Manchester United reached their sixth FA Cup semi-final under Sir Alex Ferguson's management as Ruud van Nistelrooy regained his golden touch.
The Dutchman, confined to the substitute's bench for last week's Premiership game at Fulham, returned with a bang as his two goals saw United home against their gritty visitors.
United even had to come from behind against the first side to beat them at Old Trafford this season - Fulham winning 3-1 in the league last October.
Although United had van Nistelrooy's goals to put them through, it was their two youngest players, Cristiano Ronaldo and Darren Fletcher, who deserved the greatest acclaim.
The 19-year-old Portuguese international Ronaldo taunted and teased Fulham with some clever wing play, popping up on both flanks with regular monotony as far as the Londoners' defenders were concerned.
Fletcher, the 20-year-old Scottish international winger, was a revelation in the centre of midfield where he made some glorious passing and enjoyed several penetrating runs.
For United, struggling nine points behind Premiership leaders Arsenal, and with a difficult Champions League second leg tie against Porto looming at Old Trafford on Tuesday, this was a must-win game.
United began brightly with Ronaldo beating Adam Green on the right in the opening seconds before firing over a cross which was brilliantly blocked by immaculate Fulham central defender Zat Knight as van Nistelrooy stormed in.
Knight had a good chance to put Fulham ahead in the sixth minute when he connected with a Sean Davies free-kick from the left, but succeeded in only guiding his header straight into the arms of United goalkeeper Tim Howard.
Another dangerous Ronaldo cross was turned away from van Nistelrooy by Alain Goma, while Knight's brilliant interception denied the Dutchman when he raced onto a Fletcher pass in the box.
Van Nistelrooy should have scored in the 14th minute when Moritz Volz and Knight stumbled into each other in a bid to clear another vicious Ronaldo cross, only this time he blazed his shot over the bar when free from eight yards out.
Eight minutes later, Fulham were ahead courtesy of a double defensive blunder from United.
Roy Keane, playing in the centre of defence, tried to shepherd an innocuous long ball out of play on the left by-line.
But the United skipper badly misjudged the situation and was robbed by Brian McBride. The American international rolled the ball back into the box for Luis Boa Morte, who was floored by Wes Brown with a tackle so late it could have been committed last season.
The referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot and Steed Malbranque stepped up to score from the resulting penalty, his right-foot shot going to Howard's right when the goalkeeper went left.
But Fulham's lead lasted only two minutes as United hit back in style.
Paul Scholes sent Ryan Giggs away down the left and his superb cross into the centre of the box was met by van Nistelrooy, ghosting in on the blind side of Goma, to hammer the ball into the roof of the net right footed from six yards.
The last ten minutes of the first half could have produced further goals for either side.
In the 35th minute, Malbranque's delightful back flick set up Knight, who controlled the ball skillfully on his chest before hitting a rasping half-volley from 35 yards which crashed against the top of the United bar.
United countered immediately and another Ronaldo cross caused panic in the Fulham defence. Giggs and van Nistelrooy both had efforts blocked before Giggs saw a second shot cleared off the line by Volz.
Fulham goalkeeper Edwin Van der Sar took a weak 20-yard shot from van Nistelrooy at full stretch, but was powerless in the 40th minute when Giggs' vicious curling free-kick from the left corner of the box passed inches beyond Keane's head and the far post.
Sylvain Legwinski shot tamely at Howard after United's defence had been caught flat-footed by another teasing Davis free-kick from the left.
There was no let-up in the excitement after the interval.
In the 49th minute, Fletcher and Ronaldo combined in a glorious move down the right which created an opening for Giggs just inside the box, but he managed only a weak shot which was smothered by Van der Saar.
Legwinski volleyed the ball straight at Howard from 25 yards after latching onto a poor defensive header by Brown.
It was the turn of the woodwork to come to Fulham's rescue in the 56th minute when Ronaldo curled a glorious free-kick from the left edge of the box onto the bar.
But United had only six minutes to wait before Van der Saar was again beaten.
Fletcher's pin-point pass down the right released Ronaldo and his measured cross from just outside the box was swept home right footed by van Nistelrooy six yards out as he charged in at the far post.
United were now in control and it stayed that way until the last minute when Boa Morte's snap-shot from the left corner of the United penalty area forced a magnificent fingertip save from Howard.
After the game United manager Alex Ferguson said: "We could have scored a lot of goals. We had some good attacking play and it was an entertaining match.
"Van Nistelrooy could have scored four goals, but that is what you expect of him. I thought we played well and had a good shape and determination, but any mistakes at the back and the crowd get nervous.
"We have to calm supporters down but then we defended well and Wes Brown was unlucky with the penalty. In the main we defended well, but the important thing was our attacking play.
"Ronaldo is a marvellous talent and is improving all the time. We tried to give him a break at the right time. He is an unbelievable individual.
"The lads are looking forward to Tuesday and it is great that we are now one game away from a final at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff." Fulham's assistant manager Steve Kean, standing in for boss Chris Coleman who is in hospital, said: "It is a hard place to come. They have some fantastic individuals and we are more of a team.
"It was a great team effort in terms of endeavour and commitment. They possibly had more penetration in the final third although Boa Morte had a chance to force a draw at the end." Man of the match - Cristiano Ronaldo: A superb display of wing play which put Fulham on the back foot. He made one goal and was unlucky not to score himself.