The result of this Manchester United masterclass was Manchester United 3 - 0 Chelsea and that accurately reflects the dominance of chances that Manchester United had. After Rafa Benitez's recent outburst against Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson and with his Liverpool team dropping points against Stoke, it was crucial for Manchester United to keep the pressure on their north-west title rivals.
Sir Alex Ferguson would no doubt have taken any win against Chelsea, with a 3 - 0 victory probably beyond his wildest dreams. But this match was about more than the score, the dominance that Manchester United had against Chelsea was also a sign of the Manchester United team starting to gel.
During the first half, Chelsea managed to keep plenty of possession, playing five across midfield whilst United opted for a 4-4-2. However, for all their possession Chelsea didn't manage to create any clear chances. Whereas, Manchester United's Dimitar Berbatov probably should have done better when given a chance in the box than shooting weakly at Petr Cech. Ji-Sung Park also had a firey shot stopped in the six-yard box by a last ditch John Terry block.
Goal Vidic: Manchester United 1 - 0 Chelsea
The first big controversy of the match came when Manchester United took a clever corner which the referee failed to spot had been taken, and so incorrectly ruled Ronaldo's subsequent goal out. Manchester United were furious that the linesman had failed to pay attention to the taking of the corner. Manchester United were forced to take it again and this time when Vidic headed Park's flick into the Chelsea net it counted.
Half-time: Manchester United 1 - 0 Chelsea
Manchester United went into half time knowing that they would probably have to build on the 1 - 0 lead in order to beat Chelsea. Chelsea brought on Anelka for the ineffective Deco and sought to match Manchester United's 4-4-2 formation and get a goal back.
Goal Rooney: Manchester United 2 - 0 Chelsea
However, it was Manchester United who got the goal. After good work on the left-wing between Evra and Ronaldo, Evra's cross was met in the area by Rooney who just prodded the ball past Cech. Manchester United were 2 - 0 up and started to dominate the game.
Goal Berbatov: Manchester United 3 - 0 Chelsea
Ronaldo thought he had put Manchester United 3 - 0 up against Chelsea when he raced onto a through ball and slotted the ball into the back of the net. However, the referee controversially ruled the goal out for offside. Though minutes later a training-ground free-kick was met at the near post by Berbatov who nudged the ball past Cech.
Full-time: Manchester United 3 - 0 Chelsea
Manchester United 3 - 0 Chelsea was how the game finished to the delight of the Old Trafford crowd and Manchester United players. Manchester United are now one point behind Chelsea and five points behind league leaders Liverpool, with two games in hand.
Manchester United: Van Der Sar, Evra (O'Shea), Evans, Vidic, Neville, Park, Giggs (Carrick), Fletcher, Ronaldo, Rooney, Berbatov
Chelsea: Cech, Bosingwa (Belletti), Terry, Carvalho, A. Cole, Deco (Anelka), Ballack, Mikel, Lampard, J. Cole (Di Santo), Drogba
