Manchester United 2 Chelsea 2

By Henry Winter, Old Trafford

It took Chelsea an hour to remember they were FA Cup holders. It also took two substitutions by Rafa Benitez, sending on Eden Hazard who scored and John Obi Mikel who brought some resilience to their midfield. It also took a show of laxness by Manchester United after they had stormed into an early two-goal lead.

Chelsea were well worth their replay chance and could easily have won it here but for David De Gea's excellent goalkeeping, particularly one late save from Juan Mata. The winners meet Manchester City in the semi-finals at Wembley.

Benitez will never win Chelsea fans over and many will argue that he should certainly have started with Hazard. But at least his second-half changes worked. Chelsea's interim manager was also indebted to Juan Mata, who responded with alacrity and intelligence when his team needed him most.

Both sets of supporters were still trading toxic songs about Benitez when his team fell behind. Michael Carrick, who shone for an hour, created United's first goal, picking out Javier Hernandez with a drilled, 40-yard pass slightly to the left. Petr Cech totally misjudged the situation, rushing out, gifting space behind him which Hernandez found with a calm, accurate header. Hernandez enjoys facing Chelsea, and this was his sixth goal in seven games against the Londoners, but the visitors� defending was pitiful.

Cech was to blame yet there had to be some sympathy as neither of Chelsea's centre-halves, Gary Cahill or David Luiz, seemed prepared to take responsibility. John Terry, seemingly a king in exile in his own domain, looked on from the bench. He might have organised the defence better, certainly introduced a more competitive edge.

The afternoon worsened before it improved for Benitez. After 11 minutes, Rooney took charge of a free-kick. He was to the left of goal at the Stretford End, whose residents were singing his name. Rooney curled in the free-kick, which comfortably cleared the two-man wall of Victor Moses and Ashley Cole. It dropped towards a crowd of players, skimming the curls of David Luiz, who was being challenged by Jonny Evans, and flew in. Rooney smiled and blew a kiss to the Stretford End.

For the rest of the half, Chelsea attacked frequently, often prompted by Mata, but were let down by a poor final ball or simply determined defending by United. Evans blocked a Moses shot. Then De Gea saved from Frank Lampard.

Rooney was still in the picture, enjoying his creative role behind Hernandez. He was dropping deep, getting on the ball, building moves such as the one that culminated with Nani crossing towards Hernandez.

The Mexican had angled his run from left to right, leaving Cesar Azpilicueta trailing, but flicking his shot just over.

United were so close to adding a third when they attacked again, this time Evra driving down the left. Cech saved from Rooney and then reacted athletically to push over Luiz�s surreal attempted clearance.

For an hour, Chelsea looked shorn of confidence. They struggled to find a way to goal until Hazard arrived. Rio Ferdinand was marshalling the defence well, providing food for thought for the watching Roy Hodgson. Ferdinand's central-defensive colleague, Evans, headed clear crosses from Oscar and then Azpilicueta. Carrick blocked a Moses cross. Freed by Mata's backheel, Moses then hit the corner flag, prompting the United fans to ask "are you Torres in disguise?" The half finished with United going closer to scoring, Rooney lofting the ball just over.

Chelsea's 4,000 fans remained defiant. "Champions of Europe; we'll sing it 'till May", they chorused inbetween berating Benitez. Yet their team continued to improve. Ramires shot wide. Then Benitez made his changes, withdrawing the low-key Lampard for Mikel and also sending on Hazard for Moses. Lampard's departure angered the Chelsea contingent, who chanted: "You don't know what you're doing". The Stretford End joined in with "Rafa's cracking up".

Not here. The changes worked. Hazard was soon on the scoresheet, scoring an absolute gem after 59 minutes. Mata picked out the Belgian with a pass to the edge of the area and Hazard did brilliantly, wrongfooting Rafael before curling the ball past De Gea. Chelsea believed more, also sensing the complacency that had crept into United following their early lead.

With Mikel anchoring, Ramires pushed on more. Within nine minutes of Hazard�s goal, Chelsea equalised through Ramires. Demba Ba and Oscar combined to send Ramires into the area. He turned Evans, and placed a measured left-footed shot past De Gea and in.

Ferguson had already brought Robin van Persie on, moving Shinji Kagawa into the hole and pushing Rooney the left. Kagawa was then taken off for Danny Welbeck. With 10 minutes remaining, Welbeck and Van Persie seemed to have worked a good opening but the Dutchman surprisingly erred. For all the talk of Rooney's fitness, it is Van Persie's form over the past month that should concern United more.

With Torres on for Ba, Chelsea had used all their substitutes. They suffered a brief injury scare when Mata, turning Ferdinand, fell awkwardly. He hobbled off but came back on, and soon tested De Gea with a low shot.

Mata almost won it in the 90th minute. Luiz nicked the ball off Van Persie and lifted a fine pass to Mata who controlled the ball nimbly and turned Evans. The goal opened up and Mata fired the ball in, but De Gea stretched out his right foot and deflected the shot for a corner.

It was all Chelsea. Torres wasted a glorious chance, shooting too tamely straight at De Gea, who then kept out another effort from Hazard. A winner certainly would not have flattered Chelsea following Benitez's changes and the team's change of mood. At the final whistle, Benitez did not wait for the handshake opportunity and headed straight towards the tunnel, doubtless permitting himself a quiet smile on the way.