Chelsea Vs. Manchester United Match Report Result

United, gunning for a 19th league title, and Chelsea, reigning English champions, produced a barnstorming, end-to-end game of football that left no neutral disappointed.

That won’t sate Sir Alex’s men, though, who took the lead at Stamford Bridge through Wayne Rooney before surrendering it early in the second half and then, fatally, conceding a late penalty. What's more, referee Martin Atkinson's decision to award the spot-kick came barely two minutes after Blues defender David Luiz, already on a yellow card, escaped punishment after crudely halting Rooney at the other end.

Frank Lampard ignored the Reds' protests to convert the chance from 12 yards and hand the Blues victory, but United, however aggrieved after the final whistle, remain at the top of the Barclays Premier League, four points clear of Arsenal.

Perhaps more worrying than Tuesday's defeat was Nemanja Vidic's second yellow card in injury time. It means he will now miss United’s trip to Anfield on Sunday. That’s the next challenge that faces the Reds and one Sir Alex must now ensure his troops are prepared for, both physically and mentally.

Chelsea’s victory on Tuesday night was something of a shock given the Blues’ recent form, although just as big a surprise was Sir Alex’s team selection. In each of the past 165 matches, the Reds boss has made at least one tweak to his starting XI. Against Chelsea, though, he put his faith in the same 11 who triumphed at Wigan on Saturday. That meant starts for John O’Shea and Chris Smalling in defence, while Dimitar Berbatov had to settle for a spot on the bench.

The game began brightly and Chelsea had the ball in the net after a minute. But Martin Atkinson’s whistle had already blown by the time Fernando Torres’ strike flew into the top corner after Vidic had cleared a Florent Malouda cross.

Minutes later, the Blues’ French connection of Malouda and Nicolas Anelka combined to fashion a chance for the winger. But Malouda’s shot, side-footed from the edge of the penalty area, was straight at Edwin van der Sar and the Dutchman clung gratefully to the ball. The Dutchman would face tougher tests before the night was out.

United, meanwhile, were uncharacteristically careless in possession for much of the opening 15 minutes. Even Paul Scholes, who usually treats the ball with the sort of care and attention reserved for newborn babies, was guilty of dwelling for too long or misplacing passes.

The Reds did settle, though, and with a quarter of an hour gone, Nani played Patrice Evra in behind the Chelsea defence. The Frenchman – perhaps shooting – squared the ball across the six-yard box but Rooney couldn’t arrive at the far post in time to apply the finish.

The England striker then spurned a more presentable chance when he shouldered the ball wide when attempting a header before a frantic opening 25 minutes came to an end after Evra floored Luiz with a long-range shot that took the wind out of the Brazilian.

All that bluster was just the prelude to Rooney’s fabulous opener, though. The forward, who’d endured a rather frustrating start to the fixture, collected Nani’s pass 25 yards from goal and initially looked as if he would lay the ball off to Michael Carrick. But with no Chelsea defender moving to close down Rooney, the Reds’no.10 took another touch, advanced, and drilled a low shot inside Petr Cech’s right-hand post.

Incredibly, for a player with a penchant for the spectacular, it was Rooney’s first goal from outside the penalty area since February 2008. Importantly, in a fixture Sir Alex had branded “must-win” before kick-off, it handed United advantage going into the half-time break.

That lead was only threatened once before the interval, and the Reds had van der Sar and Vidic to thank for keeping the Blues goalless. First, van der Sar made a fine save down to his right from Frank Lampard’s low free-kick. Branislav Ivanovic arrived first and looked certain to tap in the rebound but Edwin somehow palmed his effort onto Vidic, who’d raced behind the goalkeeper and onto the line. Then, as the ball looped into the air, van der Sar, by this stage on the ground and facing the wrong way, clawed the ball away to safety.

The Dutchman again proved his worth early in the second period, fielding an Ashley Cole cross and then a Lampard shot with consummate ease. But there was nothing he could do when Luiz rifled home the equaliser on 54 minutes. The Brazilian pounced first on a loose ball after the Reds had failed to sufficiently clear a Chelsea corner and lashed a volley into the bottom corner.

Chelsea were back in it and soon pushing for another. Stamford Bridge, usually more cathedral than cauldron, came alive and Carlo Ancelotti threw on Didier Drogba. But the Reds rode the storm and even carved out a golden chance on the counter-attack, which Rooney fluffed when caught in two minds between shooting and crossing.

But just as United looked like edging back into the game, Chelsea were handed a lifeline when Yuri Zhirkov tumbled over Chris Smalling’s outstretched right leg and referee Martin Atkinson pointed to the spot. It was a decision Sir Alex later branded as "very soft" but Lampard made no mistake with the penalty, slamming the ball into the roof of the net from 12 yards. It felt like a dagger to United hearts, condemning the Reds to defeat in a game neither side deserved to lose.

With a trip to Anfield scheduled this Sunday, the Reds can't afford to dwell on refereeing decisions or stew in self-pity. Instead, Sir Alex's men must bounce back and display the sort of spirit that's characterised so many of United's title-winning sides of the past. Read more...

Chelsea Vs. Manchester United Highlights Video Clips

Chelsea [2 - 1] Manchester United
29' [0 - 1] W. Rooney
54' [1 - 1] D. Luiz
79' [2 - 1] F. Lampard (pen.)

0-1 Rooney 29'

1-1 David Luiz 54'



2-1 Lampard (Penalty) 79'
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Wigan Athletic Vs. Manchester United Match Report Result

A goal either side of half-time from Javier Hernandez and late strikes by Wayne Rooney and Fabio da Silva settled an entertaining, end-to-end affair at the DW Stadium in Wigan on Saturday.

The victory, only United’s fourth away from home in the league this season, wasn’t as straightforward as the scoreline suggests, but restores the Reds’ four-point lead at the top of the table.

With United next in action on Tuesday evening at Stamford Bridge, Sir Alex’s men have a chance to stretch that lead to seven by the time title rivals Arsenal play again. And that gap could prove psychologically damaging to a Gunners side that haven’t won the league since 2004.

At Wigan on Saturday, Ryan Giggs and Michael Owen had been tipped to return, but neither was involved in the Reds' matchday squad. Sir Alex did make two changes from the side that drew away in Marseille during the week, though, with Paul Scholes replacing Darron Gibson in the centre of midfield and Dimitar Berbatov making way for Hernandez.

The home side started brightest and enjoyed plenty of possession in the opening quarter of an hour. Nemanja Vidic was forced into a fine block tackle on the edge of his area to deny the onrushing Charles N’Zogbia while Hugo Rodallega volleyed over the bar from 12 yards.

The biggest scare came on 13 minutes, when Victor Moses charged down a Paul Scholes pass and ended up clean through on goal with only Edwin van der Sar to beat. The Dutchman, in his 250th United appearance, stayed big to block Moses’ effort with his shoulder and keep the match goalless.

It didn’t stay that way for long, though. Two minutes later, Hernandez put the Reds ahead with a clever finish from close range after Nani fired a low ball into the six-yard box. The temptation must have been to hit the ball hard but the young Mexican, who’s scored in each of United’s four away wins this term, chose instead to deftly flick the ball over Ali Al-Habsi in the Wigan goal.

It was a terrific finish, albeit against the run of play, and United were again indebted to van der Sar when, within a minute of the restart, he dashed off his line and smothered James McCarthy’s effort.

On a patchy pitch, against the league’s 18th-placed side, the Reds may have expected a bruising battle at the DW Stadium. Instead, the two teams produced more goalmouth action in the opening 20 minutes than United fans experienced all evening in Marseille during Wednesday's bore draw.

But for a heavy touch on the edge of the penalty area, Hernandez may have netted again in the first half, while Nani rounded off a well-worked passing move by smashing a left-footed shot off the inside of Al-Habsi’s post.

expected a bruising battle. Instead, the two teams produced more goalmouth action in the opening 20 minutes than United and Marseille served up all game during Wednesday night’s bore draw.

But for a heavy touch on the edge of the penalty area, Hernandez may have netted again in the first half, while Nani rounded off a well-worked passing move by smashing a left-footed shot off the inside of Al-Habsi’s post.

Even so, Sir Alex’s men never looked in complete command. Every time Wigan attacked they did so in numbers and when the Latics lost the ball they pressed United high up the pitch in an effort to win it back.

Moses, Rodallega and McCarthy were particularly impressive and will no doubt have felt aggrieved trudging off at the break a goal down.

Neither manager shuffled his pack at half-time and the home side, just as they did in the opening period, flew out of the traps. Left-back Maynor Figueroa stung van der Sar’s palms when he unleashed a rocket from distance, while Rodallega beat Vidic in the air to head goalwards on 50 minutes.

The Reds soon settled, though, and Nani, Evra and Hernandez all wreaked havoc inside the penalty area before Nani rippled the side-netting with a powerful left-footed drive. The Portuguese caused further problems for Wigan on the hour mark when his shot was spilled by Al-Habsi.

Rooney gathered the loose ball and laid the ball back to Darren Fletcher, but by the time the Scot could squeeze off a shot Wigan’s defenders had blocked the path to goal.

Meanwhile, at the other end, Victor Moses skied a difficult chance, teed up after good work down the inside-right channel by Hugo Rodallega, and substitute Franco di Santo’s effort was ruled out for offside in the move’s build-up.

That’s as close as the home side came to piercing the Reds’ defensive line. From that point, all the goalmouth action occurred at the other end.

Hernandez effectively wrapped up the points on 74 minutes when he and Rooney combined brilliantly 35 yards out to play the Mexican in on goal. He kept his cool to slot the ball past Al-Habsi and net his second of the match and 13th of the season.

Ten minutes later it was 3-0 after Dimitar Berbatov ran onto a long Darron Gibson pass, advanced towards goal, drew Al-Habsi and unselfishly rolled the ball sideways for Rooney to tap into the empty net.

There was still time for another, though, and young Fabio da Silva made it 4-0 with three minutes to play. Sent on to replace Nani, Fabio soon found himself unmarked at the far post and made no mistake from close range. Read more...

Wigan Athletic Vs. Manchester United Highlights Video Clips

Wigan Athletic [0 - 4] Manchester United
17' [0 - 1] J. Hernandez
74' [0 - 2] J. Hernandez
84' [0 - 3] W. Rooney
87' [0 - 4] F.d.

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Marseille Vs. Manchester United Match Result Report

United may not have followed the leads of Arsenal, Chelsea and Spurs in the Champions League's last-16 ties, but the Reds remain favourites to reach the quarter-finals after this stalemate with a decent if unambitious Marseille side.

Goalscoring chances were few and far between on a disappointing night at Stade Velodrome, and Sir Alex Ferguson will hope for more from his attacking players when the battle continues at Old Trafford in a fortnight's time - while asking his defence to remain just as solid against the threat of the dreaded away goal for Marseille.

The United boss recalled eight big guns at the back and in attack for the first leg, but he picked two thirds of the same midfield which laboured to victory over Crawley Town in the FA Cup – Darron Gibson and Michael Carrick – and retained John O’Shea in defence.

Darren Fletcher drove a first-time shot through a ruck of players; Marseille keeper Steve Mandanda saw it late but pulled off a fine save.

After a lively opening, the game’s tempo dipped to a more typical level for a European match. Less characteristic was United’s use of the ball – or rather misuse with sloppy passes from central midfield handing Marseille opportunities they didn’t have the wherewithal to exploit. Fortunately Rod Fanni’s right-flank delivery didn’t match the brilliance of his turn and surge past Rooney, while Brandao’s bicycle kick had style but insufficient substance to concern Edwin van der Sar.

The sides won a corner apiece in the closing moments of the first half, from their favoured right flanks. Remy whipped in a ball that Smalling had to repel from the six-yard line with a diving header; then O’Shea’s cross was blocked by Heinze.

The second period opened in similar fashion to the first, with Marseille and United doing enough in the right areas to suggest a decent half was in prospect. Brandao nodded a cross into the hands of van der Sar, while Heinze used his head at the other end to bale out Mandanda after Rooney’s centre left the keeper unusually stranded.

Smalling and Vidic had to be equally alert as Marseille’s attacks gathered some momentum, with both United centre-backs making timely blocks to thwart Remy and Lucho. In the same dangerous spell, a free-kick won by Heinze’s theatrics and a close call from Andre Ayew’s left foot stirred the biggest roars from the home fans – not that the incessantly noisy bunch, backed by a battery of drummers, needed any encouragement.

After weathering a brief storm, the Reds broke out with O’Shea reaching the byline and pulling the ball back for Nani. The Portuguese winger elected to flick it on rather than fire at goal and Berbatov’s shot found the bulk of Souleymane Diawara

Sir Alex made his first change with 18 minutes remaining, replacing Gibson with the most experienced player at his disposal, Paul Scholes. Keeping possession and staying composed were the key aims following his introduction – anything else would have been a bonus and it might have come had Mandanda not been quick off his line to stop Nani finishing off some fine interplay with Berbatov.

A couple of late corners raised the home fans’ hopes but in the end they – and United – had to be content with 0-0 and no damage done at half-time in this tie.
Marseille made an aggressive start straight from the kick-off, in both senses of the word - Gabriel Heinze lunged at Nani and Loic Remy fired the first wild shot across United’s bows, both inside the first 60 seconds. Nani was closer with his opening crack at goal when Dimitar Berbatov teed up him just outside the box, although again the goalkeeper wasn’t troubled.

Playing on the right of a front three, Nani was putting the home side on the rack in the early stages with his surges beyond Heinze. When one such streak drew a foul and Nani’s free-kick was only half cleared, Read more...