Oh Man!! This year the EPL has been a roller coaster ride, first the then stars Arsenal moving out of the competition, then Manchester United coming front, and at last Chelsea coming from nowhere to throttle Manchester once again.
The Star Saturday this week had the last competitive EPL game on the cards, the Red Devils vs Chelsea! Manchester United, after a near loss to Barcelona, was not too keen to face their London rivals at Stamford Bridge. But Avram Grant had a point to prove, to cement his manager post.
While seeing the final line up for the match, I felt that for Chelsea, this match meant a lot, whereas Sir Alex was taking the game too lightly. Ronaldo and Tevez were missing from the line up, as Nani was given a start along with Giggs and Rooney. Grant came up with his best squad, Drogba and Kalou along with Joe Cole up front and a solid Ballack, Essien and Mikel behind. Chelsea and English star Frank Lampard missed the match due to the demise of his mother Pat Lampard.
Chelsea kicked off and immediately put pressure on the Man Utd Defence, as Essien missed a good chance within the first minute. Manchester United looked very weary and tired as Chelsea put the pressure at the right places. They had most of the possession, and made use of it.
In the 8th minute, while Drogba received and Essien pass, his knee hit Nemanja Vidic’s jaw, resulting in bleeding and eventually saw him carried off the field in a stretcher. He was substituted by Owen Hargreaves, the Manchester hero in the match versus Arsenal. Chelsea continued their attacking football and Manchester United kept on losing the ball to their rivals, or causing a huge number of off sides. But in the end, Chelsea were not to be denied. Drogba did well to get some space near the penalty box and crossed to the unmarked Ballack w
ho headed it across the diving Van Der Sar into the net, a goal which caused the stands to erupt as Ballack ran off, removing his shirt (causing him a yellow card) and holding a shirt written on which “Pat Lampard, No 8, RIP” as an invigorated Chelsea headed to half time.
The break saw no change in the match as Chelsea continued their dominating football, that is, until the 58th minute. A free kick was awarded to Chelsea in their own half and Ashley Cole passed to team mate Ricardo Carvalho who carelessly passed it behind to Terry, getting Rooney instead. The 22 year old English international made most of his chance and sprinted forward, kickin
g the ball pat Cech’s defence as Manchester levelled at last.
But Chelsea remained undeterred. Grant brought in Shevchenko and Anelka, providing them with more attacking options. As the match entered the final 20 minutes, it seemed that this clash would result in a draw, but it was not to be.
In the 85th minute Essien ran in through the right wing and crossed, only to hit Carrick’s hand in the box, moments after Brown too had handled the ball in the same area. Chelsea was given a penalty, which of course Ballack converted, and Chelsea went one up again!!
But Manchester had had enough. They started attacking at last but the Chelsea defence was more than a match for them. A Ronaldo kick past Cech saw Ashley Cole clear the ball on the line and a Ferdinand back flip to open goal was met with groans as Shevchenko came from nowhere to clear the ball to safety. Chelsea kept their winning streak at home to 82 matches, as they too are now contenders for the title. They are now tied with the Red Devils with 81 points apiece with Manchester ahead on goal difference. But this win saw the end of the Gunners’ hopes to come second as they are on 74 points with 3 games to go. With the pressure back on Manchester, will they hold their nerve to snatch a second title in as many years????
Go Gunners, again!!!!!
The Star Saturday this week had the last competitive EPL game on the cards, the Red Devils vs Chelsea! Manchester United, after a near loss to Barcelona, was not too keen to face their London rivals at Stamford Bridge. But Avram Grant had a point to prove, to cement his manager post.
While seeing the final line up for the match, I felt that for Chelsea, this match meant a lot, whereas Sir Alex was taking the game too lightly. Ronaldo and Tevez were missing from the line up, as Nani was given a start along with Giggs and Rooney. Grant came up with his best squad, Drogba and Kalou along with Joe Cole up front and a solid Ballack, Essien and Mikel behind. Chelsea and English star Frank Lampard missed the match due to the demise of his mother Pat Lampard.
Chelsea kicked off and immediately put pressure on the Man Utd Defence, as Essien missed a good chance within the first minute. Manchester United looked very weary and tired as Chelsea put the pressure at the right places. They had most of the possession, and made use of it.
In the 8th minute, while Drogba received and Essien pass, his knee hit Nemanja Vidic’s jaw, resulting in bleeding and eventually saw him carried off the field in a stretcher. He was substituted by Owen Hargreaves, the Manchester hero in the match versus Arsenal. Chelsea continued their attacking football and Manchester United kept on losing the ball to their rivals, or causing a huge number of off sides. But in the end, Chelsea were not to be denied. Drogba did well to get some space near the penalty box and crossed to the unmarked Ballack w
ho headed it across the diving Van Der Sar into the net, a goal which caused the stands to erupt as Ballack ran off, removing his shirt (causing him a yellow card) and holding a shirt written on which “Pat Lampard, No 8, RIP” as an invigorated Chelsea headed to half time.The break saw no change in the match as Chelsea continued their dominating football, that is, until the 58th minute. A free kick was awarded to Chelsea in their own half and Ashley Cole passed to team mate Ricardo Carvalho who carelessly passed it behind to Terry, getting Rooney instead. The 22 year old English international made most of his chance and sprinted forward, kickin
g the ball pat Cech’s defence as Manchester levelled at last.But Chelsea remained undeterred. Grant brought in Shevchenko and Anelka, providing them with more attacking options. As the match entered the final 20 minutes, it seemed that this clash would result in a draw, but it was not to be.
In the 85th minute Essien ran in through the right wing and crossed, only to hit Carrick’s hand in the box, moments after Brown too had handled the ball in the same area. Chelsea was given a penalty, which of course Ballack converted, and Chelsea went one up again!!
But Manchester had had enough. They started attacking at last but the Chelsea defence was more than a match for them. A Ronaldo kick past Cech saw Ashley Cole clear the ball on the line and a Ferdinand back flip to open goal was met with groans as Shevchenko came from nowhere to clear the ball to safety. Chelsea kept their winning streak at home to 82 matches, as they too are now contenders for the title. They are now tied with the Red Devils with 81 points apiece with Manchester ahead on goal difference. But this win saw the end of the Gunners’ hopes to come second as they are on 74 points with 3 games to go. With the pressure back on Manchester, will they hold their nerve to snatch a second title in as many years????
Go Gunners, again!!!!!
Here are the highlights!!! Courtesy TVGOLO!!
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