CHELSEA 1, MANCHESTER UNITED 0 (FA Cup Quarter Final)
- Ander Herrera sent off for 2 bookings after 35 minutes
- N’Golo Kante scores winner in 51st minute
- 10-man Man Utd unable to take the tie to extra time after Marcus Rashford’s shot saved by Thibaut Courtois
- FA Cup Semi-Final draw: Chelsea v Tottenham; Arsenal v Manchester City (Ties to be played the weekend of April 22/23)
N’Golo Kante scored what turned out to be the winner for Chelsea against a Manchester United side who had been reduced to 10-men at Stamford Bridge.
United never recovered from the loss of Ander Herrera on 35 minutes after his second yellow card for a foul on Eden Hazard during a first half in which the Reds pressed Chelsea hard and competed with the league leaders.
The Reds also saw Thibaut Courtois save their best chance of the game late on from Marcus Rashford.
Rashford had risen from his sick bed to line up against Chelsea after a freak training ground collision with Phil Jones left Wayne Rooney out of the squad with injury and United potentially with no recognised strikers.
Anthony Martial was also dealing with injury while Zlatan Ibrahimovic was suspended as punishment for elbowing Tyrone Mings against Bournemouth last weekend.
Jose Mourinho had praised Rashford’s decision to play, saying: “It’s his decision. He knows he’s the only striker with a chance to play and he has put himself on the line.”
Mourinho wanted to move on from the defeat, saying: “I am proud of my players and Manchester United fans.
“We have another important match on Thursday and I want to prepare my team the best we can for that match.”
Mourinho refused to talk about the refereeing decisions after the game, concentrating instead on the effect of the Herrera’s red card.
He said: “I think we all watched the match until the red card, and after the red card.
“Compare the decisions of the second yellow card with other ones which were not given.
“But I can’t change that, and we have to rest now.”
Marcus Rashford starts
Rashford was one of four changes to the side that drew with FC Rostov in the Europa League last Thursday.
David De Gea, Matteo Darmian, Antonio Valencia, joined the England striker in the team while Sergio Romero, Daley Blind, Marouane Fellaini and the suspended Ibrahimovic missed out.
While a tactical re-shuffle was required, Mourinho’s changes saw Valencia at right back, Darmian at left back, with Phil Jones surprisingly playing as a defensive midfielder with the Reds pressing Chelsea high up the pitch.
The tempo was high as the Reds more than matched their hosts whose fans were giving their former manager plenty of abuse but Chelsea had the best early chances.
David De Gea saved from Eden Hazard and Gary Cahill in the early stages as Chelsea had a series of attacks which United only just repelled.
So dangerous was Hazard that Ander Herrera was booked for blocking the little Belgian as he tried time and again to make space for himself while his fellow United team mates also tried to ensure that Hazard was never given room to play.
Herrera was given his marching orders after 35 minutes after he was given his second yellow card for another lunge on Hazard moments after Phil Jones had been lectured for a push on Hazard by Michael Oliver.
It was a soft booking at best but Oliver had to act after the lecture on Jones and the game was effectively over as soon as the Spanish midfielder went off.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan was immediately sacrificed as Fellaini was brought on to shore up midfield with the Reds under the cosh.
Chelsea controlled the second half, leaving the Reds chasing shadows as the likes of Diego Costa and Willian both missed chances to finish them off.
De Gea was beaten after 51 minutes by a bobbling shot from 20 yards by N’Golo Kante caught him by surprise after Willian’s pass, with Paul Pogba too slow to close him down. It was only his second of the season but both had been scored against United.
Willian and Cesc Fabregas also drew fine saves from De Gea as United were reduced to just had one run at goal from Marcus Rashford who was denied by Thibaut Courtois.
Despite being down to ten men, the Reds had given all they could to level the scores but couldn’t take the tie to extra time as Chelsea saw the game out comfortably.