JAV A GO HERO ... Cech saves from Javier Hernandez to help Chelsea into semis
Last Updated: 02nd April 2013
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.
CHELSEA manager gives his verdict on his side's win over Manchester United in the FA Cup quarters
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.
BURYING THE HATCHET ... Ashley Cole and Rio Ferdinand shake hands before kick-off
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.
HOLD ME BECK ... Oscar and Danny Welbeck challenge for the ball
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.
HOW DO YOU LIKE DEM APPLES ... Chris Smalling is held back by Demba Ba
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?”
YOU'RE NEVRA GETTING PAST ... Patrice Evra uses his bold to hold off Oscar
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.
WATCH AND LEARN ... Demba Ba scores with a superb volley to give Chelsea the lead
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.
Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/4868956/Chelsea-1-Manchester-United-0-Match-report-and-pictures.html#ixzz2PRMrwz7U
