The holders out-played the Merseysiders, who just could not find a way to cancel out Chelsea's one-goal lead from the first leg.

This semi-final second leg was a clinical exercise for Avram Grant's side. He may have said pre-match that the tournament did not mean much to him, but it certainly does to his players.

Everton boss David Moyes' side flirted with a first Wembley final in 13 years.

The tie slowly stretched away from them however, and Cole's 69th-minute goal ended any hope of Everton reaching their dream. It will now be Chelsea who will face Tottenham at Wembley on February 24.

Everton trio Leon Osman, Manuel Fernandes and Andrew Johnson all passed late fitness tests.

For Chelsea, Shaun Wright-Phillips recovered from an ankle injury to play, while Steve Sidwell came into the side in midfield, with Wayne Bridge replacing Ashley Cole in defence.

Goodison Park was rocking as Everton sought to reach their first final in 13 years, but the stadium was not full, Chelsea having sent back 2,000 tickets.

It was the Londoners who had the first two chances, Alex firing a free-kick into the wall and Wright-Phillips seeing a 15-yarder deflected wide.

After nine minutes it needed a fine Petr Cech save to his left to keep out a Joleon Lescott header from Mikel Arteta's corner, Everton getting themselves into the game in areas that mattered.

Chelsea were happy to defend deep, with just Nicolas Anelka up front, as they soaked up Everton's growing pressure.

Lee Carsley was booked for a high tackle on at Wright-Phillips, with Chelsea beginning to ask questions up front and in midfield.

Anelka, not cup-tied despite only being signed from Bolton between the two legs of this semi-final, tested Tim Howard with a low drive after 28 minutes.

Then Florent Malouda skied a good opportunity over the bar from 12 yards after fine work by Juliano Belletti on the right after 34 minutes.

Everton had struggled for clear chances, but Arteta's clever pass gave Johnson the opening for a right-footer, which deflected just wide off Alex. And Chelsea reached the break comfortably in control.

Chelsea almost stunned Everton within a minute of the second-half starting when Anelka found space in the box for a shot that was deflected onto the bar by Phil Jagielka.

Wright-Phillips fired wide from outside the box and then was denied by Lescott's boot in the box, Chelsea intent on grabbing the goal that would virtually kill off the tie.

Everton needed to raise their game to unsettle Chelsea, and slowly they started to achieve that. And Phil Neville saw a fierce effort blocked by Cech before Jagielka's close-range back-heel was turned away by the Chelsea keeper.

Claude Makelele was booked for not retreating 10 yards from a free-kick, Everton desperately trying to get their aerial game going.

As Everton pressed, Chelsea struck from deep after 69 minutes. Malouda's long ball from the left found Joe Cole, and his clinical right-foot finished saw Chelsea ahead on the night.

Before the re-start Everton sent on Victor Anichebe up front, sacrificing Lee Carsley, but surely by now the damage had been done.

Fernandes was booked for dissent, and then Belletti for a foul, tempers becoming frayed with Everton more frustrated by the minute.

Moyes then sent on James Vaughan for Fernandes, one last desperate throw of the dice. Nuno Valente, Tim Cahill and Neville were soon in referee Steve Bennett's book, the bitter disappointment of a lost Wembley dream so evident now.

After 82 minutes Claudio Pizarro came on for Cole, Chelsea now content to run down the clock and take their spot at Wembley.