N’Golo Kante scored a cracking winner as Chelsea saw off 10-man United to set up an FA Cup semi-final clash with Tottenham.
United caused Chelsea some early problems in a sometimes frenetic tie but the tide turned against the visitors when Ander Herrera was sent off for a second yellow card following a foul on Eden Hazard nine minutes before half-time.
The Blues took advantage, with midfielder Kante collecting Willian’s pass five minutes into the second half and thumping a low 25-yard shot beyond David De Gea and into the bottom corner of the net.
It meant a 13th consecutive home win for Chelsea under Antonio Conte and another unhappy return to Stamford Bridge for Jose Mourinho, who saw his team thrashed 4-0 there in the Premier League in October.
Mourinho, subjected to some abuse from Chelsea fans sat near him, was left incensed by Herrera’s dimissal and shortly afterwards was warned by referee Michael Oliver after the former Blues boss and his successor Conte squared up to each other.
Earlier, keeper De Gea produced two stunning saves.
Having dived to his right to push away a low strike from Hazard, De Gea rescued his team again when they failed to deal with the resulting corner, somehow managing to keep out Gary Cahill’s close-range shot.
De Gea could do nothing about Kante’s goal – the Frenchman’s second for Chelsea – but United would have equalised soon afterwards had keeper Thibaut Courtois not denied Marcus Rashford after the striker had turned away from Cahill.
Chelsea were otherwise dominant, with an unmarked Costa heading wide before Hazard and Willian fired narrowly over and substitute Cesc Fabregas had an effort saved by De Gea.
Chelsea: Courtois; Azpilicueta, David Luiz, Cahill; Moses (Zouma 88), Kante, Matic, Alonso; Willian (Fabregas 80), Costa (Batshuayi 90), Hazard.
Subs not used: Begovic, Terry, Chalobah, Pedro.
This post was last modified on 13/03/2017