An early breakthrough could have come after five minutes for Chelsea when a run down the right from Ramires was closely checked by United’s John O’Shea but the Irishman couldn’t stop the ball continuing for Nicolas Anelka who continued with the ball. He delivered a cross which Florent Malouda fired in from the edge of the area. The shot was aimed directly at Edwin Van der Sar, but the lack of defenders in Malouda’s vicinity was not encouraging for United fans.
As the half progressed, both sides had spells in which the opening goal could have been scored. Both Anelka and Wayne Rooney dragged the ball wide from long range efforts.
In an even contest like this, chances need to be taken and as the 30 minute mark approached it was the visitors who made good theirs after an overlapping run from Patrice Evra opened an avenue for Nani to explore. The Portuguese winger’s run drew sufficient attention from the Chelsea defense to allow Wayne Rooney to come free and after Nani moved the ball onto Rooney, the England striker turned to face goal and let rip a right footed shot from the edge of the box which beat Petr Cech low to his right.
There was much derision from the home support as they felt Rooney shouldn’t have even been on the field following his indiscretion at Wigan on Saturday. No matter, Rooney was available for selection and Sir Alex couldn't have cared one jot.
Sir Alex had more reasons to be cheerful when Edwin Van der Sar showed he’s still got it with a couple of quick and instinctive saves from close range. Frank Lampard launched a free-kick in from the Chelsea right which flew to the far post where Branislav Ivanovic prodded the ball goalward only to see the panther like Van der Sar keep him at bay.
It was a close as Ancelotti’s men had come to leveling up the game but as the players returned to the dressing room, United looked like extending their lead at the top of the table.
Chelsea needed a response. They came out for the second half with determination and guile and this paid dividends as David Luiz reclaimed parity with his first goal for the club. A cleared ball from the United defense was scooped up by Michael Essien who delivered the ball back into the danger area where Ivanovic flicked the ball onto Luiz, who with an excellent volley, smashed the ball into the left corner of Van der Sar’s goal and give the Blues a way back into the contest.
With the scores level, the game truly opened up and chances were in abundance. Rooney could have had another has his errant shot been remotely on target after 64 minutes. Gary Neville, who was with the United fans in The Shed was cursing his former colleague.
Shortly after, an error by Michael Carrick could have been punished had Malouda made more of the chance. Carrick would have been sighing with relief after Nemanja Vidic and Chris Smalling combined to nullify the threat.
With the game standing all square, the changes began. Didier Drogba was on for Nicolas Anelka, Dimitar Berbatov replaced Chicarito. Yury Zhirkov came on for Flourent Malouda. But most noteworthy was Ryan Giggs making his record equaling 606th league appearance for Manchester United when he replaced another stalwart, Paul Scholes.
In neat piece of symmetry, Giggs was equaling the record of Sir Bobby Charlton who made his 606th and final league appearance on the same ground, and 20 years and one day since he made his debut for the Red Devils.
With time waning the game sprung another surprise, a contentious foul conceded by Smalling on Zhirkov gave Chelsea the chance to take the lead. Frank Lampard stepped up and thundered the ball straight down the middle to give Ancelotti’s men the lead for the first time. With repeat viewings the foul was a soft one as it appeared that Zhirkov made little effort to pick up his trailing leg.
To compound matters for United, captain Vidic received a second yellow card in the dying moments for a foul on Ramires.
At the half Ferguson would have been happy and settled with the game, but a second half revival from Chelsea keeps the title race alive.
