Demba Ba\’s goal decided the replay and ended the disconnect.
In a very deep position, five yards in front of the centre circle, maestro Mata faced a Manchester United defence that had nobody except David De Gea in the penalty area.
His chipped pass was a shallow diagonal and Ba, running between Smalling and Ferdinand while looking over his right shoulder, scored an athletic goal, a trademark goal, a real Demba Ba goal, volleying a ball that was five feet off the ground, hooking it hard across De Gea into the far corner.
Before that, Ba was too static.
The disconnect between Ba and the Three Musketeers was huge.
It was almost total.
If Ba doesn\’t make more varied runs, the three ball-jugglers have to pass to each other.
Manchester United lacked spark and power in midfield.
So they had to bring Giggs on for Cleverley.
Sub Robin Van Persie looked slow and clumsy. He missed three good chances and hasn\’t scored in his last nine games for United.
In an FA Cup Replay where the fiery, athletic Danny Welbeck was stretching Chelsea, United also needed Rooney, who was out with a groin strain.
So Demba Ba, one of the great volleyers in football today, won the game in 49 minutes.
And Petr Cech kept it won with a reflex save in 60.
When the Mexican got in for a pointblank header, Cech somehow produced an amazing tipover.