Rafa Benitez was vindicated in his decision to rest several key players in Saturday's Premier League defeat at Southampton as Chelsea knocked Manchester United out of the FA Cup in a quarter-final replay at Stamford Bridge on Easter Monday.
The holders will face Manchester City at Wembley in the semi-finals, whilst United will have to settle for inevitable Premier League glory after seeing their chances of a first double in 14 years wiped out.
Sir Alex Ferguson will be left ruing his side's capitulation in the original tie at Old Trafford, when Chelsea fought back from 2-0 down at half-time to force a replay, as his side hardly got going at any stage during this afternoon's match-up.
Stamford Bridge was eerily quiet throughout the first half as neither side created a true gilt-edged chance, with the only action of note in the opening 25 minutes being the substitution of the injured Ashley Cole. The veteran full-back, who has won the FA Cup four times, was replaced by Ryan Bertrand.
Most of the fans' energies were directed towards Rio Ferdinand and John Terry; the former the victim of baiting and abuse, the latter predictably glorified as the hero he is seen as in West London.
Eden Hazard was the one player providing any sort of spark in the opening 45 minutes, and the Belgian did well to set up Demba Ba only for the striker's shot to be well saved by David De Gea's feet.
The Spaniard's opposite number was forced into a similarly unorthodox save after 41 minutes, when Javier Hernandez's swerving strike threatened to wrong foot Petr Cech but for his quick footedness.
Eventually the game sprang to life, with the break seemingly giving Benitez the chance to invigorate his players, as the previously quiet Juan Mata pulled off a sensational pass for Ba to sumptuously volley past De Gea and into the back of the net.
United, though, responded like the champions they appear set to become, and but for Cech they would have been level on 61 minutes, just 12 minutes after Ba's opener. Danny Welbeck was the provider for Hernandez, who saw his header destined for the goal but for a tremendous save from the Czech Republic international.
Mata and Hazard then went close for the home side after some uncharacteristically slack passing from Michael Carrick, before Ferguson played his hand by introducing Robin van Persie, Ryan Giggs and Ashley Young from the bench.
None had the desired impact, but van Persie should've done on 88 minutes. Young sent Patrice Evra clear down the left hand side, the Frenchman pulled the ball back for van Persie but the Dutchman blazed it horrendously over the bar from just 6 yards out.
The misfiring forward, who has now gone 9 games without a goal for United, was at it again just moments later when he headed over an inviting cross from Young.
That was to be the last chance of the game, as Chelsea held out to set up a semi-final date with the 2011 winners Manchester City.
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