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Man Utd 1-1 Chelsea | Man Utd 1-1 Chelsea |
(20 minutes later) | |
Ricardo Carvalho's second-half header prevented leaders Manchester United from going six points clear of Chelsea. | Ricardo Carvalho's second-half header prevented leaders Manchester United from going six points clear of Chelsea. |
Louis Saha gave United a first-half lead after a wonderful piece of skill, bending the ball past Carlo Cudicini. | Louis Saha gave United a first-half lead after a wonderful piece of skill, bending the ball past Carlo Cudicini. |
The game developed an intriguing ebb and flow in the second half as Saha twice went close, while Frank Lampard rained in a series of shots in reply. | The game developed an intriguing ebb and flow in the second half as Saha twice went close, while Frank Lampard rained in a series of shots in reply. |
And Carvalho earned Chelsea that point when he powered a header past Edwin van der Sar from a Lampard corner. | And Carvalho earned Chelsea that point when he powered a header past Edwin van der Sar from a Lampard corner. |
Interview: Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho onClick="javascript:launchAVConsoleStory('6186286'); return false;" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/video_and_audio/help_guide/4304501.stm">Interview: Michael Carrick | |
If United had the better of the first half, Chelsea were well worth the draw given their impressive second-half display. | If United had the better of the first half, Chelsea were well worth the draw given their impressive second-half display. |
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho brought on Arjen Robben for Geremi at the restart, a switch that entailed Michael Essien dropping to right-back. | Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho brought on Arjen Robben for Geremi at the restart, a switch that entailed Michael Essien dropping to right-back. |
606: DEBATE The draw was the fair result, no doubt about that FR 606: Have your say | 606: DEBATE The draw was the fair result, no doubt about that FR 606: Have your say |
That formation provided Chelsea with greater attacking fluidity, with Essien superb in the way he surged forward from his defensive position. | That formation provided Chelsea with greater attacking fluidity, with Essien superb in the way he surged forward from his defensive position. |
The highlight of the opening half was Saha's exquisite goal. | The highlight of the opening half was Saha's exquisite goal. |
When Rooney threaded a pass through to the Frenchman, with Carvalho and John Terry providing a defensive shield for Cudicini, there seemed minimal danger. | When Rooney threaded a pass through to the Frenchman, with Carvalho and John Terry providing a defensive shield for Cudicini, there seemed minimal danger. |
But Saha quickly switched the ball to his left foot, before bending a shot round Carvalho and past Cudicini's outstretched hand. | But Saha quickly switched the ball to his left foot, before bending a shot round Carvalho and past Cudicini's outstretched hand. |
Given Saha had missed a penalty in United's Champions League defeat at Celtic in midweek, the French international has wasted little time in returning to the goalscoring groove as he claimed his sixth league goal. | Given Saha had missed a penalty in United's Champions League defeat at Celtic in midweek, the French international has wasted little time in returning to the goalscoring groove as he claimed his sixth league goal. |
The game had needed that moment of inspiration because the preceding 29 minutes had been overshadowed by some rugged physical approach from both sides. | The game had needed that moment of inspiration because the preceding 29 minutes had been overshadowed by some rugged physical approach from both sides. |
That niggly tone was set by Michael Ballack's early challenge on Ronaldo. | That niggly tone was set by Michael Ballack's early challenge on Ronaldo. |
The German soon found himself on the receiving end as he was sandwiched between Gabriel Heinze and Nemanja Vidic. | The German soon found himself on the receiving end as he was sandwiched between Gabriel Heinze and Nemanja Vidic. |
Not that the game was played in a mean spirit - early in the second half Rooney and Carvalho, who had last met in that infamous World Cup quarter-final in the summer, could be seen sharing a joke. | Not that the game was played in a mean spirit - early in the second half Rooney and Carvalho, who had last met in that infamous World Cup quarter-final in the summer, could be seen sharing a joke. |
Chelsea had lots of possession in the first half but with Andriy Shevchenko and Didier Drogba tightly marked by Vidic and Rio Ferdinand there best efforts came from long-range shots. | Chelsea had lots of possession in the first half but with Andriy Shevchenko and Didier Drogba tightly marked by Vidic and Rio Ferdinand there best efforts came from long-range shots. |
Geremi hit a waspish shot that Van der Sar beat away and the Dutch keeper had to get down quickly to save a Lampard effort. | Geremi hit a waspish shot that Van der Sar beat away and the Dutch keeper had to get down quickly to save a Lampard effort. |
As Robben settled to the frenetic pace of the match, Rooney's run and cross almost created a second goal for Saha, who miscued as the ball came to him quickly. | As Robben settled to the frenetic pace of the match, Rooney's run and cross almost created a second goal for Saha, who miscued as the ball came to him quickly. |
Saha had another half-chance when Heinze's cross richocheted to the Frenchman, who again was unable to get a decisive touch. | Saha had another half-chance when Heinze's cross richocheted to the Frenchman, who again was unable to get a decisive touch. |
On 70 minutes Carvalho's thumping header hauled Chelsea level. | On 70 minutes Carvalho's thumping header hauled Chelsea level. |
The Portuguese defender rose above Heinze to meet Lampard's corner and Saha standing on the line was unable to divert the ball to safety. | The Portuguese defender rose above Heinze to meet Lampard's corner and Saha standing on the line was unable to divert the ball to safety. |
Indeed Saha's headed intervention might have taken the ball away from Van der Sar, who had thrown himself to his right to try and save Carvalho's header. | Indeed Saha's headed intervention might have taken the ball away from Van der Sar, who had thrown himself to his right to try and save Carvalho's header. |
With a quarter of an hour to go the anonmyous Shevchenko was withdrawn to replaced by Joe Cole, but the change failed to yield a winner for Chelsea. | With a quarter of an hour to go the anonmyous Shevchenko was withdrawn to replaced by Joe Cole, but the change failed to yield a winner for Chelsea. |
Man Utd: Van der Sar, Neville, Ferdinand, Vidic, Heinze, Ronaldo (Fletcher 86), Carrick, Scholes, Giggs, Rooney, Saha (O'Shea 86).Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, Evra, Silvestre. | Man Utd: Van der Sar, Neville, Ferdinand, Vidic, Heinze, Ronaldo (Fletcher 86), Carrick, Scholes, Giggs, Rooney, Saha (O'Shea 86).Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, Evra, Silvestre. |
Booked: Carrick. | Booked: Carrick. |
Goals: Saha 29. | Goals: Saha 29. |
Chelsea: Cudicini, Geremi (Robben 46), Carvalho, Terry, Ashley Cole, Essien, Makelele, Ballack (Ferreira 90), Lampard, Shevchenko (Joe Cole 75), Drogba.Subs Not Used: Hilario, Boulahrouz. | Chelsea: Cudicini, Geremi (Robben 46), Carvalho, Terry, Ashley Cole, Essien, Makelele, Ballack (Ferreira 90), Lampard, Shevchenko (Joe Cole 75), Drogba.Subs Not Used: Hilario, Boulahrouz. |
Booked: Makelele, Drogba, Ashley Cole. | Booked: Makelele, Drogba, Ashley Cole. |
Goals: Carvalho 69. | Goals: Carvalho 69. |
Att: 75,948 | Att: 75,948 |
Ref: H Webb (S Yorkshire). | Ref: H Webb (S Yorkshire). |