Chelsea 1-0 Man Utd: Demba Ba Sends Blues Into FA Cup Semi Final

van Persie's warning that spectators shouldn't expect a classic proved accurate as neither side started in particularly bright fashion. The first half was one of few chances, yet Javier Hernandez almost caught Petr Cech off guard with a looping shot which swerved right to left that the Czech did well to save with his outstretched foot. David de Gea was also forced into a similar save to keep out an effort from Ba, who was otherwise receiving next to no service from his teammates and cut an isolated figure for much of the opening 45 minutes. The second half was a completely different matter however when the Senegalese broke the deadlock. Mata demonstrated his expert vision by picking out his teammate with a looping cross which the former Newcastle marksman instinctively latched onto, hooking his effort over the helpless de Gea and into the net. United responded in typical attacking fashion and Javier Hernandez, who has enjoyed a tremendous goal scoring record against the Blues with six strikes in seven games thought he had scored with his acrobatic diving header, which was magnificently tipped over by Cech. van Persie came on immediately afterwards but even he could not rescue United as he squandered a number of great opportunities, including a miss from seven yards out in the dying embers of the game. Chelsea looked the more likely to add a second as the visitors piled forward in search of an elusive leveler and when Eden Hazard ran through on goal following Michael Carrick's mistake, the Belgian only had De Gea to beat but pulled his finish inches wide of the Spaniard's goal. van Persie's big chance arrived three minutes from time when Patrice Evra found him in time and space in the area with a cross from the left, but the Dutchman's usually killer finishing was nowhere to be seen as he blasted his effort over the bar which only served to sum up United's frustration. The Red Devils could not muster up another clear cut opportunity and will now enter a tenth season without winning the FA Cup.