Manchester United – Chelsea

After being dropped to the bench - with that decision sparking a frenzy of speculation about his future - for the Champions League defeat to Real Madrid, Wayne Rooney is back for Manchester United against Chelsea at Old Trafford.

The England man will partner Javier Hernandez in attack, with Robin van Persie on the bench.

For Chelsea, Demba Ba starts - and that means Fernando Torres is on the bench. There is also no John Terry for the Blues.

United will be looking to bounce back from that Madrid disappointment - but Chelsea suffered a European disappointment of their own, producing a poor Europa League first leg performance in losing 1-0 at Steaua Bucharest.

Sir Alex Ferguson, in his programme notes, says: "A league and Cup double is now our target and, if we can pull that off, it won't be such a bad season."

Here's the United line-up in full: De Gea, Rafael, Evans, Ferdinand, Evra, Nani, Carrick, Cleverley, Kagawa, Rooney, Hernandez.

And Chelsea look like this: Cech, Azpilicueta, Luiz, Cahill, Cole, Ramires, Lampard, Mata, Oscar, Moses, Ba.

This afternoon's other FA Cup quarter-final was not, it's fair to say, any kind of classic as Millwall and Blackburn ground out a goalless draw at the Den. They will replay on Wednesday... weather permitting.

Here's the Manchester United bench: Amos, Valencia, Anderson, Vidic, Young, Welbeck, Van Persie.

While Rafa Benitez has selected these substitutes: Turnbull, Ivanovic, Torres, Mikel, Hazard, Terry, Bertrand.

The teams are coming out onto the field at Old Trafford - just a few minutes until kick-off now.

United get us under the way - the man so talked about this week, Wayne Rooney, over the ball with Hernandez.

Chelsea, though, win the ball back quickly and pass it back to Cech at the Stretford End.

Forward it goes, but Ba fouls Ferdinand and United have a free-kick deep inside their own half.

A decent atmosphere inside Old Trafford as Evra plays the ball forward to Rooney, but he won't get to that and it's out for a throw.

Rafael does well and tries to find Nani ahead of him - it's not the best of balls, and Chelsea clear.

Rooney then gives the ball away inside the Chelsea half, but United get it back again.

Not for long, and forward come Chelsea through Cole on the left. United win it back and Kagawa chases a loose ball. Rooney's also interested, and Luiz knocks that ball out for a throw.

United come forward again - Carrick plays a wonderful ball towards Hernandez as Cech comes out of his goal...

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL: And the pass gets the finish it deserves as Hernandez loops his header over the 'keeper and into the net. United make the breakthrough!</b>

The perfect start for United as they look to get Tuesday's disappointment out of their systems.

Moses on the ball as Chelsea, shell-shocked, try to muster some sort of quick response.

They're forced backwards but still have possession - and then lose it. United looking purposeful.

Chelsea, in contrast, look fairly bereft of a few things these days: confidence, tempo and belief.

Moses chases, winning his side a throw down by the corner flag on the right.

The ball is played in, but the header out is a strong one. Lampard tries a shot as the ball falls to him on the edge of the area, and that will be a Chelsea corner...

Oscar plays it deep, Evans heads away and United might be able to break here...

Nani has it and is brought down for a dangerous free-kick at the corner of the area. Great crossing position here.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL: Rooney curls in a cross and it evades everyone - defenders and attackers - and drifts into the corner past an embarrassed Cech. United double their money, and we've only played 11 minutes.</b>

Kagawa and Rooney link inside the Chelsea half. Benitez's side are all over the place. This time, though, they scramble it away.

Good control by Ba on the left-hand side of the United area, but he's lacking in support and can't make anything of it.

Mata finds Oscar on the edge of the area. Cleverley is adjudged to have handled and now it's Chelsea's go to have a dangerous free-kick - right-hand side of the area this time.

Chelsea desperately need to pull something back soon, you feel. Mata takes the free-kick, and Ferdinand stands tall to get it away.

Quarter of an hour gone, with United on the ball inside their own half and looking deeply comfortable.

But they let possession slip and Oscar, Ba and Moses link. For a minute, there's a dangerous loose ball inside the United area, but the home defenders hack it clear.

The Chelsea fans, again, sing for Roberto Di Matteo and against Benitez. It won't change anything. He's leaving at the end of the season anyway.

Unless the Londoners can produce the sort of comeback that has seemed beyond them in recent weeks, another trophy is slipping away.

But wait a moment - Cole can cross here. He does, but hits a disappointing one and Ferdinand deals with it easily enough.

At the other end, Hernandez is penalised for a foul and Chelsea will go long. An error gives the ball to Moses, but Evans blocks the shot from the former Wigan man.

He's nearly made to pay straight away - Nani plays a delightful-looking pass towards Hernandez who, at full stretch, can't quite get a touch on it.

A few signs of life from Chelsea all of a sudden, and a few of those are coming from Oscar. He and Lampard find Azpilicueta in loads of space on the right. But, as with Cole moments earlier, it's a poor cross from a full-back.

Mildly better from Chelsea. And then some lovely play from Mata tees up Lampard...

...the midfielder shoots from the edge of the box, but it's too close to De Gea.

Chelsea have woken up but, at the same time, United have got a bit dozy. Mistakes are creeping in.

Rooney finds Nani, who again looks for - and finds - Hernandez. He improvises a flick but, with Cech looking worried, it goes wide of the goal.

United back on the ball, inside their own half. Kagawa finds Evra down the left and he finds Rooney...

Cech blocks from Rooney and then makes a great save as Luiz's attempted defensive header heads towards his own net.

Then another good stop - Cleverley blasts one and the Czech 'keeper stops it.

That could easily have been three and all over.

Cahill comes forward and United back off. The Chelsea defender is encouraged to shoot and does - wildly wide.

Ferdinand hammers the ball against a Chelsea player, and out it goes for a United goal-kick. The Old Trafford crowd enjoyed that one.

Long from Chelsea, left to right. And straight out of play. Not what Rafa Benitez would have wanted to see.

Nani miscontrols, but so do Chelsea and then Rooney picks up the pieces in midfield.

Cleverley finds Rafael, but it breaks down and Chelsea move forward. Ba tries a shot from distance but it's feeble and poses no problems at all for De Gea.

Ferdinand, who has had a good game, floats the ball forward towards Rooney. Out it goes, via Cleverley, to Rafael on the right.

Rooney, though, can't control and Mata leads the charge for Chelsea.

Oscar crosses and Evans clears, as he does seconds later when the ball comes back in once again.

Another excellent cross, this time from Moses, on the right, seeking out Ba. Ferdinand is there - and he had to be.

Another good spell for Chelsea, this, ended when Kagawa clears. Hernandez and Luiz clash. He's a bit dazed, but clambers back to his feet.

Carrick has the ball for United, and passes to Cleverley. Now it's Kagawa, on halfway, but Ramires gets it back...

...and Kagawa gets it back. But United lose it and Cole will come forward for Chelsea.

He crosses again, and again United clear. They have been resolute pretty much every time a cross has come into their area.

Moses on the right for Chelsea. He tries a low cross, but can't bypass the first defender.

There's been enough in this half to make Benitez and the Blues feel they can get a goal back and find a way back into this contest after making such a disastrous start.

Chelsea have the ball again now - Mata finds Oscar, who tries to get past Rafael but can't keep the ball in.

De Gea plays a long goal-kick downfield for United, who have given the ball away again. Moses has a chance to make something happen here...

...he weaves his way into the area, about 12 yards out and at an angle, from which he swipes a shot miles wide.

Ferguson won't be happy with some of United's scrappiness in passing - they have conceded possession to Chelsea pretty cheaply on a number of occasions.

And they do it again - Azpilicueta crosses very dangerously from the right, and it's somehow - somehow - turned away.

A little under five minutes until half-time in what has been an open game, and one Chelsea are by no means out of.

United look for a cross - Kagawa delivers but Cleverley sees his shot blocked. There are muted appeals for handball, but the referee isn't interested in pointing to the spot.

The home side again are passing the ball around at the back. Evra and Kagawa link on the left, and the Japan international finds Carrick.

He looks for Rooney down the middle, but Chelsea clear. Then Luiz and Cech have a communications breakdown as Rooney flicks on, but the Blues get away with it.

Nani is hobbling after a challenge, and United may have to bring him off as we go into added time at the end of the first period.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Nani comes off and Valencia is on. Seconds remain until the break.

Carrick dinks the ball forward to Cleverley, who finds Rooney. He lofts an effort from the edge of the box over Cech, but over the bar.

Substitute Valencia is on the ball as the seconds tick away until the break. United win a corner...

<b>But there's no time to take it as the half-time whistle goes. United lead 2-0, but Chelsea look capable of getting a goal back and changing the complexion of the afternoon.</b>

Chelsea get the second half under way - they will be heartened by some of what they did during the first period, but they had been badly damaged after only 11 minutes.

The ball is passed back to Cech, who plays it out to Cahill. Now Luiz has it, on the left.

The ball goes into the penalty area, but it's a bit aimless and the home side can get that one away.

Rooney on the ball, but United are forced backwards. They're happy to knock it around in their own defence for now...

...but when they come forward, Rafael has a glimmer of hope of space down the right before Luiz snuffs it out.

United in their own half again. A long ball forward looks for Rooney, but the pass skips beyond him - and then Chelsea get it all wrong at the back, giving away a needless throw.

Kagawa links with Rooney, and Valencia has a bit of space on the right. He crosses, Luiz clears.

Throw to United on the right. From it, Cleverley tries to get on the end of a ricochet before Cahill intervenes to hammer the ball out of play.

Downfield from Chelsea, looking for Ba, who is being attended by Ferdinand. The United man watches the ball out of play.

A Chelsea change is in the offing: Lampard is going off...

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Mikel is on for Lampard, while Eden Hazard is also into the fray, Moses the man to make way.

Early changes for Chelsea, then - and it didn't sound as though the visiting fans approved. But they don't approve of anything he does, do they?

Kagawa, meanwhile, has the ball. He looks for Hernandez, but that pass is just a bit too long.

Mata for Chelsea, and Hazard has a chance to cross from the left...

...he does, but Evans is there to get it clear for United.

Rafael breaks, and Luiz chops him down.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> That's a booking for the Chelsea man, and no surprise about that decision.

Oscar overruns the ball inside the United half, and Rafael takes it away from him. But back come Chelsea with Cole.

Again, the visitors are being forced back. United look for Hernandez, but Luiz steps in front of him to win the ball.

From that, Mata has the ball. Hazard and Azpilicueta combine before the latter hits a cross that is too long.

Luiz shoots from long range and De Gea, via a slight fumble, deals with that one.

Forward come the Blues again, though, and Hazard has a bit of space on the left-hand side of the area...

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL: He's just inside the area and curls a sublime finish past De Gea. A great goal - and Chelsea are right back in it.</b>

Mata tries to keep that momentum going, but runs the ball out of play as he goes down the right.

So Chelsea have done what they threatened to - found a way back into this match.

That has coincided with some uncharacteristically careless play from United, who have given the ball away more than we're used to seeing them do.

Hazard and Cole link on the left for Chelsea. The former crosses, but his attempt to find Ba is overhit.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> And Ferguson is going to try to do something about it. Here comes Robin van Persie and there goes Hernandez, the scorer of the opening United goal.

More lax passing from United, but Chelsea can't make anything of it that time.

Hazard makes a good run and feeds Azpilicueta. United clear, but again the ball is only back with Chelsea.

Luiz rather batters a ball forward towards Ba, who is unable to control it.

Again, Chelsea have the ball. The sound from the away end now is of songs of support for their players rather than anti-Benitez ditties.

Kagawa takes possession after a United clearance, and Rooney sets off on a run. Cleverley takes over about 40 yards out...

...and then it's Valencia, but another poor pass sees that spell of possession end.

Rafael on the break for United. He looks for Van Persie and Carrick gets the ball back from the clearance. But United lose it again and Ba breaks...

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL: The ball goes to the right and Ramires who gets into the area, steps away from the defender and rolls a fine finish low into the net. All square at Old Trafford!</b>

More than 20 minutes remain, and we're back where we started here - all square. It's anybody's game now.

United's early purpose seems a long time ago now. They desperately need to rediscover some rhythm.

Cleverley fouls Ramires, but Chelsea can't make anything of that and Luiz is penalised for a foul in midfield.

Evra comes forward for United - but again they lose it. Azpilicueta crosses, and United are uneasy in clearing their lines.

Oscar for Chelsea - neat footwork wins his team an attacking throw.

The Blues are the dominant team in possession at the moment, and United haven't been able to get sub Van Persie into the game at all so far.

Kagawa has the ball on the left. The cross isn't great, though, and Cahill clears easily enough.

United try to build again, but they're looking rather laboured. Groans from the stands as the ball goes astray yet again.

Good play by Kagawa gives Rooney some space. He looks to return the ball to Kagawa, and then Hazard fouls Rooney as he picks up the pieces from the clearance.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> That's a yellow card for the Chelsea man.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Kagawa's afternoon comes to an end as United bring on Danny Welbeck for the final 15 minutes.

Rooney crosses the free-kick in. When Luiz heads away, Van Persie swipes a volley and it's deflected behind for a corner.

The ball falls to Cleverley on the edge of the area, and his shot sails miles into the stands.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Off goes Ba and on comes Fernando Torres as Chelsea swap their man up front.

De Gea's dreadful goal-kick is picked up by Hazard, who surges into the area. His cutback is just about cleared before it can get to the substitute Torres.

United again almost the architects of their own downfall here. It's almost as though the moment they went 2-0 in front was the moment they stopped playing well.

Suddenly there's a United break with Welbeck and Van Persie. The latter tries a shot, wins a corner but fouls Luiz as the flag-kick comes in.

More sloppiness from United. Another poor pass gives the ball to the Londoners, and in the end the home side are happy just to hammer it away.

Mata and Cole link - the latter turns in the area and goes down as though he has twisted or sprained something. There was no challenge.

This is a worry for Chelsea - the Spaniard looks in some discomfort and is being helped off the pitch.

Mata seems OK - in the meantime, Torres heads on but to nobody in particular.

Luiz plays a long ball towards the striker, but Ferdinand is there again to clear. Back come Chelsea, and Mata tries an effort from the edge of the area but doesn't really catch it right and De Gea stops that easily enough.

Van Persie tries to steer the ball through to Welbeck, but it goes astray and again there's audible frustration from the stands.

Mata darts in to dispossess Cleverley - but Carrick does the same to Hazard before another United pass goes awry.

Mata plays in Torres on the right-hand side of the area and the ball deflects for a Chelsea corner. Can they find a late winner?

Mata's corner is deep, but Ramires picks up the pieces to win a throw.

Carrick cuts out the attempted pass from Mikel and Valencia breaks before crossing wildly and far too high.

Two minutes of the 90 remaining, and Chelsea - who have been excellent in this second half - have a throw inside their own half.

Ramires steers the ball to the roaming Ashley Cole. Ramires then tries a flick on the edge of the box, but gets that one all wrong.

Azpilicueta and Mata combine, and Luiz finds Mata, who twists, turns and shoots...

Somehow, De Gea gets a foot to it. A brilliant save and a Chelsea corner...

Cleverley gives the ball away after United clear. They win it back and then give it away again. An unbelievable number of passes from the home side are going astray.

Four minutes of added time will be played at Old Trafford.

Torres is penalised - possibly rather harshly - for a foul as he wins the ball back amid yet more United dithering.

Forward come United to win an attacking throw on the right. Less than two minutes to go...

The crowd urge United to cross, but Chelsea break and Oscar feeds Torres on the edge of the box. His shot isn't hit properly and is held comfortably by De Gea.

Hazard shoots, De Gea parries and Cole can't quite pick up the pieces. Evans clears the danger. From the corner, Hazard shoots from the edge of the box but it's another scuffer and the 'keeper holds on.

<b>And that's the final action of an excellent game - a superb comeback by Chelsea, 2-0 down so early, means these two must replay. United were their own worst enemies but the Blues, and Benitez, deserve credit for the quality of their response to this afternoon's adversity.</b>