With a joyful triumph for sporting integrity, CHELSEA fashioned up an FA Cup fairytale.
By grabbing the opener, Romelu Lukaku, the final big signing of the Roman Abramovich era, provided the leaving owner the ultimate farewell gift.
With an hour to go, birthday boy Hakim Ziyech made it a double celebration by scoring the second goal that effectively ended the game.
The away fans, who were severely limited in number due to Abramovich's punishments, had the last laugh as they prepared for another journey to Wembley.
Middlesbrough were fined for making the Blues seem bad in the build-up.
They were unable to avenge defeats by the Blues in the 1997 FA Cup and 1998 League Cup finals, despite beating Manchester United and Tottenham in earlier rounds.
Boro failed to heed the warning that came after only two minutes, as Mason Mount ran down the right flank and his cross only managed to find the back of the net.Christian Pulisic had just eluded him.Chelsea broke the press skillfully in the 15th minute, Mount was free again, and Lukaku converted from close range, courtesy to some sloppy defense by Dael Fry.
Lukaku scarcely celebrated, but the few hundred visiting fans who were allowed to attend were ecstatic, singing about Roberto Di Matteo, the 1997 FA Cup Final hero.
On the half-hour, they were cheering again when Neil Taylor showed Ziyech the inside, and the Dutchman hit a firm shot that, despite swerving, seemed to beat Joe Lumley a little too easily.If Anfernee Dijksteel hadn't cleared Lukaku's shot off the line, it would have been 3-0 at halftime.
Boro's only serious danger had been Marcus Tavernier's set pieces, and they were well behind the game.
The second half was largely uneventful. There were few chances at either end, and the hosts never seemed like they would be able to claw their way back into the game.
Josh Coburn, who scored the game-winning goal against Spurs, forced a decent save from Edouard Mendy late in the game.
Despite the turbulence off the field, Chelsea is a well-oiled machine on it.
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