Chelsea topples United from summit
Source: Agencies |
April 4, 2010, Sunday
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A CONTROVERSIAL goal from Didier Drogba helped Chelsea to a crucial 2-1 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford yesterday and leapfrog the champion at the top of the English Premier League table.
Goals from Joe Cole after 20 minutes and a second from substitute Drogba in the 79th - in an offside position when he collected the ball before scoring - put Chelsea 2-0 ahead before substitute Federico Macheda scored two minutes later to give United hope of salvaging at least a point.
The victory, inspired by an outstanding display from Florent Malouda, lifted Chelsea to 74 points, two ahead of United with both teams having five matches to play.
Chelsea had the best of the opening half but United, without injured striker Wayne Rooney, had the better of the second in a largely tense game with few scoring chances for either side.
United manager Alex Ferguson conceded to Sky Sports afterwards: "Chelsea are favorites now, five games left they are two points ahead and have four goals goal difference better than us. They are in the driving seat, no question about that.
"I am certain we will respond but we can win our next five games and not win it because Chelsea can win their next five games and win the league."
Chelsea began the match, billed as the probable title-decider, with far more verve than United which looked leaden-footed and flat following its defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League last Tuesday, and Chelsea's early dominance paid off when it went ahead.
Malouda, who has been in outstanding form recently, powered his way through three defenders before holding off Darren Fletcher and crossing for Cole who scored with an impudent flick off his heel in the 20th.
United failed to lift its game for the rest of the half but the hosts looked livelier after the break with Dimitar Berbatov leading the line as a lone front man and going close with a well-taken header after 60 minutes.
But just when United seemed likely to find an equalizer, the visitors doubled their lead.
Drogba, who replaced Nicolas Anelka 10 minutes earlier got the goal when he blasted the ball past Edwin van der Sar, but he was clearly in an offside position when he collected the ball from Salomon Kalou.
Italian teenager Macheda set up a frantic finale when he bundled the ball in off a clearance from Chelsea keeper Petr Cech, but although Berbatov powered in a volley and a had a header saved, United could not save itself.
Arsenal, in third place on 68 points, could close the gap on United to one point if it beats Wolverhampton Wanderers later in London.
Earlier, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger conceded it was a mistake to start William Gallas in the Champions League quarterfinal against Barcelona after the defender was ruled out for the rest of the season with a recurrence of a calf injury.
France coach Raymond Domenech was quoted by British media yesterday as telling members of the French Football Federation he was "livid" with the decision to play Gallas. "It's outrageous and irresponsible to have played so early after the injury. He'd better be fit for the World Cup," Domenech was quoted as saying.
Domenech, who has warned his players that to make the World Cup squad they must be able to report fit for a training camp on May 18, was at the Emirates but he did not speak to fellow French manager Wenger after Wednesday's match, which ended 2-2.
Gallas had not been expected to be fit after missing eight games with a calf problem. He pulled up just before the break with a recurrence of the injury.
"It was a gamble which did not pay off and was a mistake," Wenger was quoted on Arsenal's Website as telling a news conference on Friday. "I don't think it will cost him his World Cup."
"He declared himself fit and I had (good) reports from the rehabilitation center where he worked for 10 days. He had four days training with the team, too," added Wenger.
Goals from Joe Cole after 20 minutes and a second from substitute Drogba in the 79th - in an offside position when he collected the ball before scoring - put Chelsea 2-0 ahead before substitute Federico Macheda scored two minutes later to give United hope of salvaging at least a point.
The victory, inspired by an outstanding display from Florent Malouda, lifted Chelsea to 74 points, two ahead of United with both teams having five matches to play.
Chelsea had the best of the opening half but United, without injured striker Wayne Rooney, had the better of the second in a largely tense game with few scoring chances for either side.
United manager Alex Ferguson conceded to Sky Sports afterwards: "Chelsea are favorites now, five games left they are two points ahead and have four goals goal difference better than us. They are in the driving seat, no question about that.
"I am certain we will respond but we can win our next five games and not win it because Chelsea can win their next five games and win the league."
Chelsea began the match, billed as the probable title-decider, with far more verve than United which looked leaden-footed and flat following its defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League last Tuesday, and Chelsea's early dominance paid off when it went ahead.
Malouda, who has been in outstanding form recently, powered his way through three defenders before holding off Darren Fletcher and crossing for Cole who scored with an impudent flick off his heel in the 20th.
United failed to lift its game for the rest of the half but the hosts looked livelier after the break with Dimitar Berbatov leading the line as a lone front man and going close with a well-taken header after 60 minutes.
But just when United seemed likely to find an equalizer, the visitors doubled their lead.
Drogba, who replaced Nicolas Anelka 10 minutes earlier got the goal when he blasted the ball past Edwin van der Sar, but he was clearly in an offside position when he collected the ball from Salomon Kalou.
Italian teenager Macheda set up a frantic finale when he bundled the ball in off a clearance from Chelsea keeper Petr Cech, but although Berbatov powered in a volley and a had a header saved, United could not save itself.
Arsenal, in third place on 68 points, could close the gap on United to one point if it beats Wolverhampton Wanderers later in London.
Earlier, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger conceded it was a mistake to start William Gallas in the Champions League quarterfinal against Barcelona after the defender was ruled out for the rest of the season with a recurrence of a calf injury.
France coach Raymond Domenech was quoted by British media yesterday as telling members of the French Football Federation he was "livid" with the decision to play Gallas. "It's outrageous and irresponsible to have played so early after the injury. He'd better be fit for the World Cup," Domenech was quoted as saying.
Domenech, who has warned his players that to make the World Cup squad they must be able to report fit for a training camp on May 18, was at the Emirates but he did not speak to fellow French manager Wenger after Wednesday's match, which ended 2-2.
Gallas had not been expected to be fit after missing eight games with a calf problem. He pulled up just before the break with a recurrence of the injury.
"It was a gamble which did not pay off and was a mistake," Wenger was quoted on Arsenal's Website as telling a news conference on Friday. "I don't think it will cost him his World Cup."
"He declared himself fit and I had (good) reports from the rehabilitation center where he worked for 10 days. He had four days training with the team, too," added Wenger.
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