ambitions with the delicate priorities of Roman Abramovich.

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Mirror:

Chelsea 1-0 Man United: Unforgettable Ba strike settles rather forgettable FA Cup replay
By Martin Lipton 

No double for Fergie then. He'll have to settle for the title.
But maybe, just maybe, a different double is now on for Rafa Benitez - even if it will not bring him any credit from the Chelsea hard-core.
Benitez had to weather a storm of Blues indignation after his side's St Mary's car crash, the angry brigade venting their fury.
If it had gone wrong yesterday, nothing could have spared Benitez from the full force of Stamford Bridge outrage, omitting Frank Lampard and John Terry deemed further incitement.
Yet not only did Benitez beat his old nemesis to earn a semi-final with Manchester City, he did it with a display all about the old-style Chelsea virtues.
Solid defending, capped by the save of the season from Petr Cech, the sort of stop that inspires a team and left Javier Hernandez laughing in disbelief.
Effort and commitment, snuffing out a surprisingly flat United, for whom only Danny Welbeck shone.
Creativity and ingenuity up front, with Juan Mata and Eden Hazard interchanging with bewildering subtlety.
And, in a game that was determined by the key moments and fine margins, a goal of consummate, breathtaking brilliance, Mata's clip forward steered magnificently home by the outstretched foot of Demba Ba.
Enough to see off United. Enough to take some of the heat off Rafa. Enough to keep Chelsea's season on track and take some of the shine off Sir Alex Ferguson's.
This was not, by any standards, a great match. Barely, in truth, a good match, despite seven changes from Saturday by the United chief, six in the Chelsea line-up.
Half an hour without a single shot, broken by Ba's effort which David De Gea kicked away, sparking a flurry of activity, although Ashley Cole's early twanged hamstring may have longer-term repercussions.
Suddenly, there was more buzz. Nani - such a disappointment - was a yard or two wide, before Hernandez, picked out by De Gea's catch and instant release, unleashed a strike that bent all over the place and forced a remarkable save by Cech's foot as he dived the other way.
That save, though, was to be surpassed by the Czech, although not until after the few seconds that brought the goal that deserved to win a far better game than this.
We have become used, this season, to Mata's vision and poise, but the lob-wedge he dug out of nowhere, dropping the ball over the constantly-booed Rio Ferdinand's right shoulder and into the space, was as good as anything the Spaniard has produced.
So, too, was Ba's response, the perfect connection leaving De Gea as much as a spectator as everybody else inside the Bridge.
Sensational, yet, as a piece of athleticism, bettered at the other end on the hour.
Antonio Valencia's drive was blocked but Welbeck whipped in first time, Hernandez' diving header was back across Cech, only for the keeper, somehow and defying geometry, to flick up his left arm and turn over the bar. The Mexican opted for open-mouthed wonder.
Fergie reacted, Valencia moving from right-back to right wing, Phil Jones dropping into the defence, United sending on Robin Van Persie and going 4-2-4.
But never convincingly, never with conviction, never with the normal sense of belief, of impending triumph, Chelsea pushing on the counter with more authority, Benitez sensing he had his rival where he wanted him.
Mata saw an angled drive turned into the side-netting by De Gea - Phil Dowd missed the keeper's touch - and Hazard did all the hard work to saunter through, only to miss the target when a surer finish would have settled the nerves.
It left a chink, the sort of opening Van Persie in particular has delighted in exploiting this season.
Rarely, though, in the past two months, just one goal in his last 12 appearances for a man who could barely put his boots on without scoring until the end of January.
Three times in the final 10 minutes, Van Persie could have extended the tie into an additional half-hour.
Yet he failed to make proper contact with Valencia's cross, blazed Evra's centre miles off target from eight yards and, at the death, put substitute Ashley Young's delivery over the bar.
It was the final opportunity, even four minutes of "Fergie time" insufficient for a resurrection, although there was a second handshake.
Benitez has risen and fallen in just two days. Could he yet redeem himself completely?

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Sun:

Shaun Custis

VICTORY for Chelsea was not just because of a sensational goal by Demba Ba.
Petr Cech deserved equal billing for the stunning save he made to tip Javier Hernandez’s header over the bar.
As for Manchester United, it is all over bar the Premier League title with the Double having now gone.
Dominating the league in the manner they have is no mean feat but United have the highest standards and there may be a sense of under-achievement at Old Trafford come May.
Star striker Robin van Persie has also lost his golden touch.
He has scored only one goal in his last 12 games for the Red Devils and has failed to register in his last nine.
He had a chance to take this quarter-final into extra-time two minutes from the end but skied a Patrice Evra cross under no pressure.
Earlier in the season those chances were bursting the net.
Ba’s winner, a stretching, hooked volley over his shoulder from Juan Mata’s clipped pass, came four minutes into the second half.
And Cech’s amazing save from a Hernandez header 12 minutes later, when he was going the wrong way, ensured an FA Cup semi-final showdown with Manchester City.
So Rafa Benitez remains on course for a cup double with the Blues also still fighting for Europa League glory.
Benitez was heavily criticised for the weakened team he put out when losing in the league at Southampton on Saturday. The belief was that the interim boss did not care about qualifying for the Champions League because he will not be here next season —— so for him the cups came first.
Benitez rejected that argument, insisting after this win the top four was still the main priority.
But lifting a shiny trophy or two would be quite a way to go, even if he will not get any thanks from the fans. He got no grief yesterday. The Chelsea supporters were far more interested in giving Rio Ferdinand stick, though thankfully none of it will get the FA’s backs up.
They booed his every touch while singing for their skipper John Terry, who stayed on the bench and avoided having to shake Ferdinand’s hand.
The Blues deserved this win. They created more, particularly in the second half when Mata ran the show.
Mata is getting better and better and really ought to be a candidate for this season’s Player of the Year.
United had no answer to his craft and guile and Michael Carrick had another of those second halves like he did for England in Montenegro, when he struggled to get a grip on the game.
United could have done with some help from Wayne Rooney, but the England striker missed out because of a groin injury sustained on international duty.
The omens did not look good for Chelsea as Ashley Cole had to go off after pulling up with a hamstring injury after just 21 minutes. But Ba got Chelsea going on the half-hour with an effort from a narrow angle which David De Gea saved with his foot.
It was De Gea’s boot which earned United this replay when he saved from Mata late on after United had led 2-0.
Cech kept out Hernandez’s 30-yarder with his foot after being deceived by the flight of the ball.
Nani had penalty claims just before the break after a tussle with sub Ryan Bertrand, but it was six of one, half a dozen of the other.
Chelsea scored thanks to Ba’s outstanding finish which left De Gea rooted to the spot.
No keeper in the world could have saved it and the TV cameras panned towards Fernando Torres on the Chelsea bench as if to say: “Could you have done that?”
United were chasing shadows and Tom Cleverley got so frustrated he clattered into Ramires and was rightly booked.
Then came the moment when Hernandez dived to meet Danny Welbeck’s cross and Cech somehow turned it over.
It was one of the great FA Cup saves — and fair play to Hernandez who laughed in admiration at Cech’s agility.
United’s goalkeeping coach Eric Steele was applauding too as a member of the keepers’ union.
United were expected to pile on the pressure but, if anything, Chelsea looked the more likely to get a second.
Mata had a shot saved by De Gea and Eden Hazard, Ramires and Mata again all went close.
Van Persie’s big chance came but it did not even get close to worrying Cech and he headed another more difficult opportunity over.
The Blues do not have long to recover as they face the Russians of Rubin Kazan in the Europa League on Thursday night.
But a congested diary is better than an empty one.

DREAM TEAM
SUN STAR MAN — DEMBA BA (CHELSEA)

CHELSEA: Cech 7, Azpilicueta 7, Ivanovic 6, Luiz 6, Cole 3, Mikel 6, Ramires 7, Hazard 7, Mata 7, Oscar 6, Ba 9. Subs: Bertrand 6 (Cole 21), Moses 1 (Oscar 90), Torres 1 (Ba 90). Not used: Turnbull, Lampard, Terry, Benayoun. Booked: Bertrand, Azpilicueta, Mata, Oscar.

MAN UNITED: De Gea 7, Jones 7, Smalling 7, Ferdinand 5, Evra 6, Valencia 6, Carrick 7, Cleverley 5, Nani 5, Hernandez 7, Welbeck 7. Subs: Van Persie (Cleverley 61) 4, Giggs 3 (Nani 65), Young 2 (Welbeck 80). Not used: Lindegaard, Powell, Kagawa, Vermijl. Booked: Cleverley.


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Express:

Chelsea 1 - Manchester United 0: Demba Ba hands Rafa Benitez a silver lining

Tony Banks

Stumbling performances in the league may have Chelsea’s top four place and Champions League involvement very much in the balance. But, thanks to Demba Ba’s glorious goal yesterday at Stamford Bridge, the FA Cup’s most successful team of the last decade are in the last four and a Wembley final is firmly in their sights.
The prospect of another league and cup double for Sir Alex Ferguson’s side disappeared amid the wrappings of the Easter eggs yesterday as Benitez’s determination was personified by his team who, spectacularly limp at Southampton on Saturday, were bristling defiance to a man.
Benitez was accused by Chelsea fans after the dismal 2-1 defeat at Southampton of putting winning some silver and embellishing his own CV ahead of the club’s needs – namely a top-four place. That is perhaps taking the Machiavellian machinations a step too far.
What is undeniable is that the Spaniard made six changes from the team that took the field at St Mary’s and they looked a darn sight better.
Ba does make a habit of scoring spectacular goals against United. He netted a very similar one for Newcastle against them last season. But when he fastened on to Juan Mata’s lovely chip three minutes after half-time yesterday and left Rio Ferdinand standing, the Senegalese still had a lot to do.
But his strength and pace got him that extra yard and, when the ball dropped over his shoulder, Ba met it perfectly, hooking it on the volley into the top corner, leaving keeper David De Gea helpless. One of the goals of the season...Ba none.
There were several pivotal moments in this tight, tense encounter. The second came minutes later, when Danny Welbeck crossed and the unmarked Javier Hernandez appeared from nowhere to head goalwards, but keeper Petr Cech somehow twisted in mid-air to produce one of the saves of the season.
In truth United, with Wayne Rooney injured and Robin van Persie left on the bench, looked a little underpowered right from the start yesterday. Chelsea were always quicker to the ball, sharper in their movement and thinking.
It was, though, a nip- and-tuck first half, in which each side effectively cancelled the other out. Ba’s goal then seemed to give Chelsea renewed belief and, with Eden Hazard continually running at the United defence and causing problems and Ramires full of running behind him, Benitez’s side always seemed to have more punch.


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Star:

CHELSEA 1-MANCHESTER UNITED 0: DEMBA SENDS CHELSEA TO WEMBLEY
By David Woods

A WORLD-CLASS goal and a world-class save. At least those who paid up to £87 to watch this game did not end up complete April fools.
Demba Ba’s superb strike in the 49th minute saw holders Chelsea through in this FA Cup quarter-final replay. They now face Manchester City at Wembley on April 14.
For Manchester United, the Double dream is over and that is due in no small part to Blues keeper Petr Cech.
His wonder save from Javier Hernandez 12 minutes after Ba scored was equal in brilliance to Chelsea’s goal and must rank as one of his best ever.
Aside from these two highlights, there was an awful lot of dross.
Pass after pass went astray and top stars, usually so assured on the ball, at times looked like Sunday League players with a hangover.
Chelsea boss Rafa Benitez would have hoped for better, having made seven changes from the team who lost 2-1 at Southampton on Saturday.
At least he was not snubbed by rival boss Sir Alex Ferguson, like he had been in the 2-2 draw at Old Trafford.
Fergie, after shaking the hand of substitute Frank Lampard, waited for the Spaniard, who did a sharp right as he came out a minute later than the Scot – and greeted him, arm outstretched.
They repeated the action at the final whistle and the abuse of United’s Rio Ferdinand, thankfully, was not that bad.
The football was though, particularly in the first half when the ball went back and forth from red shirt to blue shirt as if it carried some sort of infection.
The first incident of note came in the 21st minute when Ashley Cole, now on course for an eighth FA Cup winner’s medal in 11 years, pulled up chasing Danny Welbeck, having hurt his left hamstring.
At last in the 31st minute there was an attempt on goal. Eden Hazard played in Ba and his low shot was kept out at his near post by David De Gea’s left boot.
United’s Nani, who had one of his frustrating days, was not that wide with a left-foot potshot from 25 yards.
Then Hazard bent a curler over the bar following a smart interchange with Oscar.
At last we got a fantastic pass in the 41st minute. It came from a quick goal-kick from De Gea which Hernandez controlled with his chest after the ball bounced.
He burst through on goal then fired in a shot from 30 yards which bent at the last second, forcing Cech to save with the toe of his right foot.
And the second half did not start promisingly, with Nani sending a free-kick from a good position into the wall.
Then came that brilliant goal to bring some Easter cheer to the home fans.
Juan Mata, in a central position, swivelled on to his left foot and lofted a ball over the top. To lesser mortals, a pass out right to Cesar Azpilicueta looked the right one.
But Spanish star Mata had spotted Ba at Ferdinand’s shoulder and the ­central striker let the ball drop over his head, then stretched to volley a diagonal shot across De Gea.
It was his 18th goal of the season and fifth for Chelsea since joining them in January.
Then Cech pulled off that candidate for save of the season. Welbeck’s driven cross from the right found Hernandez and he dived to connect with a clean header.
It looked a certain equaliser until the Chelsea skipper threw up his left hand to tip for a corner. The reflexes were sensational and Hernandez could not stop grinning in disbelief as Ba patted Cech on his skull cap.