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Chelsea, United make FA Cup semis

A spectator runs on to the pitch and tries to hit Chelsea's Frank Lampard, right, after their sixth round FA Cup soccer match replay against Spurs at White Hart Lane, London, on Monday. PHOTO: AP

English Champions Chelsea beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 and league leaders Manchester United overcame Middlesbrough with a Cristiano Ronaldo penalty on Monday to book their places in next month's semi-finals of the FA Cup.

United will meet Watford and Chelsea will take on Blackburn Rovers, with the final scheduled to return to the rebuilt Wembley Stadium.

A magical 55th minute goal conjured against the run of play from Andriy Shevchenko and a scorcher nine minutes later from Shaun Wright-Phillips earned Chelsea their win in Monday's replay.

The Ukraine striker took a pass from Wright-Phillips on the right, stepped inside Steed Malbranque and sent a left foot shot into the top left of the net from 20m.

Seven minutes later Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba expertly chested a ball, passed from deep by Ashley Cole, to Wright-Phillips on his left and the diminutive winger belted it past Paul Robinson in the Spurs net.

Chelsea looked to be cruising until Ricardo Carvalho brought down Dimitar Berbatov in the Chelsea area in the 77th minute and Robbie Keane sent a penalty past Petr Cech.

After an uneventful first half this set up a grandstand finish with the home side pouring towards the Chelsea goal but, despite six minutes of time added on, Spurs failed to break through.

United had Middlesbrough on the backfoot from the first kick in their replay and might have scored half a dozen but for some fine goalkeeping from Mark Schwarzer.

He plucked the ball from England striker Wayne Rooney's feet and denied him twice more in the second half with Middlesbrough constantly unbalanced by Ronaldo's jinking runs.

The tie was finally decided by a Ronaldo penalty after the Portuguese winger was brought down by Jonathan Woodgate in the 74th minute.

James Morrison was sent off in the last minute after hacking down Ronaldo in frustration.

"We did lose our discipline in the last few minutes and it's not acceptable," Middlesbrough coach Gareth Southgate said. "But my players gave everything."

After the final whistle at White Hart Lane, an angry fan raced on to the pitch and threw a punch at Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard.

Lampard, who was celebrating with teammates, ducked to miss the punch and the spectator was manhandled to the ground before being led away by security men.

"Maybe the security people slept a little bit. They could never believe the guy could come on to the pitch and chase my players. But it was no problem," Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho told reporters. "They [security staff] have to be alert in future. Frank Lampard is OK. He's happy with the victory. Everything else is secondary."

Mourinho, who is desperate to win the only English trophy to elude him so far, said his players had shown great commitment.

"We want very, very much to win this competition," he said.

Spurs coach Martin Jol said he felt Chelsea had not been the better team and his own side's pressure had panicked them at times but Tottenham had been unable to find the net.

"Shevchenko scored a great goal and that was the difference today," he said.

Tottenham now have only the UEFA Cup to challenge for after a season that has promised so much. They had already lost in the League Cup semi-final to Arsenal.

"We were there in the League Cup semi-finals, in the FA Cup quarter-finals and now in the UEFA Cup quarter-finals. You can say we are a nearly team but what about all the other teams who are not there," Jol added.
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