FA Cup: Demba Ba's sublime effort gives Blues a deserving win

A fantastic piece of skill from Chelsea forward Demba Ba saw the Blues register victory over Manchester United in their 6th Round replay in the FA Cup. The victory keeps them on course to gun for a 4th FA Cup title in a span of 5 years.

Chelsea made 6 changes to the team that lost to Southampton while United made 7 from the Sunderland trip. Captain John Terry went back to the bench with David Luiz replacing him and Juan Mata and Eden Hazard coming in. Sir Alex Ferguson changed his forward line completely with Javier Hernandez and Danny Welbeck coming in for Robin Van Persie and Shinji Kagawa, while Wayne Rooney sat out a second successive game with a groin injury picked up on international duty.

The game at Stamford Bridge was the second game in 3 days for both sides, each having played on Saturday in League action. In a lunch-time kick off at sun-bathed Stamford Bridge, both sides appeared to be tetchy early on and failed to put together a constructive array of passes to force the play. The first half was a drab affair with very few chances. David De Gea made the first real save of any kind in the 30th minute when he kept out a Ba shot on goal. Javier Hernandez, who has made quite a habit out of scoring against Chelsea, nearly embarrassed Blues keeper Petr Cech when he timed his dive a bit early and had to stick out his leg to keep out the Mexican’s swerving shot.

United failed to create anything from the wings with Nani having an abject game and Tom Cleverley on the left tucking in a whole lot more. Phil Jones in midfield was a bright spot for the visitors, cutting out attacks and looking to step on the ball when possible. The game gained a little tempo towards the end of the half with Chelsea’s attacking trio of Mata, Hazard and Oscar having a bigger effect on the game.

And the hosts did come out looking the better side in the second half. 4 minutes in came the breakthrough; Mata found a bit of space for himself in midfield and clipped the ball forward over Rio Ferdinand. The ball looked to have been slightly overcooked, but Ba displayed superb skill as he met it with his outstretched right leg and directed it past De Gea into the top left corner as the Spanish keeper stood rooted to the spot.

The goal seemed to spur the home side and they were the better team in the remainder of the game. United’s best chance came when Hernandez ran onto a Welbeck cross to head across at goal from close range, but veteran keeper Cech somehow kept the effort out with an outstretched arm. With nothing forthcoming, Sir Alex rang the changes as Van Persie and Giggs came on for the ineffectual Cleverley and Nani respectively.

But it was Rafa Benitez’s men who created the chances as they began to play the Red Devils out of the game. Mata brought out an excellent save from compatriot De Gea while Hazard and Oscar also had chances to double their side’s lead which they put wide. Van Persie had a late chance to level the game but he hit his volley wide and that was that for United as Chelsea deservedly booked their place in the final four. The win meant the end of the Double dream for United who were looking to add the FA Cup crown to go with their 20th Premier League title that looks imminent.

Chelsea will play 2011 champions Manchester City for a place in the final. The game takes place at Wembley on the second weekend of April.