Match report: Chelsea 2 Man Utd 2 (4-1 on penalties)

Terry and Ferdinand were in jovial mood shortly before the kick off of the game that has traditionally opened each top-flight season since 1908. That – and the sober minutes applause in honour of Bobby Robson – stood in stark contrast however to the lively and keenly contested match that followed. Remarkably, Chelsea won an even (and sometimes controversial) tie on penalties, but both sides have plenty of room for improvement this season.

Chelsea lined up as expected aside from in defence where Ivanovic and Carvalho were chosen over Bosingwa and Alex respectively. Similarly United had a changed back four (largely due to injury) with Evans and O’Shea joining stalwarts Ferdinand and Evra. On kick off I couldn’t help but think that their starting midfield of Nani, Fletcher, Park and Carrick wouldn’t scare too many top sides this season.

A non-eventful first five minutes – only punctuated only by a Drogba shot from 25 yards followed kick-off, but the game then exploded into life when Ivanovic got a toe to a corner, only to see his weak touch nodded onto the underside of the bar by Evra who had been waiting on the line.

The minutes that followed saw Essien regularly drawn into midfield and United finding space down their left. Just as I was about to criticise Nani for lacking a final product, he turned to buy himself a few yards on the left, took the ball inside and fired a shot from 20-odd yards. Confusion between the keeper and Terry probably didn’t help, but Cech should have done better and a good but not great shot found the net. Ten minutes gone, one nil United.

As the minutes slipped by Ivanovic was looking increasingly uncomfortable at right back and gave away two needless free kicks against  the tricky-looking combination of Evra and Nani, who were showing plenty of willingness to stretch the play wide down their left. United were already looking far more effective in possession and Chelsea’s superior midfield (on paper at least) was unable to get a hold of the game. The few attacks launched by the blues were ill-conceived, and the solid dual anchor of Carrick and Fletcher had no problem stifling the long ball.

United were starting to create the chances to match their superiority, and were regularly carving out space – for the first half an hour Chelsea seemed incapable of picking up runs from United’s deeper-lying players. Cech made good saves first from Park (under pressure from Mikel) and then Berbatov.

In strong contrast to United – who were often basking in space for the first 30 minutes - Chelsea were unable to get Lampard on the ball. With Man Utd’s midfield taking it in turn to mark the number 8 out of the game, Chelsea’s front three were unable to find any rhythm, and Ancelotti was starting to cut a frustrated figure on the sidelines as all to frequently his side wasted possession. Once again, the complete lack of width was severely hindering the team’s ability to cause the opposition problems.

The game started to become more balanced as chances to Malouda (who mistimed a volley on the left stick), Park and Essien followed. Inside of 35 minutes the biggest concern for Ferguson would have been Foster’s nervousness and inability to clear his lines twice when under pressure from Drogba.

The final ten minutes of the half was more encouraging for Chelsea who finally started to grasp a greater share of possession. Ancelotti will have also been pleased that Rooney hadn’t really got in the game. But in truth the players didn’t look comfortable with a 4-4-2 diamond that wasn’t releasing attacking players into any space in the final third (as it hadn’t against Reading last week). Under the diamond system, neither Essien nor Malouda provide any width, and the former’s attacking instincts are nullified by the constant need for him to support in defence. Ivanovic continued to disappoint, and Man Utd rounded off a half in which they had been the more impressive side with a well struck curving shot from Fletcher, which Cech narrowly tipped over.

The initial phases of the second half were a lot more promising for Chelsea who, with the unsurprising introduction of Bosingwa, started to look far more convincing with the ball. An equaliser – albeit a slightly fortuitous one - duly followed on 51 minutes. Coming off the left wing, Malouda darted into the box to combine with Lampard and dink a cross towards the Foster. Under pressure from Drogba, the young keeper didn’t get much of a touch on the ball which popped out to Carvalho who dived to nod the ball in at the near post. Certainly nothing pretty, but it was a goal that was earned by a triumvirate of Malouda trickery, Lampard persistence and Drogba brute force.

If anything the game increased in tempo from this point, and with Drogba, Essien and Lampard starting to fire, Chelsea were looking much more dangerous in the final third. For the first time in the match, Chelsea were starting to edge ahead in terms of possession.

Nani came off on 60 minutes with an ‘injury’ (he had played well in fairness, but his closest resemblance to Ronaldo is still his rolling around) to be replaced by Valencia, and shortly afterwards Ballack replaced Mikel, with Essien moving backwards into the holding role. The likes of Lampard were starting to find more space, and by and large Chelsea were controlling the game to the same extent United had in the first half.

Then came Chelsea’s second goal – and a contentious moment. Whilst his theatrics were questionable, Evra was unquestionably blocked by Ballack as he made a run down the left wing. Referee Chris Foy played advantage, and subsequently Carvalho hit a long clearance down the pitch towards Drogba. The Ivorian, largely unopposed by a United defence still in Chelsea’s half, took the ball forward twenty yards to pass square. Lampard arrived to smashed a powerful shot – via Foster’s hand – into the bottom left hand corner of the net. United’s players – lead by the usually-so-well behaved Rooney – were clearly unhappy and berated the referee. The truth was however that advantage had been played and, as the referee didn’t deem Evra’s theatrical rolling around of the floor as worthy of stopping the game, no blame can be placed on Chelsea for putting the ball away. Lots of players – Chelsea’s included – do it, but Evra clutching his head despite Ballack getting nowhere near it was embarrassing.

The game was starting to look a little scrappy, but thanks to a re-energised Drogba it was starting to be mostly played in United’s half. Ballack and Evra clashed once again, with the latter clattering the German with a tackle in which he initially got the ball. Chris Foy – rightfully in my view – saw intent in the challenge and awarded a yellow card – cue more surrounding of the referee by United players and more aggressive antics from Rooney. Handbags stuff really, but worth noting that Ballack was on his feet immediately. 

The game ebbed towards a close, and substitutions from both sides probably contributed towards a half generally lacking in real quality. Drogba forced a good save from Ben Foster and Owen nearly got his head to a cross into the Chelsea box, but in reality real chances were few and far between. Just as the game looked to be over however, United launched an attack at lightning speed, with Giggs finding Rooney (who may have been marginally offside). Credit where it’s due however: the Liverpudlian showed excellent strength and composure to tuck the ball past Cech and take the game to penalties.

Chelsea fans have had a terrible time of it over the past few years when it’s come to penalties – but hey, at least expectations are low to start with. So it was a massive (and pleasant) surprise when Lampard, Ballack, Drogba and Kalou all scored very well-taken penalties and Cech saved Giggs and Evra efforts. After his ‘performance’ in the second half –so different from his good attacking play in the first – it was particularly pleasing to see Evra hit a very lame penalty that Cech could have saved with his eyes closed.

The result won’t actually matter too much for either side – at this stage of the season games are all about fitness and the performance. On the one hand the toothless Chelsea of the first half and the lack of fluidity throughout is concerning, but on the other the improved display and fight showed in the second 45 was very encouraging indeed. On balance however, a 2-2 score line was a fair reflection of a game very much of two halves.

Two things are clear to me however. Firstly, the Chelsea that won today was the old Chelsea – a new Ancelotti brand of football is a long way from alive and kicking. Secondly – and very significantly – United may have lost Ronaldo, but their blend of remaining top-quality players and Ferguson’s unerring ability to get the best out of ‘solid’ players still make his the team to beat this season.

bridgeviews.co.uk man of the match: difficult one this. Nani, perhaps free from the burden of playing second (or third) fiddle to Ronaldo, looked good in the first half, as did Evra. Fletcher too was very impressive in the first 45, excellently anchoring their midfield. From a Chelsea perspective, Drogba looked very dangerous in the last 20. But for his almost flawless performance in defence and his well taken goal, the man of the match has to go to Ricardo Carvalho.

Disagree? Who was your man of the match, and what did you think of the course of events leading up to Chelsea’s second goal? Post a comment…

Comments

[Sam]

"Marginally Offside"? Just show us your manu shirt, dude.

[Russell Saunders]

Sam, thanks for your comment, but I'm not sure I get it...

I thought he was marginally offisde. Don't think he was anymore than a foot at most, so I said 'marginally'.

Rest assured I have no utd shirt