People will remember this game for the missed chances
rather than the ones taken as Manchester United were eventual 3-1 winners in a
highly enthralling game at Old Trafford. 3 first half goals from Smalling, Nani
and Rooney saw Andre Villas Boas lose his first League game in charge of the
Blues as Chelsea were made to pay for some sloppy defending and yes, errors
from the linesman.
Both sets of fans were in good voice as Chelsea were
dominant in the first few minutes of the game but things were to rapidly change
as United went ahead courtesy an offside goal from Chris Smalling who scored a
header from an Ashley Young free kick.
The goal didn’t dent Chelsea’s attack as they came close
to scoring when Anderson’s misplaced pass fell straight to Torres who missed
the target after a scuffle with Evans.
Chelsea had another chance in the 14th minute
when Mata’s corner was neatly headed by Ivanovic only to be saved by United’s
goalkeeper.
It was all Chelsea in the first 20 minutes of the game as Chelsea had 6 attempts at goal compared to United’s 1. But the scoreline suggested something totally different.
It was all Chelsea in the first 20 minutes of the game as Chelsea had 6 attempts at goal compared to United’s 1. But the scoreline suggested something totally different.
United looked to break Chelsea on the counter in the 26th
minute as Rooney had a poor shot after the ball was worked into the box.
A minute later, De Gea made a heroic save as Ramires
looked to score off a brilliant low cross from Torres who was fed the ball
after some nice work from Mata. United managed to hang onto their lead as
Chelsea kept piling on the pressure.
Chelsea had half a chance to equalize in the 31st
minute again when Torres, who had a bright 30 minutes, looked to score off a
bicycle kick via a Sturridge cross but missed the target.
Chelsea’s 10 goal attempts in the first 30 odd minutes of
the game proved futile as Nani scored a screamer of a goal from just outside
the box after cutting in and getting past Mata. Cech was just a spectator as
Chelsea went 2-0 down.
Wayne Rooney added to Chelsea’s misery as he scored a
sitter after receiving a ball that ricocheted off Nani and fell straight into
his path. United ended the half with 3 goals to nothing.
While talks of Chelsea doing an Arsenal were still on,
Chelsea scored within 60 seconds of the 2nd half after a brilliant
through ball from Anelka (who was substituted in place of Lampard at the start
of the 2nd half) found Torres who flicked the ball neatly over De
Gea. Torres got his much needed goal and Chelsea were right back in the clash.
A dominant Chelsea looked for a 2nd goal and
came close when Mata’s shot was intercepted by United’s goalkeeper after
Sturridge found him.
What was to follow was drama as Nani’s shot from just
outside the box hit the post and got deflected straight at him and he made the
most of Bosingwa’s challenge and went to the ground as Manchester United were
awarded a penalty. Rooney, who had scored earlier in the match, did a repeat of
John Terry as he slipped and missed from 12 yards out. Chelsea were awarded a
lifeline.
Torres showed his class again in the 71st
minute when he created a chance for himself inside the box and shot directly at
De Gea who saved, but the ball was deflected back to him and his resulting shot
went over the bar. Little did he know that what was to follow a few minutes
later was the biggest embarrassment of his Chelsea career as he failed to hit the
target from an open net being 7 yards out after Ramires fed him a great ball.
The missed chances were to continue as Berbatov missed an
opportunity in the dying stages of the game to send Chelsea packing as his weak
shot was slid off by Cole after he was given an easy chance to score by an
unselfish pass from Rooney. He missed and Chelsea avoided an embarrassment.
And as the final whistle blew a few minutes later, United
overcame Chelsea 3-1 in a mouth watering clash and maintained their 100% start
to their Premier League Campaign.
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