Chelsea Dethrones Manchester United

Manchester United still recovering from their shocking home defeat to Bayern Munich in the UEFA champions’ league at the weekend suffered yet another home defeat to Chelsea FC on Saturday afternoon in the premiership ending their momentary stay on the league table.

Man. U had hoped to use the match as a means of consolidating their position on top of the league, but at the end of 90 minutes of play that dream evaporated into thin air. Chelsea eventually returned to the position they vacated to Man. U some weeks ago. Carlo Ancelotti was elated but Sir Alex Ferguson was unhappy as he lost the chance to brighten his hope of winning 4 successive premiership titles.

Chelsea dominated the first half of play and had about 6 goal attempts as against Manchester’s 2. Their pressure paid off in the 19th minute when Joe Cole fantastically tucked in a cross from Florent Malouda leaving Edwin Van Der Sar and his defenders gaping at the ball as it sailed into the net.

The second half became more entertaining as both sides tried to outwit each other. The game was 50%:50% ball possession as they kept entertaining the spectators who were hungry for artistic football. In the 75th minute Didier Drogba replaced Nicolas Anelka and got Chelsea’s second goal in the 79th minute through a position that was clearly offside but the centre referee pointed to the centre circle and the goal was recorded.

Just 2 minutes 24 seconds later, Manchester United pulled one goal back through Federico Macheda who pushed Nani’s pull-out with his hand into Chelsea’s net in the 81st minute. Thereafter the host team piled more pressure on the visitors but the pressure was absorbed by a much more determined Chelsea team which had seen this match as a way of compensating their supporters for their disappointing ouster from the UEFA Champions’ league in the hands of Inter Milan.

Several changes were made by both coaches in an attempt to win the match. Some of the players substituted on the side of Man. U included Fletcher, Park and Paul Scholes, while Chelsea substituted Nicolas Anelka, Deco and Joe Cole. The match was fairly rough as several fowls were committed though the referee overlooked some of them. Fletcher, Neville,Scholes and Deco all received a yellow card each.

When the final whistle was sounded Chelsea players were very happy because they were back on top of the league while Manchester United’ players were sad because they had given away their position to their closest rival in the league. Chelsea had earlier beaten Man. U at Stanford Bridge in the first round of the league and made it double victory as they again beat the defending league champions in front of their teeming fans at Old Trafford. Wayne Rooney was conspicuously missing in the match because of the injury he got in their last Champions’ league match against Munich. Chelsea now has 74 points as against 72 points for Manchester United.