Manchester United emerged victorious over Chelsea in what was, arguably, their biggest league game since the depature of Cristiano Ronaldo (and to an extent, Carlos Tevez).
Since that time, there were a lot of doubters who claimed that United would not be able to replicate the kind of success they had achieved when Cristiano was aboard. However, with Sir Alex Ferguson at the helm, United have time and time again been able to defy the odds.
This may not be the most glamorous side that Sir Alex has ever fielded. The offseason was marked by the acquisitions of Chris Smalling and Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez, but not the big names that were available after last summer's World Cup. Still, this team has found a way to win, despite Wayne Rooney's early season struggles for form and fitness.
Last season, it was Chelsea who got the better of United in a similar fixture, winning 2-1 to put themselves in a position for just their fourth league title. United's scoreless tie against Blackburn the following week saw them lose out on the title race by a single point, despite winning their remaining games.
This time, United took the game to their opponents going up by two scores inside the first 30 minutes. They could have gone further up, but Chelsea were lucky to escape a penalty after Frank Lampard handled the ball inside the penalty box. United could and should have extended the score, but wasted a host of chances in the second half. Frank Lampard's goal made things a little interesting, but the outcome of this game was never really in doubt.
Had the game ended in a draw, the title race would have most likely gone into the final day, just like it did last season. On that day, Chelsea demolished a Wigan 8-0, while United closed the season with a 4-0 over Stoke City. Before the fixtures, United's shot at an unprecedented 19th title rested with a Chelsea draw or loss, it just wasn't meant to be.
While the title race may not over "technically", the next point in the remaining two games means that United can now start popping the bubbly. Not bad for a squad that many people rated as mediocre, huh?
Written by:
