Chelsea 3-3 Manchester United - Match Report
Chelsea threw away a three goal lead to draw with Manchester United at Stamford Bridge. A Jonny Evans own goal, a magnificent Juan Mata strike and a deflected David Luiz header seemed to have Andre Villas-Boas men flying, but two penalties scored by Wayne Rooney and a third from Javier Hernandez ensured the visitors didnt leave with nothing. Chelsea welcomed Manchester United to Stamford Bridge in a Premier League match the watching of which, although perhaps not quite as important as it was a season or two ago, still promised to be a good way to spend a snowy afternoon. The Blues started the game 12 points adrift of Alex Fergusons Red Devils, so only the most optimistic, i.e. the delusional sections of the Chelsea faithful, would tentatively suggest that Andre Villas-Boas men were still in with a shout of winning the title. However, United hadnt won in their last nine visits to the bridge, and David de Gea started between the sticks thanks to an injury to Anders Lindegaard, which would no doubt warm the hearts of the home fans. John Terry was missing so Gary Cahill made his debut in the heart of the hosts defence no-onehas a problem with shaking his hand. A big moment for Chelseas biggest signing of the window. If Blues fans were happy with the sight of David de Gea nervously walking to his penalty area, United fans would perhaps be just as happy to see Fernando Torres acting as the focal point of the Chelsea attack. When was the last time Torres scored? In September against Swansea City. Awful. So Andre Villas-Boas fielded a 4-3-3 formation with Daniel Sturridge and Florent Malouda providing support for the luckless El Nino. Wayne Rooney and Danny Welbeck were a more intimidating attacking force. The weakness in Fergusons line up though was probably their centre midfield where Ryan Giggs and Michael Carrick started. Cahills introduction to the team saw him starting alongside the ropey David Luiz, though the Brazilian has looked a lot more solid recently. First half-chance fell to Wayne Rooney from a free kick; it was quite well struck but curled just past the post. So often Fernando Torres has been patronisingly complimented on his link up play this season. He started off well to be fair by using his strength to turn Rio Ferdinand and playing in Mata who was promptly dispossessed. Well done though Fernando, thats quite good for you! David de Gea looked nervy as ever jumping to punch from a corner but somehow slicing it. With his fist! Almost impressive if it wasnt so damn awful. Raul Meireles scuffed the rebound into the side netting though. Bosingwa had an effort from around 35 yards out a couple of minutes later that the Spaniard was able to hold comforttably. Cant blame Bosingwa for trying though. Two penalty appeals from Manchester United. First Ashley Young went down under a little bit of pressure amidst a crowd of blue shirts. Bosingwa may have had a bit of his shirt but there wasnt much in it. The second looked far more likely, in that it was a stonewall penalty. Danny Welbeck used his considerable pace to beat Gary Cahill to the ball. The debutant slid in and seemed to take very little of the ball, if any. May have been slightly outside the area, but Cahill could have been walking. Terrible effort from Fernando Torres hardly any power, even less accuracy. It flew wide of the post by a distance luckily for compatriot de Gea, possibly the only keeper in the world Torres can score against (one of his two goals this season came against the Red Devils). According to Wikipedia (the start to any good pub fact) David de Gea is hyperopic, i.e. he suffers from long-sightedness. Not an ideal condition for a goalkeeper. Wayne Rooney opted to attempt to play in Welbeck when he could have gone for goal up the other end. His pass was almost spot on, and were it not for the heroics of Branislav Ivanovic, the Red Devils would almost certainly have taken the lead. As it happens though, the Serbian slid in brilliantly to put it out for a corner that was ultimately wasted by Ashley Young. Torres update: he was booked (harshly in my opinion) for running into the back of Jonny Evans who, in the Spaniards defence, stopped right in front of him. Not much Torres could have done but Howard Webb produced the first yellow card of the game nevertheless. It was the home side who took the lead in the 36th minute. An own goal from Jonny Evans, though Daniel Sturridge can take the credit. The young striker skipped away from Patrice Evra before cutting back a low cross which came of de Gea, then Evans, before nestling in the back of the net. You had to wonder why the keeper felt the need to get anything on it as Evans would have had it covered, but it was probably an instinctive decision. A good save apiece from the two keepers. David de Gea did well to turn away Sturridges long range effort, but Petr Cech outstaged him by diving right into the bottom corner of his goal to dig out Ashley Youngs curling effort from the edge of the area. A low cutting effort from miles out was palmed behind by Cech. Probably going wide anyway, but he had to make sure. That was it for the first half; Sir Alex was warming up his hairdryer. Most of the power had probably been used up on fourth official Phil Dowd though after Gary Cahill had almost certainly fouled Danny Welbeck when he was the last man. HALF TIME The Blues made it two in the first minute of the second half. For those of you Chelsea fans counting Torres assists in a vain attempt to justify his £50 million price tag, he set this one up. A fantastic ball from the Spaniard, he drifted out to the right unmarked, before curling in a sumptuous ball from the by-line that curled straight into the path of Juan Mata who caught it superbly on the volley, leaving de Gea with absolutely no chance. One of the best crosses of the season, and the finish wasnt bad either. Then it was three! David Luiz the scorer, poor defending again allowed David Luiz to win it in the air from Matas free kick. It came off his shoulder before ricocheting off Rio Ferdinand and ending up in the back of the net. Not the prettiest of goals, but Chelsea were cruising. Were by far the best the world has ever seen chant the Chelsea fans. A little bit of an exaggeration perhaps, I can think of a couple of better teams in the history of football. Their lead looked a little less convincing just before the hour mark. Daniel Sturridge put Evra under pressure and the Frenchman went down inside the area. Penalty. A little soft but they should have had one earlier. Wayne Rooney stepped up and blasted it right into the top corner. Not top corner in that unimpressive halfway up the goal malarkey though, it was right into the top left corner. So, 3-1, and to use a cliché, the next goal (assuming thered be another) was going to be vital. United needed three points to catch neighbours City, and Chelsea needed a win to pull clear of Newcastle United who had drawn level with them on points earlier in the day. What a game this one was turning into though, after a poor opening half hour. A good move from Chelsea culminated in a low shot from Mata that de Gea managed to smother. That would have put it beyond doubt. With the introduction of Paul Scholes at the expense of Rafael da Silva the visitors were looking somewhat vulnerable at the back. This was in favour of attack though, and Rooney and Javier Hernandez combined to allow the former to get a shot away that Petr Cech did well to hold. ANOTHER penalty! Again it was quite a soft one, Danny Welbeck managed to nick the ball away from Ivanovic and the big defender caught the United striker, bringing him down. Rooney stepped up again and sent Cech the wrong way as he coolly slotted it into the corner. 3-2! Fergie cant blame this one on officials. Newly introduced Oriel Romeu showed some inexperience by giving away possession in a dangerous area. United countered and Rooney played in Javier Hernandez who hit it low across goal. It whistled marginally wide should have tested Cech though. Michael Essien got away his trademark blaster of a shot. From the edge of the area, it was rising and in attempting to punch it clear de Gea managed to turn it behind. Torres then found himself through, nodded beyond Evans then attempted to turn back but was dispossessed. Just hit it Torres! Malouda then had an effort that flew over the bar. Cue the use of the term the Torres of old up and down the country. And the inevitable comeback was complete in the 84th minute. Rooneys effort was parried by Cech but it only went as far as Giggs who chipped in the perfect ball for the inexplicably unmarked Javier Hernandez who leapt like the proverbial salmon to head it home. Chelsea were flattered by such a convincing lead but to throw it away... Chelsea fans were leaving the stadium. Terrible form from such supporters. Few would have predicted David de Gea as a Manchester United hero in this one, but when Juan Matas sweetly hit free kick was bending right into the top corner, thats exactly what he was. Full stretch, he dived magnificently to make a fingertips save, terrific goalkeeping! Another fine save from de Gea. Gary Cahill struck it from around 30 yards out and the Spaniard tipped it over the bar. And that was it what a game! A point wasnt really good enough for either team but itll feel like a win for United. Chelsea on the other hand will be wondering what could have been. Referee: Howard Webb Chelsea (4-3-3): Cech, Ivanovic, Cahill, David Luiz, Bosingwa, Essien, Meireles, Sturridge (Romeu, 70), Malouda, Mata, Torres Manchester United (4-4-2): De Gea, Rafael (Scholes, 64), Evans, Ferdinand, Evra, Valencia, Carrick, Giggs, Young (Hernandez, 53), Rooney, Welbeck (Park, 85)