Both sides went into the last domestic final of the season looking to salvage something from their otherwise disappointing seasons.
As expected, it was a cagey opening ten minutes in London with neither team wanting to give away a cheap goal early on.
However, it was David De Gea who was called into action first, using his leg to stop a low effort from Eden Hazard at the near post.
The game would slip into another lull until the 21st minute when everything burst into life.
Cesc Fabregas sent Hazard charging toward goal, who easily brushed Phil Jones aside with his blistering pace to enter the box.
Jones tried to recover but ended up taking out the player instead of the ball leaving Michael Oliver with no choice but to point to the spot.
Hazard confidently stepped up, sending David De Gea the wrong way before coolly slotting the ball into the bottom right-hand corner to edge Chelsea ahead.
May 19, 2018
The goal forced United to get some attacking intent going and they would nearly equalise when Paul Pogba's drilled shot whistled past the near post.
However, the 'Red Devils' would spend most of the half frustrated by Chelsea's dogged defence, who kept everything at bay until the dying moments.
Trying to redeem himself, Jones rose highest to meet a corner just before half-time but he couldn't direct it on target. His effort, instead, flying past the woodwork.
Jose Mourinho wasn't impressed with the performance on display so far and must have given a cut-throat team talk during the break as United flew out of the blocks in the second half.
Marcus Rashord hit a ferocious shot at Thibaut Courtois, who had to hold strong to deny the England international, before the 'Red Devils' also had a goal ruled out for offside.
Alexis Sanchez was in the right place to knock home a rebound but was rightly adjudged to have been in an offside position in the build-up. Going up to VAR as precaution, Michael Oliver's on-field decision stood.
Allowing plenty of space as they searched for that important equaliser, United nearly went two-goals down though but De Gea did well to block Marcos Alonso's low drive after he was put through one-on-one by Hazard.
It would be Chelsea's only shot on target that half as Mourinho's players continued the onslaught, with Romelu Lukaku and Anthony Martial entering the fray to renew the attacking options.
Courtois was called into action to parry away a swerving venomous effort by Nemanja Matic, who then saw his header drop just over the crossbar at the death.
Despite their best efforts, United couldn't capitalise on their chances though and as full-time rang out at Wembley, it was Chelsea who were celebrating.
The players and coaching staff stormed the pitch, surrounding Antonio Conte in what could be his final game in charge, who was happy to avoid a second consecutive FA Cup final defeat after falling to Arsenal last season.
As for their opposition, despite their best league finish since Sir Alex Ferguson left, things are far from rosy for the Manchester club as they end their year trophyless - the fourth in Mourinho's career.
May 19, 2018