Manchester United eased to a 2-0 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in round five of the FA Cup on Monday evening, courtesy of first-half goals from Ander Herrera and Paul Pogba.
Pogba set up Herrera for the opening goal just after half an hour into the match before adding the second himself prior to half time.
The Blues failed to register a single shot on target between the 11th minute and full time as their cup defence came to a disappointing end.
Relive how the 90 minutes of action unfolded with Sports Mole's live text coverage below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the FA Cup tie between Chelsea and Manchester United at Stamford Bridge. Two of the competition's most successful sides lock horns in the pick of the fifth-round matches - a repeat of the 2018 final, which the Blues won 1-0 at Wembley Stadium thanks to an Eden Hazard penalty. Both sides have changed managers since then, however, and both could do with a victory today to strengthen their case to stay on beyond the summer.
CHELSEA TEAM NEWS!
STARTING XI (4-3-3): Kepa; Azpilicueta, Luiz, Rudiger, Alonso; Kante, Jorginho, Kovacic; Pedro, Higuain, Hazard
Subs: Caballero, Christensen, Zappacosta, Barkley, Hudson-Odoi, Willian, Giroud
MANCHESTER UNITED TEAM NEWS!
STARTING XI (4-3-1-2): Romero; Young, Lindelof, Smalling, Shaw; Herrera, Matic, Pogba; Mata; Lukaku, Rashford
Subs: De Gea, Bailly, Dalot, Fred, McTominay, Pereira, Sanchez
Chelsea show five changes from their midweek win over Malmo, with Hazard and Higuain among those to return to the starting lineup in attack. United have made four alterations from the 2-0 loss to Paris Saint-Germain, meanwhile, including a recall in goal for cup keeper Romero at the expense of De Gea.
KICKOFF: Following a minute's applause for late England goalkeeper Gordon Banks, who passed away last week, Man United get us up and running in the last of the FA Cup fifth-round ties. What a game this should be!
Solskjaer has opted to go with Lukaku, Rashford and Mata from the off, then, with Lingard and Martial out injured. The early signs are that Mata will start just off front-two pairing Lukaku and Rashford, as expected.
United are looking dangerous right from the off. Mata plays the ball into Lukaku's path down the left and the Belgian's cross would have been tapped in by Rashford a few yards out if not for a good interception from Luiz.
Chelsea are pretty much set out as expected today, maybe with the exception of Kovacic being selected over Barkley, who was on the scoresheet at Malmo four days ago. The Blues have been second best here so far, though they have defended well.
The visitors are full of confidence, despite their defeat to PSG last time out. A cross into the middle is at an awkward height for Lukaku, but he still goes for goal, sending his volley high over the crossbar.
Chelsea's best move so far sees Kante carry the ball forward and pick out Pedro to his right. Pedro's cross takes a deflection off Shaw and is collected down low by Romero at his near post.
This is the 14th FA Cup tie between Chelsea and Manchester United - the Blues have triumphed in each of the last four, including the final last season. The Red Devils have lost three of their five matches against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in this competition, the exceptions being a 5-3 win in 1997-98 and a 2-0 triumph in 1998-99.
SAVE! United are the side on top with 11 minutes played. Matic clips the ball towards the back post and Smalling is on the end of it, but he guides his header right at Kepa in the Chelsea goal.
SAVE! Herrera catches Kovacic in the face with his hand and the referee awards a free kick. Luiz takes it on with his trademark side-footer which proves troublesome for Romero, who can only parry it to Pedro. The Spaniard's shot is blocked by Romero.
Hazard is starting to grow into the match. The Belgian cuts in from the left and exchanges passes with Alonso on the edge of the box, working the angle to guide a shot narrowly wide of the target. Both teams have started this match well.
SAVE! This is a good hit from Herrera, who forces Kepa into a smart save with his shot from 30 yards. Chelsea look to get the ball forward quickly but Hazard is denied from doing so by Matic's foul, leading to the first yellow card of the game.
Higuain makes a good run off the ball and just about manages to bring a long ball under control, but he is forced wide and cannot get a shot on target. This has been a gripping cup tie so far, with the two teams taking it in turn to attack.
CLOSE! This has to go down as a good chance for Higuain as he gets between United's centre-backs but heads Azpilicueta's right-sided cross wide of the target. The Juventus loanee is proving to be a real threat for the hosts.
SHOT! This game is certainly not lacking shots on target. Rashford decides to go for goal from a wide free kick that he won following a foul from Rudiger, which Kepa gets his full weight behind to make a comfortable stop.
YELLOW CARD! The second yellow card of the match is shown to Young, who joins teammate Matic in the referee's book for a silly challenge on Pedro from behind. A yellow was the correct call from referee Kevin Friend.
Hazard works some space down the left with some good footwork and nearly picks out Azpilicueta at the front post, but Romero gets to the ball first. Half of the first half has been played and we have been treated to some good football so far.
Kepa lives very dangerously by taking one touch too many, allowing Rashford to close down the ball. The world's most expensive goalkeeper just about manages to clear the ball away before Rashford can get a touch in the six-yard box.
Man United have eliminated the FA Cup holders 10 times - more than any other side in the competition's history. They last did so in 2011-12 against Manchester City.
Kante has made some positive bursts from his right-of-centre midfield position, and he wins a corner for his side from this latest attack. Hazard swings it into the box but Pogba is the first player to it. Chelsea are starting to enjoy some sustained pressure.
GOAL! CHELSEA 0-1 MANCHESTER UNITED (ANDER HERRERA)
Man United open the scoring at Stamford Bridge through Herrera! The Spaniard crept around the back of Chelsea's defence to get his head to Pogba's cross from deep. Poor defending from the home side but great play from United to expose their opponents.
Lukaku and Mata also played a part in the build-up to the Herrera goal - it is clear to see the confidence in each of United's attacking players' play. Higuain thinks he is through on goal, but the offside flag correctly goes up.
Chelsea have seen plenty of the ball since falling a goal behind. Luiz sprays it out to Pedro on the right and the Spaniard's cross nearly catches out Romero, who backpedals and is thankful to see it dip over the crossbar.
United's travelling supporters are really enjoying themselves - and why wouldn't they be? Defeat to PSG aside, they have been on a superb run of form over the past two months. Kovacic bursts away from Matic and goes to ground, but the referee says that no contact was made.
Hazard flicks the ball into the path of Higuain but the on-loan striker lacks the pace to run clear of covering defender Shaw, bailing out Smalling whose slip could have proved costly. United's levels have dropped since edging in front.
Rashford challenges Hazard and leaves Chelsea's star man on the floor in a little pain. The Englishman followed through on his opponent, catching him on the knee with his studs. Hazard appears to be OK for now but that is one to keep an eye on.
Pogba has now been involved in 14 goals in 12 games under Solskjaer (8 goals, 6 assists), compared to nine goals in 20 games under Jose Mourinho.
GOAL! CHELSEA 0-2 MANCHESTER UNITED (PAUL POGBA)
We have not really seen a lot from United in an attacking sense since they took the lead, but they have bagged themselves a second goal right on the brink of half time. Pogba, who assisted the first goal, is the man to score it, busting a gut to head Rashford's cross past Kepa from nine yards. Ruthless from United!
That all came through another counter, with Herrera, Pogba and Lukaku all crying out for the ball from Rashford. Full credit to the Englishman for keeping his cool and spotting one of his teammates with a fine delivery.
HALF TIME: CHELSEA 0-2 MANCHESTER UNITED
Man United take a two-goal lead into half time at Stamford Bridge thanks to goals from midfielders Herrera and Pogba. After a pretty balanced opening quarter to the game, the visitors took control and they now have one foot in the quarters.
Both keepers were heavily involved in a lively opening quarter to the match, as Sergio Romero produced a double save to deny David Luiz and Pedro after Chris Smalling tested Kepa Arrizabalaga at the other end with a back-post header. Ander Herrera was next to come close, stinging the gloves of Kepa with his 30-yard drive, and it was the Spaniard who would open the scoring for the visitors just after the half-four mark.
Chelsea's backline were caught out by Paul Pogba's teasing delivery from deep, which Herrera watched all the way to guide past Kepa after creeping in around the back. The home side, victorious in each of their last four FA Cup clashes with United prior to today, saw a couple of openings come and go for Gonzalo Higuain as they attempted to respond to the setback.
A second goal was added to United's tally before the break, however, courtesy of a quick counter that again left Chelsea exposed. Pogba was one of three players waiting for the ball in the middle and he made no mistake when Rashford picked him out, powering a header into the back of the net from 10 yards. Chelsea really do have it all to do in the second half, then, so will we see a change or two at the break?
BENCH WATCH!
CHELSEA SUBS: Caballero, Christensen, Zappacosta, Barkley, Hudson-Odoi, Willian, Giroud
MANCHESTER UNITED SUBS: De Gea, Bailly, Dalot, Fred, McTominay, Pereira, Sanchez
KICKOFF: Chelsea, trailing by a couple of goals, get us back underway at Stamford Bridge. Only after a false start, though - Alonso was in the opposition half before the game resumed. Not a good sign for the Blues!
The visitors have started the second half on top but they have not really troubled their opponents. United are looking very compact at the back, making it very tough for Chelsea to find a way through on goal.
Chelsea finally work a shooting chance, but a couple of defenders dive in front of Higuain's angled drive before it can trouble Romero. United hit their opponents on the counter after defending the corner, but Rashford's squared pass is cut out by Luiz.
There was actually a pretty big penalty shot for United from that last attack as Luiz's delivery, which stopped Lukaku from firing goalwards from 15 yards, looped up and hit Azpilicueta on the shoulder. VAR is in operation and it is decided that it is not worthy of a penalty.
A free kick is given against Matic for bringing down Hazard. The United midfielder, who is already sitting on a yellow, appeared to get a bit of the ball. End-to-end stuff in West London!
Some controversy at Stamford Bridge now as Matic trips Kante, moments after being adjudged to have fouled Hazard, but Kevin Friend does not reach into his pocket for a second yellow, despite protests from a number of home players.
Chelsea are the side on top, winning a few corners. There is a comparison to be made with United's win at Arsenal in the last round, when they went on to seal a cagey game late on through a counter-attacking goal. The Blues are by no means out of this one just yet.
Shaw slides in ahead of Pedro to get a touch to the ball before the Spaniard can poke it past Romero. Shaw slides into his goalkeeper in the process and Romero is in need of some treatment. De Gea may well be called upon before the hour mark...
Romero is still in some pain but he is OK to play on following that collision with Shaw. Sarri is about to make his first change, with Willian the man being readied to come on.
CHELSEA SUB! Willian is brought on for Pedro with just under an hour played. Azpilicueta nearly gets on the end of a pass down the right but Pogba does well to prevent him from doing so through sheer strength.
YELLOW CARD! Rudiger goes right through Mata on the halfway line and is shown a yellow card by Kevin Friend. The centre-back claimed that he got some of the ball but he also caught his opponent, so there can be no real complaints.
Rashford is doing plenty of running off the ball and it may well be the Englishman who makes way shortly, as Sanchez is being readied to come on. Chelsea have been on top pretty much throughout the second half but they have not done enough to trouble United's backline.
CLOSE! Hazard brings the ball in from the right and powers a shot towards goal, which Lindelof gets a touch to to help it over the bar. The corner is cleared and Kante is cautioned for stopping the run of Rashford, who has had a very good game.
Kevin Friend has just referred to VAR as Rudiger was grabbed inside the box from that earlier Chelsea corner, but he and his colleagues decide that it does not need looking at beyond the initial check.
United have done very well to take the sting out of the match. They are allowing Chelsea to knock the ball around, knowing that the Blues' play is not really penetrative enough. The hosts look out of ideas unless Hazard is on the ball.
Since his debut in February 2016, Rashford has been directly involved in 63 goals in all competition for Man United (42 goals, 21 assists) - more than any other player in that time. Pogba, meanwhile, has been involved in a goal every 68 minutes in all competitions under Solskjaer.
Chelsea win a free kick around 30 yards from goal, which could spell danger as Willian, Alonso and Luiz all stand over it. Willian wins the right to take it on, but he curls it a good yard or two over the crossbar.
CHELSEA SUB! The most obvious change of the season is made as Barkley replaces Kovacic in a like-for-like midfield change. Willian came on for Pedro a little earlier - why doesn't Sarri just try something different? His job may depend on it.
MANCHESTER UNITED SUB! Sanchez is brought on for United, taking over from Lukaku in the frontline. Chelsea have only failed to score in one of their last 50 cup ties at Stamford Bridge - in the 2017-18 EFL Cup semi-final vs. Arsenal (0-0).
MANCHESTER UNITED SUB! Sanchez makes an instant impact by teeing up Rashford for a shot, which is blocked by Rudiger in front of goal. United make another change, bringing off Mata - who is applauded by all four sides of the ground - and bringing on Pereira.
Neither team has managed a shot on target in the second half of the match. That is understandable from United's perspective as they have been happy to sit back; the onus is very much on Chelsea to find a route back into the match. At the moment, they are struggling to do that.
There are now just 10 minutes to go at Stamford Bridge and Chelsea look no closer to scoring. Their last shot on target was in the 11th minute. United are seeing out this game in a professional manner, winning a corner in front of their fans.
CHELSEA SUB! Each Chelsea sub is being greeted by boos, like out of frustration as they are all essentially like-for-like changes. Zappacosta is brought on for Azpilicueta for the final eight minutes of the match.
The match is petering towards its conclusion - great news if you are a United fan. The second half has lacked quality, in truth, and that is largely because United have defended as a group to frustrate their opponents.
Higuain is unhappy as he felt that he was clattered into in the box. A corner is all that is given and it nearly leads to a chance for United, as Pogba leads the counter and picks out Sanchez, who is unable to find Pereira towards the back post.
It seems like a long time ago now that Herrera opened the scoring for United. Chelsea have not reacted well at all, conceding a second goal before the end of the first half and failing to create any sort of chances since then.
Five minutes have been added on at the end of the second half. The home fans are making their way for the exits in their thousands now, though United's supporters will not be going anywhere for a while - they have enjoyed every minute of this.
This has to go down as Chelsea's best attempt in a good half an hour, as Hazard heads Zappacosta's cross wide of goal. Solskjaer is about to make the final change of the evening to eat up some more minutes.
MANCHESTER UNITED SUB! Rashford, who has offered a good out-ball for United down the flanks today, is replaced by McTominay with just seconds left to play.
FULL TIME: CHELSEA 0-2 MANCHESTER UNITED
Manchester United are through to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup for a fifth successive season thanks to a pretty straightforward 2-0 win over Chelsea. The damage was done in a clinical 14-minute spell at the end of the first half as Paul Pogba set up Ander Herrera for the opener and then added a second through a header of his own. The Blues failed to register a shot on target between the 11th minute and full time as their cup campaign came to a disappointing conclusion.
That concludes Sports Mole's live text coverage of events from Stamford Bridge. An on-the-whistle report can be found by clicking here, and be sure to join us again tomorrow night as we bring you updates from both Champions League games. See you then!
