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Manchester United hit three goals at Old Trafford as they coasted to a convincing victory over title rivals Chelsea.
Manchester United 3-0 Chelsea
Manchester United and Chelsea went head-to-head at Old Trafford hoping to take advantage of Liverpool’s draw to Stoke City yesterday and gain some ground on the league leaders.
Yet the reigning champions were without Rio Ferdinand who despite training all week, suffered a recurrence of his back problem meaning Jonny Evans kept his place alongside Nemanja Vidic, although Patrice Evra returned following his ban.
For the visitors, Didier Drogba was preferred up front to Nicolas Anelka whilst John Terry returned from suspension and partnered Ricardo Carvalho at the back.
The first half was an open, free flowing affair devoid of chances yet not without an element of spice as the tackles flew in.
Yet it took almost half an hour for either side to carve out a clear opportunity, Patrice Evra breaking down the left and beating Deco before playing it into Rooney on the edge of the box.
The striker, with his back to goal, laid the back into Berbatov’s path but the Bulgarian’s shot was tame and Petr Cech collected comfortably.
Chelsea, meanwhile were looking strong yet failing to quite find the final ball and it was the reigning champions who finished the half strongly.
Minutes before the break, a flowing move saw involving Giggs and Berbatov finally saw Park play a one-two with Ronaldo before shooting but finding his effort well blocked by John Terry.
The hosts thought they had scored moments later, after Ronaldo headed home a Giggs cross following a short corner routine however referee Howard Webb disallowed his effort after the linesman flagged.
United were enraged but from the resulting kick they were ahead, Berbatov touching the ball onto Vidic at the far post who sneaked past Terry to head home and hand the home side the lead.
Luiz Felipe Scolari changed things at half-time, Deco who picked up a knock in the first time, being replaced by Anelka as the Blues went in search of the equaliser.
Yet it was the home side who stretched their lead, just after the hour mark. Ronaldo out on the left backheeled the ball to the overlapping Evra and the full back swept in a superb cross that was too high for Berbatov but perfectly weighted for Rooney who swept home first time past Cech.
Scolari responded immediately, replacing Bosingwa with Belletti, whilst a hobbling Evra was replaced by O’Shea for the hosts.
Yet Chelsea struggled to work Edwin Van der Sar in the United goal and the chances were few and far between for Scolari’s men.
With less than 20 minutes to go a Lampard free kick found Drogba in acres of space at the far post, yet the Ivorian conspired to completely miss his kick, much to the delight of a jubilant Old Trafford.
The home side, meanwhile, continued to threaten with Park, Rooney and Ronaldo continually threatening the visitors’ defence.
Indeed Ronaldo might have added to the scoreline, his shot from range flying inches wide of Cech’s post
Yet with minutes to go the European champions compounded their visitors’ misery with their third of the afternoon.
A Ronaldo free kick, awarded after the Portuguese had been fouled by Belletti, was driven in and Berbatov poked the ball home from six yards to complete a comprehensive victory for Ferguson’s men.
Man Utd: Van der Sar, Neville, Vidic, Evans, Evra (O’Shea, 66), Ronaldo, Fletcher, Giggs (Carrick, 80), Park, Berbatov, Rooney.
Chelsea: Cech, Bosingwa (Belletti, 63), Carvalho, Terry, Ashley Cole, Mikel, Joe Cole (Di Santo, 85), Lampard, Ballack, Deco (Anelka, 46), Drogba.
GOALS
3-0 Manchester United (Berbatov, 87)
2-0 Manchester United (Rooney, 62)
1-0 Manchester United (Vidic, 45)
Manchester United 3-0 Chelsea
Manchester United and Chelsea went head-to-head at Old Trafford hoping to take advantage of Liverpool’s draw to Stoke City yesterday and gain some ground on the league leaders.
Yet the reigning champions were without Rio Ferdinand who despite training all week, suffered a recurrence of his back problem meaning Jonny Evans kept his place alongside Nemanja Vidic, although Patrice Evra returned following his ban.
For the visitors, Didier Drogba was preferred up front to Nicolas Anelka whilst John Terry returned from suspension and partnered Ricardo Carvalho at the back.
The first half was an open, free flowing affair devoid of chances yet not without an element of spice as the tackles flew in.
Yet it took almost half an hour for either side to carve out a clear opportunity, Patrice Evra breaking down the left and beating Deco before playing it into Rooney on the edge of the box.
The striker, with his back to goal, laid the back into Berbatov’s path but the Bulgarian’s shot was tame and Petr Cech collected comfortably.
Chelsea, meanwhile were looking strong yet failing to quite find the final ball and it was the reigning champions who finished the half strongly.
Minutes before the break, a flowing move saw involving Giggs and Berbatov finally saw Park play a one-two with Ronaldo before shooting but finding his effort well blocked by John Terry.
The hosts thought they had scored moments later, after Ronaldo headed home a Giggs cross following a short corner routine however referee Howard Webb disallowed his effort after the linesman flagged.
United were enraged but from the resulting kick they were ahead, Berbatov touching the ball onto Vidic at the far post who sneaked past Terry to head home and hand the home side the lead.
Luiz Felipe Scolari changed things at half-time, Deco who picked up a knock in the first time, being replaced by Anelka as the Blues went in search of the equaliser.
Yet it was the home side who stretched their lead, just after the hour mark. Ronaldo out on the left backheeled the ball to the overlapping Evra and the full back swept in a superb cross that was too high for Berbatov but perfectly weighted for Rooney who swept home first time past Cech.
Scolari responded immediately, replacing Bosingwa with Belletti, whilst a hobbling Evra was replaced by O’Shea for the hosts.
Yet Chelsea struggled to work Edwin Van der Sar in the United goal and the chances were few and far between for Scolari’s men.
With less than 20 minutes to go a Lampard free kick found Drogba in acres of space at the far post, yet the Ivorian conspired to completely miss his kick, much to the delight of a jubilant Old Trafford.
The home side, meanwhile, continued to threaten with Park, Rooney and Ronaldo continually threatening the visitors’ defence.
Indeed Ronaldo might have added to the scoreline, his shot from range flying inches wide of Cech’s post
Yet with minutes to go the European champions compounded their visitors’ misery with their third of the afternoon.
A Ronaldo free kick, awarded after the Portuguese had been fouled by Belletti, was driven in and Berbatov poked the ball home from six yards to complete a comprehensive victory for Ferguson’s men.
Man Utd: Van der Sar, Neville, Vidic, Evans, Evra (O’Shea, 66), Ronaldo, Fletcher, Giggs (Carrick, 80), Park, Berbatov, Rooney.
Chelsea: Cech, Bosingwa (Belletti, 63), Carvalho, Terry, Ashley Cole, Mikel, Joe Cole (Di Santo, 85), Lampard, Ballack, Deco (Anelka, 46), Drogba.
GOALS
3-0 Manchester United (Berbatov, 87)
2-0 Manchester United (Rooney, 62)
1-0 Manchester United (Vidic, 45)
