FA Cup Semi-finals: The prospect of Chelsea facing Manchester United in the first FA Cup final at the new Wembley Stadium came a step closer yesterday when they were kept apart in the draw for the semi-finals.
Although neither team is yet through to the last four after drawing their quarter-finals at the weekend, United will face Watford in a record-equalling 25th semi-final appearance if they beat Middlesbrough in their replay at Old Trafford next Monday. They drew 2-2 at Middlesbrough on Saturday.
Chelsea, who drew 3-3 with Tottenham Hotspur in their quarter-final at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, will play Blackburn Rovers if they beat Spurs in their quarter-final replay at White Hart Lane next Monday. The semi-finals will be played at neutral grounds on the weekend of April 14th-15th with the final at Wembley on May 19th.
Chelsea were the last club to win the FA Cup final at the old Wembley Stadium in 2000 when they beat Aston Villa 1-0, while Manchester United have won the FA Cup a record 11 times.
Watford, who lost to Everton in the 1984 final, could become only the fifth club to be relegated and appear in the FA Cup in the same season. The last team to do that was Middlesbrough, relegated in 1997 when they lost to Chelsea.
