There was a time when Diego Forlan goals were as rare as Old Trafford victories over Chelsea let alone Worthington Cup semi finals --- but not any more.
The 23-year-old Uruguayan striker, match winner for the Reds ten minutes from time in a hard fought last eight tie sent United through to the semi-finals for the first time since 1994.
This was only United's fourth win in 20 Old Trafford outings against their London bogey team.
For Forlan, it was goal number seven of a United career which had gone 35 games before he broke his scoring duck.
The only goal of the game came when David Beckham collected the ball on the right.
His precision pass into the Chelsea box set up Forlan to score with a crisp low right-foot shot from 12 yards into the far corner of the net.
The goal itself literally separated the teams - it was as close as that.
Although United won, Chelsea had the more clear-cut chances.
In the fifth minute, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink tested United goalkeeper Fabian Barthez with a vicious 25-yard drive which the Frenchmen brilliantly tipped over the bar.
Eighteen minutes later Barthez made another superb reflex save to block HasselbainkÂ’s point-blank header from a Graham Le Saux corner.
Enrique De Lucas missed a gilt-edged opportunity for Chelsea soon after, shooting wide when free 12-yards out.
United's best chance of the half came after 28 minutes.
Juan Sebastian Veron's long pass from midway inside his own half found Ryan Giggs sneaking in between Chelsea defenders and Carlo Cudicini to get in a chip from the edge of the box which beat the Italian goalkeeper, but was cleared off the line by Mario Melchiot.
Paul Scholes went close for the Reds with two cheeky first-half chips, but the second half proved a tighter affair until Forlan's goal.
Even after it, Chelsea were not finished as substitute Boudewijn Zenden forced a fine save from Barthez with a powerful 20-yard shot seconds after the goal.