The night belonged to Andriy Shevchenko.

Chelsea’s much maligned Ukraine striker lit up Monday night’s FA Cup quarter-final replay against Tottenham Hotspur with a goal of sheer brilliance.

“What can you say if they score a great goal like Sheva’s?,” said Spurs manager Martin Jol after a bitter 2-1 defeat by their rivals from across London. “That’s what he’s there for.”

Local pride was at stake when Tottenham met the champions at White Hart Lane on Monday, 40 years after the first all-London final.

Spurs ran out 2-1 winners to lift the trophy that day at Wembley but Chelsea have had the upper hand in recent years and visiting fans packed into the Park Lane end anticipating victory.

The Chelsea players, many wearing an odd combination of short sleeved shirts and woollen gloves, stroked the ball around with metronomic precision, their rhythm occasionally upset by Tottenham’s harrying.

Goalless at halftime, the match came alive in the second half as the atmosphere built into a crescendo with attacks from both sides.

Then in a flash Shevchenko — the 30 million pound man — turned the ball on to his left foot near the right touchline and curled it majestically into the top corner.

“One of the goals of the season that is — top drawer,” said the radio commentator behind me in the overcrowded press box. “The Chelsea fans are in ecstasy.”

A mass of leaping, hugging, shouting Blues fans were dancing with delight and singing: “Que Sera, Sera, whatever will be, will be, we’re going to Wemberlee, Que Sera, Sera.”

“A special goal from Andriy Shevchenko,” said another radio analyst shivering in the cold night air. “It was always going to take something a bit special to decide this one,” he added.

Seven minutes later Chelsea’s Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba chested the ball down for Shaun Wright-Phillips to smash home a second goal for the visitors. Spurs hearts were broken.

Jol turned towards his bench and gave a wry smile. He knew class when he saw it — even if it was wearing royal blue rather than white.

At the end, a delighted Mourinho ran on to the pitch with his arms outstretched to celebrate victory with his players while a frustrated Spurs fan took a swing at captain Frank Lampard.

The England midfielder ducked and, like most of Tottenham’s efforts on the night, the fan missed.

“We don’t want that,” said Jol before adding, “You can understand the frustration.”

Ken Ferris is a chief sub-editor on the sports desk