Chelsea cruised into the FA Cup Final with a sensational goal-scoring display which blew away North London rivals Tottenham 5-1 at Wembley.
Didier Drogba set the Blues on their way with two minutes of the first half remaining and the west Londoners had a huge stroke of luck to be given a second just after the restart through Juan Mata.
Spurs got themselves a toe back in the game on 56 minutes before Chelsea ripped their opponents apart with strikes from Frank Lampard, Ramires an a injury time goal from Florent Malouda.
But the turning point of the semi-final was the goal awarded to Mata on 48 minutes by referee Martin Atkinson when Mata's left footed strike six yards out on the left, appeared to be stopped on the line by Benoit Assou-Ekotto. But Atkinson, perfectly in sight of the ball signalled a goal.
Spurs briefly hit form through a strike by Gareth Bale, but the Blues humbled their opponents in spectacular style to set up a final on May 5 against Liverpool. Chelsea started the brighter of the two which saw Frank Lampard's header over Carlo Cudicini's crossbar from a Drogba right byline cross after three minutes.
Drogba attempted an audacious 35-yard free kick which sailed over the ex-Chelsea stoppers goal.
Drogba was the centre piece for the opening exchanges and on 17 minutes, he was given a yellow card for upending Aaron Lennon. Spurs' best efforts resulted in counter-attacks notably involving Welsh wing wizard Gareth Bale who easily outpaced Chelsea full-back Jose Bosingwa on two occasions. The Blues should have scored on 26 minutes.
A quick breakaway on the left saw Salomon Kalou zip past Kyle Walker. Th striker produced a pinpoint pass into Juan Mata, but the Spain midfielder could not control the ball and it slid to the grateful palms of Cudicini.
The Ivory Coast partnership of Kalou and Drogba almost brought dividends for the West Londoners on 30 minutes when Kalou sent on a fine left byline cross and Drogba's clipped header from six yards, on target, was deflected by Ledley King for a corner.
Spurs had a gilt-edged chance to take the lead when Rafael Van Der Vart had a free header from six yards out but incredibly John Terry was on hand, on the line to kick the ball clear.
The woodwork came to Chelsea aid three minutes later when a deep cross by Van Der Vart bounced in front of Emmanuel Adebayor and Petr Cech. Both misjudged the flight of the ball which then ricocheted off Cech's right upright to safety without either touching it.
Three minutes before the break and against the run of play, the Blues took the lead through Drogba.
A long ball by Lampard was controlled by Drogba just outside the Spurs' penalty area.
The striker swivelled past William Gallas and rifled a bullet of a left footer past a hapless Cudicini.
Mata should have doubled Chelsea's lead two minutes after the restart but a fine diving save to his left by Cudicini denied the midfielder.
But controversy followed 60 seconds later when Mata's left foot strike from close range appeared to be cleared off the line by the left boot of Benoit Assou-Ekotto.
Incredibly referee Martin Atkinson signalled a goal much to the delight of the Chelsea supporters behind the goal and the incredulity of the Spurs camp.
The north Londoners were not to be denied a semblance of justice and got back in the game on 56 minutes when a defence-splitting ball by Scott Parker was picked up by Adebayor who pushed the ball round Cech.
The Chelsea stopper upended the striker in the process but the ball fell invitingly to Bale who tucked the ball home into the empty net.
David Luiz injured himself in the attempt to stop the attack and was replaced by Gary Cahill.
With 14 minutes remaining the see-saw game took another twist as excellent set-up play by Chelsea saw Lampard pass to Mata who sent Ramires free. The Brazil midfielder raced through towards goal and clipped the perfect chip over Cudicini to restore the Blues' two-goal advantage.
That was soon to increase to three on 81 minutes.
After William Gallas was given a yellow card for fouling Drogba 25 yards out, up stepped Lampard to produce a sensational trademark free kick which arrowed into Cudicini's top left hand corner of the net.
Spurs were utterly deflated and deep into injury time, substitute Florent Malouda found himself with a one-on-one with Cudicini and the French winger clipped the ball one the advancing goalkeeper to seal an emphatic victory for the Blues.