As well as a bottle through the window of their bus,
Manchester United took pride and a point back home from Stamford
Bridge. Although frustrated that Salomon Kalou eventually equalised
Ji-sung Park’s goal, the champions can take heart that they
reminded everyone in the country of their class and their
character. The title will not be surrendered without a fight, not
with Sir Alex Ferguson motivating United’s players so
stirringly.
As well as another magnificent advertisement for the people’s
soap opera that is the Premier League, a riveting 90 minutes
revealed certain truths for United. Dimitar Berbatov, the lord of
languidness, and the all-action Wayne Rooney still need time to
develop their partnership, although the rich potential was
thrillingly in evidence here. Cristiano Ronaldo also requires games
to bring his form and fitness back to last season’s Himalayan
heights.
Apart from the point and the gutsy display, Ferguson can take
other positives from the Bridge, notably an assured performance by
Jonny Evans alongside Rio Ferdinand, a buccaneering contribution
from Patrice Evra and sweat-soaked shifts from Owen Hargreaves and
Darren Fletcher.
For Chelsea, a confident start to the season cannot mask the
reality that Didier Drogba must return to the starting fold.
Nicolas Anelka again failed to impose himself, and missed a chance
presented by Joe Cole that could not have been more gift-wrapped
had it come with ribbons and a card that began “Cher Nicolas’’.
In keeping with the celebratory mood, assorted balloons were
blown on to the field, prompting Ferguson’s No 2, Mike Phelan, to
stamp on one. “I wish he had burst it under Mike Riley because it
might have woken him up,’’ quipped Ferguson. The Yorkshire referee
actually handled the game well, allowing advantage when possible,
mainly stopping only to book four United players for fouls and
three more for dissent. If Riley erred, it was in ignoring an
outrageous piece of simulation by Ronaldo, a swallow dive so
preposterous that Frank Lampard burst out laughing.
Occasional subterfuge and tirades aside, United impressed. Their
hunger was palpable. Ferguson had ensured his players were in the
right, determined mood. So had the stadium announcer, welcoming the
champions to the Bridge with a cheeky, “Here’s the 14th team in the
Premier League’’. United’s impatience for the opening whistle
quickened.
In hounding Luiz Felipe Scolari’s players all over the pitch,
United did to Chelsea what Liverpool had done to the champions
eight days earlier. Scarcely two minutes had crept on to the clock
when both Paul Scholes and Park had clattered Joe Cole. A familiar
intensity characterised the fray. Even Berbatov, so relaxed he
looks like he should be playing in a smoking jacket, deigned to win
a tackle. Until he tired badly in the second half, Berbatov was
influential, knitting together moves, helping Rooney create a
shooting opportunity for Ferdinand that would have brought reward
but for Petr Cech’s reflexes.
Berbatov and Rooney played significant parts in United’s goal.
When the lively Evra broke down the left and played the ball inside
to Berbatov, Rooney was alive to the move’s possibilities.
Berbatov’s lay-off drew a superb response from Rooney, who guided
the ball first time down the inside-left channel, picking out
Evra’s continued run. He raced on, but then cut the ball back to
Berbatov. As Scholes dummied, the Bulgarian unleashed a shot that
rattled into Cech’s midriff, gifting a sitter for the unmarked
Park. As Ferguson celebrated, little details leading to the goal
will have incensed Scolari. His full-backs, such a force going
forward, were caught out badly. Jose Bosingwa failed to deal with
Evra’s run. The Portuguese international has proved a marvellous
addition, giving Chelsea real strength down the right, but he needs
to tighten up defensively.
Over on the left, Ashley Cole had shuffled across to deal with
unfolding problems in the middle, allowing Park the space to score.
Liberated by Scolari, encouraged to raid upfield, Cole’s primary
duty must always be to track his winger and he let Park go.
Otherwise, the England international enjoyed an afternoon of
non-stop endeavour that confirmed him as one of the leading
left-backs in the world.
With Cole and Bosingwa quick to push up, Chelsea hit back,
responding to the urging of their fans. Chances came and went. Joe
Cole’s shot deflected over. The Matthew Harding Stand then screamed
for a penalty when Edwin van der Sar caught Florent Malouda.
United’s keeper was clearly going for the ball, his momentum
carrying him into Malouda, injuring his knee in the process. The
Bridge was in ferment, the fans in uproar, the players storming
forward time and again in pursuit of an equaliser. John Terry,
leading by example, charged 40 yards, taking the game to the
champions. Then Joe Cole glided into the box, bringing an
unconvincing stop from Van der Sar. Ferdinand moaned at his keeper,
tapping his head as if to question the Dutchman’s mental state.
Ferdinand’s stance quickly softened on realising the keeper was
struggling. Tomasz Kuszczak leapt from the bench and into the
fray.
The tempo never dropped. When Scholes clipped Michael Ballack’s
heels, the German squealed like a ballerina who had been trodden
on, making sure Riley was aware of the offence. Scholes escaped
sanction that time but soon kicked the ball away, making his
inevitable entrance in Riley’s bad book. More worryingly for
United, they were dropping deep, dangerously so, inviting Chelsea
on. They also stood off Alex, allowing the Brazilian to let fly
from 25 yards. Kuszczak fumbled, Ferdinand cleared. Not for the
last time. Ferdinand’s fuse was burning, the defender raging at a
linesman. “There’s only one England captain,’’ sang the John Terry
fan club.
Enmity filled the air. When Hargreaves fell over by the
hoardings, a couple of Chelsea supporters bent over to deliver some
west London witticisms. Bonhomie broke out only during the interval
when Team GB’s successful Olympic sailors performed a lap of honour
that drew a standing ovation.
Chelsea urgently needed someone to take the wind out of United’s
sails. Scolari acted. Malouda was hooked and Drogba unleashed,
entering like a favoured gladiator, intent on inflicting damage.
Wary of Drogba’s threat, United pulled even further back, almost
permanently to the edge of the box. When Lampard and Joe Cole
conjured up some magic, Evans intervened.
For defenders like Evans, binoculars were required to see
United’s attack. The gap was huge, but fortunately Rooney shuttled
back and forth, carrying the ball to Berbatov, making a mockery of
those who questioned the Merseysider’s fitness. The only thing
heavy about Rooney is his heavyweight talent.
But he needed assistance. Ronaldo arrived and, the dive apart,
produced some decent moments, although the force remained with
Chelsea. When Kuszczak failed to hold a Joe Cole shot, Ferdinand
again cleared and again complained about the marking, the
officiating, the weather, the price of ciabatta bread. Still a tide
of blue rolled towards Ferdinand and company. When Joe Cole drove
the ball across, Anelka missed woefully. Rooney almost punished
such profligacy, turning the Ronaldo’s exceptional cross into the
side-netting.
Surrendering possession needlessly moments later, Rooney
received a curt reminder from Ferguson of the need to keep control
of the ball. It was a pity he did not throw in a caveat about
self-control. Rooney subsequently flew in on Ashley Cole, who
commendably jumped up immediately, but the damage was done. To
United.
As well as the booking for Rooney, the champions had a free-kick
awarded against them, 30 yards out, to the left of centre. As John
Obi Mikel lifted the ball in, United focused most on Terry’s
movement with Ferdinand shoving the Chelsea captain over. Unnoticed
amidst the pushing and pulling, Kalou ghosted in to equalise.
Chelsea had their point. United had also made their point.
FlashPoint1...
The bad feeling that marred last season’s match between Chelsea and
Manchester United boiled over again as Rio Ferdinand stormed from
the field after clashing with Didier Drogba.The pair had been
involved in a challenge on the edge of the United penalty area just
as referee Mike Riley blew the final whistle of a bad-tempered
affair.
FlashPoint2...
The United team bus was attacked as it departed from Stamford
Bridge following the match. A bottle was thrown and left a crack on
one of the windows. Police arrested one man. It is understood that
no United players or officials were hurt. “There was an incident
but the matter is now in the hands of the police,” a United
spokesman said.
Chelsea: Cech, Bosingwa, Carvalho (Alex 12),
Terry, Ashley Cole, Obi, Joe Cole, Ballack (Kalou 74), Lampard,
Malouda (Drogba 46), Anelka.
Subs Not Used: Cudicini, Bridge, Belletti, Ferreira.
Booked: Obi.
Goals: Kalou 80.
Man Utd: Van der Sar (Kuszczak 32), Neville,
Ferdinand, Evans, Evra, Fletcher, Hargreaves, Scholes (Ronaldo 55),
Park (O'Shea 75), Berbatov, Rooney.
Subs Not Used: Brown, Giggs, Nani, Tevez.
Booked: Scholes, Ferdinand, Neville, Berbatov,
Rooney, Evra, Ronaldo.
Goals: Park 18.
Att: 41,760
Ref: Mike Riley (Yorkshire).
BBC Sport Player Rater man of the match:
Manchester United's Ji-Sung 7.11 (on 90 minutes).
