N’Golo Kante sent Chelsea into an FA Cup semi-final meeting with Tottenham by ending Manchester United’s title defence on Monday, sealing a 1-0 victory after the holder’s Ander Herrera was dismissed on a fiery night at Stamford Bridge.
Runaway Premier League leaders' Chelsea's reward was a Wembley clash with London rivals Tottenham Hotspur, while the other semi-final will be between Arsenal and Manchester City.
Herrera was booked twice – the first time harshly – for fouling Chelsea winger Eden Hazard, leaving United a man down from the 35th minute while already trying to cope without suspended top-scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Kante broke the deadlock five minutes into the second half after France teammate Paul Pogba failed to close him down before unleashing a shot from 18 metres that beat goalkeeper David De Gea.
It was only the second goal for the midfield enforcer since joining Chelsea last year as a Premier League champion from Leicester. The other also came in the league against United, which hasn’t won at Chelsea in five years.
"You're not special anymore," Chelsea's fans sang to Mourinho, who responded by holding up three fingers to his tormentors -- his tally of Premier League titles delivered in two spells at Stamford Bridge.
Mourinho reacted quickly to Herrera's red card, hauling off Mkhitaryan and sending on the combative Marouane Fellaini.
United camped deep in Chelsea's half looking to frustrate their opponents but was undone six minutes after the break when Kante was given too much space and he nipped across the turf before dispatching a shot beyond the reach of De Gea.
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