Chelsea 5 Manchester United 4: Capital punishment for Reds reserves as Blues fight back three times for sweet revenge

After all the controversy of Sunday, Chelsea and Manchester United reconvened at Stamford Bridge and produced a humdinger of a Capital One Cup tie: a treat to savour rather than a trick on a rainy Hallowe'en night.

It had its moments of controversy, of course; plenty of them. We even had some of the terrace banter that is so often missing from clashes between the top clubs. But more than anything it was an enjoyable, exciting cup tie.


Goals from Ryan Giggs, Javier Hernandez and Nani seemed to have booked United a place in the quarter-finals, only for Chelsea to conjure up three equalisers from David Luiz, Gary Cahill and Eden Hazard to force extra time.

Daniel Sturridge, who had endured a largely dismal evening, put his side ahead in the 97th minute before Ramires sealed victory with the cutest of finishes after 116 minutes of pulsating football.

And yet there was still time for Giggs to score his second of the evening with a penalty in the final minute of the match.

There were only five survivors from Chelsea’s starting XI on Sunday, with John Mikel Obi and Juan Mata, the players at the centre of the initial allegations against referee Mark Clattenburg, both included. Sir Alex Ferguson made 10 changes.


But the repercussions of United’s 3-2 win at the weekend were impossible to ignore. United fans unfurled a banner saying ‘Clattenburg. Referee, Leader, Legend’ and there were more pointed chants referring to the absence of John Terry, who was serving the third game of his four-match ban for racially abusing Anton Ferdinand.

Was there an element of revenge in Chelsea’s win? Perhaps. But the real bonus for the champions of Europe was the manner in which they came back three times and then went on to win. That can only breed confidence after a difficult few days.

Anderson and substitute Nick Powell were plusses for United, who also saw 38-year-old Giggs play the full 120 minutes, while Victor Moses was influential for Chelsea before Ramires and Oscar began to run the show when they were introduced in the second half.

That it was Sturridge who gave Chelsea the lead for the first time in this match, however, was something of a surprise given his overall performance.

With Fernando Torres suspended following his red card on Sunday, this was Sturridge’s first start for Chelsea this season — and the perfect opportunity to show his ability in the central striking role he craves.

Yet the 23-year-old was initially comfortably marshalled by United’s young central defensive pairing of Scott Wootton and Michael Keane. It was Moses who looked far more accomplished, outmuscling Alexander Buttner after half an hour to win his side a penalty, which David Luiz converted.

Chelsea had gone behind in bizarre circumstances in the 22nd minute. After a free-kick from Buttner went wide, Petr Cech played a short pass to Oriol Romeu, who was dispossessed by Anderson.

Giggs was the lucky recipient and the Welshman scored by the time Luiz had ambled back on to the pitch.

                    

The Brazil defender played more of a role in United’s second goal, taking the ball up field before watching it cannon back into Chelsea’s half. With the centre half stranded, Hernandez exploited the huge gap to score his fourth goal in three games in the 43rd minute. This one, however, was definitely not offside.

United’s young defence seemed to be in control, but Chelsea were level seven minutes after the restart as Gary Cahill powered home a header from a Mata corner.

After looking as if he would rather be anywhere but Stamford Bridge, Nani suddenly burst into life to score United’s third. A smart one-two with Anderson saw the winger burst into space and finish with his right foot. Cech was left to collect the bottle that was hurled on to the pitch.

Di Matteo pushed for an equaliser. Cesar Azpilicueta was closed down in a promising position at the far post and then Chelsea appealed for a penalty when Mata’s shot hit Keane’s hand. Fourth official Mike Dean got a mouthful from Di Matteo but Lee Mason was unmoved.

The referee, however, was apparently only prolonging the drama. In the fourth minute of stoppage time he pointed to the spot after Wootton bundled over Ramires. Hazard converted with the coolest of right-foot strikes down the middle and, finally, Chelsea was in the ascendency.

Sturridge wasted another glorious chance but, eventually, he converted an opportunity, taking the ball round Anders Lindegaard in the 97th minute after a misjudged header back from Wootton.

Keane was then perhaps fortunate to receive only a yellow card for pulling back the Chelsea striker before Ramires danced through United’s defence to put the match beyond doubt. Even then, Giggs converted a penalty after Azpilicueta was judged to have fouled Hernandez.

Chelsea’s prize is a trip to Elland Road to face Leeds, and former owner Ken Bates, in the quarter-finals. Leeds manager Neil Warnock said he was ‘disgusted’ by Chelsea accusing Clattenburg of making ‘inappropriate comments’ this week. You get the impression that might be an exciting Cup tie, too.

Source: www.dailymail.co.uk