Manchester United 3 – 1 Chelsea
Premier League
United’s 100% start to the new premier league campaign continued today as they beat Chelsea at Old Trafford. After a more experienced XI was fielded in United’s midweek Champions League draw with Benfica, Sir Alex selected six different players from that side, with the likes of De Gea, Nani, Young and Anderson back in. This more youthful set up looked to continue United’s blistering start to the season. Wayne Rooney who had eight goals from his opening four premier league games was leading the line against a Chelsea side, who with three wins and a draw from their opening league games, were on a decent run of form themselves.
United dominated possession in the early stages with United trying to feed Chicharito, in hope of repeating his first minute goal from the corresponding fixture last season. This season however it took United just a little longer to take the lead. When in the 8th minute Young was tripped on the left wing, giving him the opportunity to whip in a freekick. Chris Smalling rose highest to meet the freekick with his head to fire United into the lead. Replays showed that Smalling was offside, however the goal stood and the Old Trafford crowd went crazy as their team took the lead.
Chelsea were not happy with the decision, and for the next period of play saw them pushing forward for an equaliser. After 13 minutes they came close, when a poor pass from Anderson, saw Torres given possession 25 yard from goal, where he managed to beat Evans, but scuffed his shot harmlessly wide, much to the relief of Anderson. As they game developed it became apparent that it was much more open than previous encounters between the two sides, with chances being created at both ends of the pitch. On 27 minutes United’s young Spanish keeper De Gea was forced into action, when Chelsea broke down the left through Juan Mata, he played in Torres who unselfishly slid the ball across goal for Rameires who's shot was pushed away superblyby United’s number 1. An excellent save reinforcing why Sir Alex has so much faith in him. The Chelsea pressure continued, and after 31 minutes Torres attempted an audacious overhead kick from a Bosingwa cross, which sailed well wide of the goal.
The rip roaring pace of the game continued as both sided created chances. Then following an acrobatic clearance from Evra, we saw the 2nd goal of the match. Evans launched a fine pass up towards Nani on the right, who cut inside, and dispatched an unstoppable effort from 25 yards, right into the top left of the goal. A world class strike from Nani. The Replays showed again that Nani began the move in an offside position, with the same linesman at fault for not giving the call. Chelsea did not let their heads drop, as they continued being equal to United in terms of attacking play. Their finishing however had not been as clinical as the home sides. This point was proven further still, when on the brink of half time, United took a three goal lead. Jones took a strong run into the Chelsea area, where hetried to link up with Nani, but with too many bodies in the way, the ball bounces around the box until it falls kindly for Rooney, who made no mistake, rolling the ball calmly into the back of the net from eight yards.
Chelsea went into the break wondering how they were three goals behind, and whatever manager Andres Villas Boas said in the half time team talk seemed to have worked. When they came out in the second half they were firing on all cylinders, taking them just one second half minute to pull the score back to 3 – 1, through a sumptuous chip from Fernando Torres. The game was far from over. Chelsea looked the sharper of the two sides as the half progressed, winning a number of corners, but never quite finding that killer ball. After 55 minutes Chelsea almost snatched their second, as a quick break sees De Gea turn a Mata snapshot around the post for yet another corner, United seemed to be feeling the pressure. Then out of nothing, it was a penalty to United. Braking from the Chelsea corner, Nani hammered a shot against the bar, and as it fell to him again in the box, was tripped by Bosingwa, who earns a yellow card for his challenge. Rooney stepped up, and a chance for United to put the game to bed. The in-form striker failed convert from the spot, as a slip in the run up meant he ballooned the ball horribly wide, with visions of John Terry’s miss in the Champions League final 2008 coming to mind. Would this miss prove to be revenge for the London club?
United were under real pressure, as Chelsea took a morale boost from Rooney’s miss a ploughed forward in attempt to get a second goal. It was corner after corner again for Cheslea, and second half substitute Romelu Lukaku looked very threatening. Amidst all the Chelsea pressure United almost snatched a fourth. Evra crossed in from the right, with the ball landing with Rooney six yards from goal, he scuffed the shot onto the post and Chicharito blasted the ball wide from the follow up. Ashley Cole came in very late on the Mexican striker and was lucky to espace a sending off, as Chicharito looked in real pain and had to come off, with Dimitar Berbatov coming on in his place.
The Chelsea forward play came to boiling point seven minutes from times when Ramires played in Torres for a one on one with De Gea and slipped passed him with ease, which left him with an easy tap in. Unbelievably, with all the hard work done, Torres managed to put the ball wide from three yards, with the goal gaping in front of him. The United players had stopped, expecting a goal, and after the shocking miss Torres crumpled to the floor in horror, as United gasped a sigh of relief. Chelsea were on all out attack, when United managed to launch a quick counter, and with Rooney one on one with Petr Cech, instead of shooting he played the ball to Berbatov. His pass was over hit, and what should have been a simple tap in, ends up being blocked by a lunging defensive clearance off the line by Ashley Cole.
United saw out the rest of the game to hang on for the victory. Making it 5 out of 5 wins and putting them two points clear at the top of the premier league. The final score was 3 -1, but with the amount of chances spurned by both sides, it could’ve just as easily been 6-6l. An exciting game played at great speed by two of the top teams in English football. United take all three points, but come the end of the season expect Chelsea to be fighting for the top spot.
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