Chelsea Worry Injury Prone United

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Chelsea 2 - 1 Manchester United

Chelsea had to win this game to keep their Premiership title hopes alive, and they did!

Let it be said that both these sides field some very talented footballers, but there are one or two who should not be left out, no matter what the situation might be. Sir Alec Ferguson's decision to start with Cristiano Ronaldo on the bench must be questioned. How can you leave out of such a crucial game, somebody who has contributed so much to every game? Sure, United were unfortunate to have Vidic and Rooney injured. The thinking may have been, that if Ronaldo had played 90 minutes, he might have suffered the same fate, but that is true of any player in any game. Ronaldo is a match winner, and should have been on from the start.

As it was Chelsea started off the strongest, and were allowed to dominate the first half. Their goal, on the stroke of half time, was hugely deserved, and brilliantly executed. Drogba spotted Ballack in the penalty area and sent over a ball that was fiercely headed home. Not the most likely combination, as there seemed to be some dissent later with regard to which one of them should take a free kick, but they played well to snatch a deserved lead.

Chelsea started the second half as they had the first, and looked the better side until Carvalho made a dreadful mistake in the 57th minute. He casually directed the ball towards Terry, but Rooney who was injured at the time, sped forward on pure adrenaline, to thump a low drive into the net. United had equalised, and that would almost surely have killed off any chance of Chelsea stealing the Premiership!

Rooney was obviously uncomfortable with his injury and was replaced by Ronaldo in the 63rd minute. You would have to wonder how different the game might have been, if the two of them had been on from the start. Ronaldo's presence seemed to lift his side, although Ballack was interfering with him off the ball, in a petty sort of way that deserved a booking. Giggs had a powerful shot saved by Petr Cech, whilst at the other end a fine Drogba free kick required an equally good stop from Edwin van der Sar.

United were now dominant and seemed that they would least hold on to a draw. However, Carrick was penalised in the 86th minute for using his arm in the penalty area, and the controversial Ballack made no mistake from the penalty spot, to shoot Chelsea ahead once more.

It was not quite over as United came back strongly, but Cole and Shevchenko both cleared from the line to consolidate their side's success, and ensure that there will be an exciting end to a season in which United are still ahead, but only on goal average.

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Chelsea Vs Manchester United
soccer and football
Chelsea Vs Manchester United