Frank Lampard’s Chelsea side booked their place in this year's FA Cup final after beating Manchester United 3-1 at Wembley.
Goals from Olivier Giroud and Mason Mount put the Blues two goals ahead, before Harry Maguire put the ball into his own net. Manchester United were awarded a penalty late on after Callum Hudson-Odoi brought down Anthony Martial, Bruno Fernandes converted the spot-kick, but it was not enough to get the Red Devils back into the tie.
Story of the game
Chances were hard to come by in the opening moments, with both sides matching each others shape with three central defenders.
In the opening stages it was Chelsea’s wing-backs who came closest to scoring, firstly Reece James with a shot from just outside the area, and then Marcos Alonso who couldn’t keep his header at the back post down from a Cesar Azpilicueta cross.
Despite their recent good form, United struggled to get into the game and on the brink of half-time, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was forced to change his side’s shape with Eric Bailly forced off following a collision with Harry Maguire, with the Ivory Coast international replaced by Anthony Martial.
Bailly was stretchered off, with play being halted for more than ten minutes. In the eleventh minute of added time, Frank Lampard’s side made their first-half dominance count, as Olivier Giroud managed to get in front of Victor Lindelof at the front post and finish with the side of his left boot following a cross in from the right by Azpilicueta.
Chelsea begun the second half in the same way they ended the first, with Mason Mount’s long-range effort trickling through the gloves of David De Gea, the Spanish shot-stopper is sure to be extremely disappointed with how he conceded.
If United were to get back into the game they needed to respond quickly, and shortly after Mount’s goal, Marcus Rashford was played in by Bruno Fernandes, however, the striker's left-footed effort went just wide of Willy Cabellero’s goal.
Chelsea made sure of the victory with twenty minutes of the second half remaining, Marcus Alonso fizzed in a teasing ball into the United penalty area, with Antonio Rudiger leading the celebrations, however replays showed that it was actually United’s Maguire who got the last touch.
With the game all but done, Manchester United were awarded a penalty, after Callum Hudson-Odoi brought down Anthony Martial with a clumsy challenge. Bruno Fernandes confidently converted the spot-kick, denying Cabellero a clean sheet.
Next up for both
Next up for United, they welcome West Ham United to Old Trafford, where they hope to capitalise on Leicester City's loss to Tottenham and secure a Champions League place.
For Frank Lampard's side they have another tough encounter, as they go to Anfield where they will face champions Liverpool as they also look to secure Champions League football for next season.