Match Report: Chelsea 3 – Manchester United 3

Is there a team in England that is more ostensibly linked to Greek Tragedies than Chelsea FC? Once upon a time, a cruel Swedish fog named Anders Frisk descended upon Stamford Bridge, fumbling several decisive decisions and dismaying local followers and their brethren. Chelsea would be dumped out of the UEFA Champions League, with form suggesting an inaugural championship was at its mercy. The match official was (harshly) sent death threats, Blue Londoners persecuted him all of the way out of the Bridge and out of the beautiful game forever.

Howard Webb, you have been warned. Whilst no one can begrudge United, who passed the ball fluidly, of their first half superiority, it was Chelsea who went ahead first through the enterprising play of Daniel Sturridge. The young English striker skipped past an ineffective Patrice Evra and poked the ball back across De Gea’s goal, who clipped it on the arm of Johnny Evans for an own goal.

Johnny Evans scores for Chelsea

Whilst they had been exposed at the back by both Welbeck and Rooney, Chelsea were suddenly ahead and confidence started to flow through the veins with Juan Mata looking dangerous. The Blues went into half-time having lost the arm wrestle yet holding the one-nil advantage.

One-nil at half time to the Chels

How would Villas-Boas react at the break? It seemed likely United would score tonight so perhaps he would make changes at half-time to further protect his back four, including Ivanovic who was having a hell of a match.

The interval came and went with no changes, yet within minutes Chelsea had scored again, this time a more routine goal with a sensational cross from Fernando Torres to the unmarked Juan Mata at the back post. Mata sized up his shot and crushed a volley through De Gea into the roof of the net that could barely contain the speed of the ball. Two-nil, and now playing like Kings on the Kings Road.

Juan More Goal, Mata scores Chelsea’s second

Surely now was the time United would claw their way back? With David Luiz again shaky at the back, you would have believed the next time Luiz was involved in a goal, it would have been with United scoring. Well, you would have been right, sort of. The Brazilian skipped ahead of Rio Ferdinand, booed on his every touch, at a corner set play to head the ball onto the United player to deflect past De Gea for yet another United own goal. Chelsea up 3-0, with United scoring two of the goals, although Luiz would claim his effort was goal-bound and was later awarded the goal.

Three Nil!

Luiz can score and concede, not a common trait

Then the fog started to descend. Howard Webb decided to take control of the match. In the first half, Webb gave a decision that infuriated Sir Alex Ferugson. Danny Welbeck had skipped past Gary Cahill in the 14^th minute for Cahill to clip the ankles of the striker. First contact was outside the box yet a second contact, the one that brought down Welbeck, was inside the penalty area. No foul was given and Ferguson was irate. He talked of “bad luck at Stamford Bridge” prior to the match and didn’t give up his argument and mind games to the 4^th official until the half-time break. With that in mind, Howard Webb may have realised his decision was wrong and decided to play ‘square-up’. In the 59^th minute, Patrice Evra ran towards the by-line and collapsed under minimal contact from a covering Sturridge. Rooney, for all his recent penalty misgivings, buried the spot kick and suddenly United had a life line.

Not yet satisfied, Webb again pointed to the spot just ten minutes later after Ivanovic was adjudged to bring down a United player. Villas-Boas was furious and launched a drink bottle into the advertising signs. Rooney again stepped up and sent Cech the wrong way. One icorrect penalty decision you can sometimes afford, two was disastrous. Chelsea, feeling the effects of the resurgent United, was starting to fade and United were primed to level or better. For that reason alone it was of no surprise that Hernandez put another nail in the Luiz coffin when he headed home unmarked from 6 yards with 6 minutes to go. Surely the Brazilian will make way for the all-England partnership of Terry, who was injured for the match, and Cahill.

Ho-hum, another United late leveller

Both teams had time to win the match and Mata drew an exceptional save from an unexceptional ‘keeper. Should Mata have scored one would imagine that like Anders Frisk, Howard Webb would not have been happy with the result, and subsequently found a route to another United goal. It seems sometimes Greek tragedies, have sequels.