What an insane game of football. A game as memorable for Manchester United’s comeback as Chelsea’s collapse. For a terrific goal from Juan Mata, to mark a terrific performance, and a save from David de Gea that demonstrated why Sir Alex Ferguson chose to spend as much as he did on the young goalkeeper.
There were two United penalties, one soft and one just about deserved, and claims that were rightly and wrongly ignored. Should Gary Cahill have been dismissed 11 minutes into his Chelsea debut for a foul on Danny Welbeck? Quite possibly, even if that particular challenge did not merit a penalty.
In a game that had everything, there was even a clean tackle from Paul Scholes. No really, there was. But there was a poor one too and it was from the resulting free-kick in the 91st minute that De Gea produced that marvellous save.
Head boy: Javier Hernandez (left) rises highest to score Manchester United's equaliser with just minutes remaining;
MATCH FACTS
Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Cahill, Luiz, Bosingwa, Essien, Meireles, Malouda, Sturridge (Romeu 70), Torres, Mata.
Subs Not Used: Turnbull, Lukaku, Ferreira, Hutchinson, Bertrand, Piazon.
Booked: Torres, Ivanovic.
Goals: Evans 36 og, Mata 46, Luiz 50.
Man Utd: De Gea, Rafael Da Silva (Scholes 63), Evans, Ferdinand, Evra, Valencia, Carrick, Giggs, Young (Hernandez 53), Rooney, Welbeck (Park 86).
Subs Not Used: Amos, Berbatov, Fabio Da Silva, Pogba.
Booked: Evra.
Goals: Rooney 58 pen,69 pen,Hernandez 84.
Att: 41,668
Ref: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire).
Subs Not Used: Turnbull, Lukaku, Ferreira, Hutchinson, Bertrand, Piazon.
Booked: Torres, Ivanovic.
Goals: Evans 36 og, Mata 46, Luiz 50.
Man Utd: De Gea, Rafael Da Silva (Scholes 63), Evans, Ferdinand, Evra, Valencia, Carrick, Giggs, Young (Hernandez 53), Rooney, Welbeck (Park 86).
Subs Not Used: Amos, Berbatov, Fabio Da Silva, Pogba.
Booked: Evra.
Goals: Rooney 58 pen,69 pen,Hernandez 84.
Att: 41,668
Ref: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire).
Opening salvo: Jonny Evans puts the ball into his own net as Chelsea take the lead;
When the entertainment on the field here at Stamford Bridge was as good as it was, it makes it all the more depressing.
This was a breathless, brilliant contest, United somehow recovering from a three-goal deficit that Chelsea had established by the 50th minute.
In Chelsea’s defence, this was the first time in four years that they were missing all four of the players who have long been considered the key to the success they have enjoyed. There was no Terry, no Frank Lampard, no Didier Drogba and no Ashley Cole.
This was a breathless, brilliant contest, United somehow recovering from a three-goal deficit that Chelsea had established by the 50th minute.
In Chelsea’s defence, this was the first time in four years that they were missing all four of the players who have long been considered the key to the success they have enjoyed. There was no Terry, no Frank Lampard, no Didier Drogba and no Ashley Cole.
Game on: Daniel Sturridge (right) celebrates after his cross was turned in by Evans;
Bullet: Juan Mata scored a sublime second goal for Chelsea as they doubled their advantage;
Fortune favours the brave: David Luiz heads the ball in (above) and is then mobbed by his team-mates (below)
But there was nothing De Gea could do to prevent Mata scoring 20 seconds into the second half. It was a marvellous cross from the otherwise ineffective Torres but a truly breathtaking left-foot volley that Mata blasted into the roof of the United net.
When Chelsea scored again five minutes later, David Luiz meeting a Mata free-kick with a header that took a deflection off Ferdinand, United appeared to be finished.
But within eight minutes Sturridge had brought down Evra with a clumsy challenge, enabling Rooney to convert with finesse from the spot, and by the 69th minute Rooney had repeated the feat, albeit in rather more dubious circumstances.
When Chelsea scored again five minutes later, David Luiz meeting a Mata free-kick with a header that took a deflection off Ferdinand, United appeared to be finished.
But within eight minutes Sturridge had brought down Evra with a clumsy challenge, enabling Rooney to convert with finesse from the spot, and by the 69th minute Rooney had repeated the feat, albeit in rather more dubious circumstances.
Spot on: Wayne Rooney slams home the first of two penalties as Manchester United fight back;
Webb gave the penalty for Ivanovic’s foul on Welbeck when it looked like the striker, while impressive yesterday, might have made a point of tripping over the Serb’s foot.
There was no disputing the third United goal, scored in the 84th minute. It began with a touch of class from Rooney, the striker controlling a cross from Antonio Valencia before forcing a fine save from Cech. The move continued when Ryan Giggs knocked the ball back in for Javier Hernandez to meet with a wonderful header which also exposed a breakdown in communication between Luiz and Cahill.
To Chelsea’s credit they probably went closest to scoring a fourth, De Gea not only denying Mata but also Cahill. Not that knowing it will ease Chelsea’s pain.
There was no disputing the third United goal, scored in the 84th minute. It began with a touch of class from Rooney, the striker controlling a cross from Antonio Valencia before forcing a fine save from Cech. The move continued when Ryan Giggs knocked the ball back in for Javier Hernandez to meet with a wonderful header which also exposed a breakdown in communication between Luiz and Cahill.
To Chelsea’s credit they probably went closest to scoring a fourth, De Gea not only denying Mata but also Cahill. Not that knowing it will ease Chelsea’s pain.
No time to waste: Rooney celebrates with Javier Hernandez after scoring his second goal;
Done it! Hernandez is congratulated by his United team-mates after heading his side level
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