By the time Harry Kane's goal was wiped-out Tottenham must have been resigned to the fact this tie was not for turning.
Referee Andre Marriner had tried his best to make it a contest. Twice he awarded penalties to Spurs and twice reversing his decision because both were clearly wrong, and then Kane's effort was ruled offside.
VAR did its job on this occasion and Antonio Conte fumed in comic fashion on the touchline, his only consolation more evidence to support the frank views expressed in his recruitment summit with chairman, Daniel Levy.
Tottenham have a long way to go before they can once again claim to be the equals of Chelsea, who will go back to Wembley for another major final, with a comfortable aggregate thanks to a first half header by Antonio Rudiger.