CHELSEA are into the FA Cup semi-finals after a rare N’Golo Kante goal fired them to a 1-0 victory over ten-man Manchester United.

The Frenchman’s strike proved the difference as the Blues continued their quest for a league and cup double following this hot-tempered affair at Stamford Bridge – which saw Ander Herrera sent off for the visitors.

After a cagey opening, with a Henrikh Mkitaryan effort going wide for the visitors, the Premier League leaders finally burst into life on 16 minutes.

Eden Hazard span away from Chris Smalling on halfway, skipping past three men before firing a low drive that David de Gea managed to push clear.

The Spanish stopper produced an ever better save seconds later, somehow managing to claw Gary Cahill’s effort out when it looked a certain goal.

It was getting feisty with a number of niggling fouls, and Herrera’s received his first card after a body check on Hazard.

And before the half was out he received his marching orders for another foul on the Blues talisman.

Tempers were flaring on and off the bench, with Jose Mourinho and Anotnio Conte squaring up to one another on the touchline to exchange some choice words in the dying stages of the opening period.

Despite his heroics in the first 45 minutes, de Gea was nowhere near the opener when it arrived shortly after the restart, as Paul Pogba’s slow closing down allowed Kante to break the deadlock with low shot into the bottom corner.

Marcus Rashford then skinned Cahill as he sent him one then the other as the Red Devils looked for an immediate response, but Thibaut Courtois stood up well to deny the youngster.

It was all-action now, and Diego Costa powered a free header wide of the post to double Chelsea‘s advantage.

De Gea was at it again to deny Willian at the near post with just under twenty minutes left, and despite a late rally by United, the Blues were not punished for their missed chances as they sealed their spot at Wembley.