A determined Chelsea wins the night!

Chelsea's game against Man Utd on 26th April 2008, is one of the most exciting matches seen in recent time. The final scoreline, Chelsea beat Man Utd 2-1, and are now behind Man Utd only on goal difference. The prospective outcome of the Barclays Premier League really look tantalizing, but when I say exciting match, I only mean this game, which itself is fascinating enough.

1st of all, Lampard will not be playing as his mother passed away from pneumonia on Thursday. Chelsea, is determined to win this game for Lampard and his family.

Then comes the starting line-up. I wouldn't say Man Utd had field a weak team (because they have no weak team, and also they almost hold Chelsea for a draw), but a weakened team (a team without Cristiano Ronaldo, Patrice Evra, Carlos Tevez). I believe any title contender will feel offended by a weakened Man Utd team, and will be determined to beat them outright.

So Chelsea came out attacking, with Joe Cole leading the assault. On the 20th minute, he got clear of the United defence, but after initially losing the ball, he lashed the ball against the crossbar from just inside the penalty area.

Chelsea continued to press for an opening goal and were unlucky when Joe Cole dribbled his way into the penalty area, only for Van der Sar to grab the ball at his feet. The United keeper required treatment for a minor knock as a result of the collision.

The 1st half belongs to Chelsea, as Rooney , who operate as a lone striker is clearly not effective and do not have enough support from his team mates. Terry & Co had a comfortable 1st half. Just when Fergie thought his team can go in to the dressing room nil-nil, Chelsea took the lead in the 45th minute when Drogba's cross was headed home at the far post by the unmarked Ballack.

The goal sparked emotional scenes as all the Chelsea players held up Frank Lampard's number eight shirt with the message 'Pat Lampard - R.I.P'. Ballack who had taken his shirt off, was then booked by Wiley.


United started the 2nd half stronger (perhaps as a result of receiving hair-dryer treatment from Fergie), but were still struggling to create anything to threatened Terry & Co. But Man Utd got themselves back into the game thanks to a mistake by Chelsea defender Carvalho.

The Portuguese defender passed the ball straight to Rooney, who accepted the gift by firing beyond Cech into the net. He looked to had injured himself from the goal, and he was replaced by Ronaldo on the 63th minute.


The beginning of Chelsea's attacking foray
These days, manager often play a cautious game, so it become rare that the manager will throw in all their strikers into the game even when the team is losing. But that's exactly what Avram Grant did.

On the 65th minute, Anderson was substituted for John O'Shea and Chelsea, sensing that Man Utd might want to slow down the pace and play safe, replaced Paolo Ferreira with Nicolas Anelka.

But when Anelka also don't seem to threatened Man Utd's goalmouth, Grant throw in his final striker: Andriy Shevchenko for Kalou on the 81st minute. With so many attacking player in Chelsea's side now, Man Utd drop back and defend in numbers.

Then the defining moment. Referee Alan Wiley awarded the spot-kick after Michael Carrick handled a cross from Michael Essien. Carrick got his arm in the way of Essien's cross and Ballack kept his cool to score from the spot and keep the title race on the boil.

But what is unexpected of Shevchenko's contribution is defending. In the dying minutes United were twice thwarted by goalline clearances - Ronaldo's left-foot drive being hacked away by Ashley Cole, before substitute Andriy Shevchenko nodded clear Darren Fletcher's diving header following a goalmouth scramble. After the clear Shevchenko received a appreciative smile from Cole, and Shevchenko replied with a smile of a goalscorer (back in those days when he is in Milan).

As the whistle blows, Chelsea finish the game as winner, and perhaps, Vidic's injury may had impacted the result. Nemanja Vidic was carried off on a stretcher with a facial injury after being caught by Didier Drogba's knee as he stooped to head the ball clear. Let's hope he is fine.