EDEN HAZARD and Ramires ruined Wayne Wayne Rooney’s goalscoring return as Chelsea’s stirring comeback earned an FA Cup quarter-final replay neither side wanted.
Javier Hernandez and Rooney struck top-class goals inside the first 13 minutes to confirm United’s early control.
But, despite some more decent home chances, the Blues’ fluent response offered hope of a second-half revival that they conjured in style.
Hazard curved a 59th minute goal from nothing at the peak of the Blues’ revival.
Then Ramires’ left-foot finished off a precision break with the visitors’ leveller eight minutes later.
Juan Mata was only denied a neat last-minute winner by United keeper David de Gea’s fingertip save after the outstanding Chelsea playmaker had weaved to the fringe of the six-yard box.
There was still time for Blues substitute Fernando Torres to go almost as close.
And that underlined how Chelsea boss Rafa Benitez’s clutch of replacements had transformed the contest after the break.
Mata, though, admitted to being both proud of the Blues’ display and disappointed with the result.
He said: “We were playing in a stadium like Old Trafford and it was Man United, so it could be a good result.
“But in the second half we had so many chances to score. De Gea was good, saving some of them.
“He saved very well (from me), with a foot I think, and Oscar had so many chances.
“It’s a day to be proud of the team. (United) scored two in the first minutes but we tried very hard and came back.
“We have a replay at home, we are strong at Stamford Bridge with our supporters, and we will try to get through.”