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Chelsea passed a stiff examination of their Quadruple credentials with a 2-1 extra-time win over Blackburn Rovers in the FA Cup semi-final to book a Wembley showdown with Manchester United.

Michael Ballack's finish in the second period of extra-time earned The Blues a gritty success at Old Trafford after surviving a fright from a much-improved Blackburn team.

Frank Lampard struck after just 16 minutes of a first half in which Mark Hughes' men were eons off a pedestrian pace dictated by their opponents.

Hughes' half-time pep talk revitalised Rovers and Jason Roberts levelled before Blackburn had chances to win the tie, only to succumb to Ballack's goal in extra-time.

Blackburn were busy in the early stages, but the physical presence of Benni McCarthy and Roberts soon foundered on the rugged rock of John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho, while Morten Gamst Pedersen failed to test any chinks in Michael Essien's armour at right-back.

For their part, Chelsea barely broke sweat in the first half and created the game's opening chance on 12 minutes when the two Coles combined, with Ashley's shot beaten out by Brad Friedel.

Rovers failed to heed the warning from Chelsea's quick movement and tellingly switched off again on 16 minutes to allow the favourites to take the lead.

Didier Drogba showed great strength to hold the ball up and feed Ballack, whose simple pass found Lampard on a charge and he skipped past Ryan Nelsen before firing his shot across Friedel.

Aaron Mokoena - the supposed shield for Rovers' defence - was nowhere to be seen again on 22 minutes as Drogba chested down for Joe Cole to blaze a volley off target.

England hopeful David Bentley was fortunate not to be booked for a blatant dive, while Pedersen's 30-yard dribbler was easy for an under-worked Petr Cech to gather.

Joe Cole let out an embarrassing shriek from a token Brett Emerton challenge before Stephen Warnock's dithering almost gifted Chelsea a second goal on 40 minutes.

The full-back was robbed of possession by Drogba by the touchline, but the country's top scorer failed to pick out Andrei Shevchenko, with his poor cross cut out by Christopher Samba.

Rovers finished the half strongly, with McCarthy harshly penalised for handball before Cech beat away David Dunn's 25-yard stinger.

From the resulting corner, Cech was less assured as he flapped at Pedersen's set-piece, but Samba headed over an inviting net.

There was a greater sense of urgency from both teams at the start of the second half and Chelsea should have put the game to bed within two minutes of the restart.

Ballack's incisive pass exposed the Blackburn offside trap, Drogba unselfishly squared the ball for Shevchenko, but the misfiring Ukrainian struck his shot against his standing leg and the chance was gone.

Rovers' response was impressive, with Roberts turning sharply on a Bentley pass, but he was unable to beat Cech at his near post.

Cech had to tip Pedersen's meek free-kick, which was deflected skywards by Bentley, over the bar, while Friedel made a routine save from Carvalho at the opposite end.

Blackburn were growing in stature and their threat increased when only the post denied Pedersen an equaliser on 61 minutes.

Just two minutes later and the Norwegian set up the leveller, when Roberts got the drop on Terry and dangled out a foot to divert Pedersen's free-kick past Cech.

Ballack's curler, from a contentiously-awarded free-kick, had Friedel scrambling across his goal, but Blackburn had a golden chance to score on 83 minutes.

McCarthy held the ball up strongly before teeing up Bentley to cross for Pedersen, who headed wide of the target when unmarked from close range.

Blackburn were looking the more likely to settle the tie in normal time and only a magnificent save from Cech prevented Terry from heading Pedersen's long throw into his own net.

The first half of extra-time passed with Friedel making a comfortable save from Drogba's header after the striker had darted in front of Samba at a corner.

The decisive goal came four minutes into the second period of extra-time when substitute Shaun Wright-Phillips wriggled to the by-line to pull the ball back, and though Warnock blocked Salomon Kalou's shot, the rebound fell to Ballack to drill past an unsighted Friedel.

Essien thundered a 25-yard drive against the crossbar late on as Chelsea kept Blackburn at bay to remain in the hunt for an unprecedented four-trophy haul.

Teams

Chelsea Cech, Carvalho, A. Cole, Terry, Ballack, J. Cole (Wright-Phillips 97), Essien, Lampard, Makelele (Mikel 81), Drogba, Shevchenko (Kalou 63)
Subs Not Used Cudicini, Boulahrouz
Booked Mikel, Ballack
Goals Lampard 16, Ballack 109

Blackburn Rovers Friedel, Mokoena, Nelsen, Samba, Warnock, Bentley (Derbyshire 114), Dunn (Peter 106), Emerton, Pedersen, McCarthy, Roberts
Subs Not Used Enckelman, Henchoz, Kerimoglu
Booked Emerton, Mokoena, Pedersen, Warnock
Goals Roberts 64

Attendance 50,559

Referee A. Wiley