Forlan fires United through

Manchester United 1

The £7million striker clinically finished off David Beckham’s slide-rule pass 10 minutes from time to seal the high-tempo encounter which appeared destined for extra time.

It was cruel luck on the visitors, who pushed forward at every opportunity but with Mikael Silvestre and Wes Brown outstanding, United’s defence rarely looked like being breached.

Chelsea made an encouraging start, with Zola caught offside as he attempted to reach a Graeme le Saux pass but it was Forlan who had the first chance, the Uruguayan firing wide from the edge of the area after collecting Juan Veron’s astute knock back.

The visitors were handed a decent opportunity shortly afterwards when Veron caught Mario Stanic with a high tackle 30 yards out, Zola touching the free-kick to Hasselbaink, whose piledriver was pushed away by Fabien Barthez.

William Gallas ensured a monumental blunder from Terry went unpunished after Forlan had robbed the centre-half 30 yards out.

First Gallas blocked off the route of a pass to Scholes which would have sent the England man clean through, then completed the job by snatching possession as Forlan tried to turn inside.

Hasselbaink and Barthez clashed as the United keeper dallied in gathering a routine ball into the home box but referee Steve Bennett contented himself with a brief lecture for the visitors’ Dutch front man.

Chelsea then forced a succession of corners at the other end and when Barthez made a mess of trying to collect the final Zola inswinger, Phil Neville hoofed clear inside his own six-yard area.

Carlo Cudicini had not been given a save to make but he was alert enough to race from his penalty area and hack clear as Beckham charged forward.

Chelsea though were warming to their task and should have taken the lead after 27 minutes when Jody Morris found space inside the United box and crossed for Enrique de Lucas, who volleyed wide from a good position.

United responded with a flurry of attacking activity which saw Giggs lob Cudicini as the pair came face-to-face attempting to reach a bouncing ball.

The Welshman’s effort lacked pace though and Mario Melchiot raced back to hook the goalbound attempt away.

Then le Saux managed to get a toe to Beckham’s fizzing near post cross, a touch which could easily have directed it into his own net but instead steered the ball away from the onrushing Giggs and Forlan.

Phil Neville was booked for clattering Stanic as the Croat ran dangerously towards the United box, Barthez taking the safety-first option by tipping Zola’s effort over the bar.

Scholes had Cudicini scrambling again as play switched once more, arrowing a second effort to the Italian’s same left-hand corner which again flew agonisingly wide.

Terry levelled up the caution count when he felled Forlan by the touchline three minutes before the interval.

Play was starting to open up again and Gallas needed all his reserves of pace once more to ensure he was able to muscle Forlan off the ball.

Beckham and Veron both played central roles in carving out a chance for Scholes but the ball seemed to stick under the England man's feet and Terry managed to block.

Chelsea immediately swept upfield and De Lucas attempted an ambitious long-range effort which Barthez watched drift harmlessly wide.

However, if that shot was speculative at best, Frank Lampard looked like causing real trouble when De Lucas’ right-wing cross arrived invitingly at his feet inside the United box.

Gary Neville had spotted the danger though and launched himself bravely at the shot which deflected away.

Ranieri decided it was time to introduce Boudewijn Zenden, who replaced De Lucas.

The Dutchman tried to impose himself immediately but was ruled to have fouled Silvestre as they battled for possession inside the United box.

Chelsea were certainly looking more threatening and Zola was only denied a clear run on goal by Brown’s superbly-timed sliding tackle inside the United box.

Forlan, an increasingly isolated figure up front, did manage to force a corner which the home side could make little of.

Silvestre had the measure of Hasselbaink, which no doubt played his part in Ranieri’s decision to remove the Dutchman 13 minutes from time, giving Ferguson a close-up of Eidur Gudjohnsen, a striker the United manager is believed to covet.

But the breakthrough, when it finally came shortly afterwards, came from a man many thought Ferguson had blundered by bringing him to Old Trafford in the first place.

Beckham provided the pass and the Chelsea defence seemed to melt away as Forlan strode forward and tucked his shot under Cudicini, his fourth goal in three starts.

Chelsea launched one last assault but Silvestre and Brown remained solid, le Saux blasted over and United were through.

MAN UTD: Barthez, Gary Neville, Brown, Silvestre, O’Shea, Beckham, Veron, Phil Neville, Giggs, Forlan, Scholes.

CHELSEA: Cudicini, Melchiot, Gallas, Terry, Le Saux, De Lucas, Lampard, Morris, Stanic, Hasselbaink, Zola.