Before the match even started there were predictions that Manchester United would need at least a draw against Chelsea in order to stay in the title race, and both teams would probably have been content with the Chelsea 1 - 1 Manchester United result. Chelsea began the game without influential new signing Deco, which meant that Michael Ballack made a rare start.
Manchester United kicked-off and started out with fight and energy, looking like they had a point to prove. Chelsea started out calmly and cautiously looking as if they had a home record to maintain. Like with most Chelsea - Manchester United games, within the opening fifteen minutes both teams had good chances, with Wayne Rooney and Joe Cole narrowly missing the target.
Park Goal: Chelsea 0 - 1 Manchester United
In the eighteenth minute, a superb run by Evra and pass by Rooney led to the Frenchman out-muscling Bosingwa before cutting the ball back for Berbatov, who's shot was parried by Cech, but only into the path of Park who poked the ball into the back of the Chelsea net. The Chelsea - Manchester United battle was now in full flow.
Van Der Sar Injury
After his poor performance against Liverpool last weekend, Van Der Sar was hoping to put in a good show against Chelsea. However, after numerous fumbles of the ball he went down injured following a clash with Malouda. Initially the injury only resulted in Ferdinand having to take the goal-kicks, but before the end of the first half Kuszczak was brought on to replace the Dutchman.
Half-time: Chelsea 0 - 1 Manchester United
On fifty-minutes Sir Alex Ferguson decided to add a twist to this first Chelsea - Manchester United contest of the season by bringing on Cristiano Ronaldo to replace Scholes, who had been booked after numerous warnings from the referee. There was new pace in the United attack, but also confusion with Rooney needing to ask Ferguson what the new formation was.
Soon afterwards, Joe Cole played an enticing ball across the Manchester United six-yard box, only for Nicholas Anelka at the back post to forget to kick the ball and allow United to clear. With that Salomon Kalou was brought on to give Chelsea more firepower.
Kalou Goal: Chelsea 1 - 1 Manchester United
The Chelsea - Manchester United midfield battles were in full swing due to Ronaldo maintaining a position high up the field and leaving United light in the centre. With eighty-minutes coming up, Rooney gave away a free-kick that Jon Mikel Obi hit long into the Manchester United penalty area. Kalou rose unmarked in the six-yard box to head the ball beyond Kuszczak and make the score Chelsea 1 - 1 Manchester United.
End Result: Chelsea 1 - 1 Manchester United
Both teams had half-chances in the remainder of the game but wasted them all meaning the match finished Chelsea 1 - 1 Manchester United. The result means Chelsea go to second place, behind leaders Arsenal, level on eleven points with Liverpool. Manchester United stay in the bottom half of the table in fifteenth place with five points, but with a game in hand over their title rivals.
Chelsea: Cech, Bosingwa, Carvalho (Alex 15), Terry, A. Cole, Ballack (Kalou 75), Obi, Lampard, J. Cole, Malouda (Drogba 46), Anelka
Manchester United: Van Der Sar (Kuszczak 34), Neville, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra, Hargreaves, Fletcher, Scholes (Ronaldo 55), Park (O' Shea 75), Rooney, Berbatov
