BBC Sport - Football - Chelsea 0-1 Man Utd (2024)

Rooney (left) directs an angled shot into the Chelsea goal to put Man Utd ahead

By Phil McNulty
Chief football writer at Stamford Bridge

Manchester United took a firm grip on the Champions League quarter-final against Chelsea as Wayne Rooney's winner gave them a crucial first-leg advantage at Stamford Bridge.

Rooney rounded off a fine move involving Michael Carrick and Ryan Giggs after 24 minutes to put United in the ascendancy as they battle with Chelsea to face Inter Milan or Schalke 04 in the semi-final.

After being hit with an Football Association charge for swearing into the camera after scoring in United's win at West Ham United on Saturday, Rooney was all smiles as he delivered the away goal his manager Sir Alex Ferguson had demanded ahead of the all-Premier League confrontation.

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti paired Didier Drogba and Fernando Torres in attack - but it was another fruitless and frustrating night for the Spaniard as his goal drought goes on since his £50m British record transfer from Lverpool.

Drogba struck a post and Patrice Evra cleared off the line from Frank Lampard in first-half injury time, while Chelsea and their supporters were infuriated when two penalty claims were rejected by Spanish referee Alberto Undiano Mallenco in the dying seconds.

Ancelotti blasts ref's penalty denial

Ramires tumbled under challenge from Evra while Torres went down as he tangled with Antonio Valencia. Chelsea's demands went unanswered - and Torres saw insult added to his injury when he was booked for diving.

Sir Alex Ferguson, who had Rio Ferdinand available for the first time since February, was elated at the final whistle as all his pre-match demands were fulfilled in the fight to face Inter Milan or Schalke 04 in the last four.

And victory will have tasted sweet for Ferdinand after he was taunted by Chelsea's fans following Fabio Capello's decision to reinstate John Terry to the England captaincy in place of the Manchester United defender.

United were industrious and well-organised, with goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar presenting a formidable barrier with a performance that once again suggested his decision to retire at the end of the season may be premature.

BBC Sport - Football - Chelsea 0-1 Man Utd (3)

PHIL McNULTY'S BLOG

If the goal brought release to Rooney and a smile of satisfaction to Ferguson, it only served to underline the contrast in fortunes with Torres

He was outstanding throughout and distinguished himself with one late save from a Torres header that demonstrated his enduring powers of athleticism.

Chelsea now face a huge task at Old Trafford to rescue the tie and keep their main hope of silverware alive this season, as well as easing pressure on Ancelotti.

Ancelotti had pinned much of his hopes on the pairing of Drogba and Torres, but they were kept at bay until a late flurry of first-half activity finally unsettled United's defence.

Torres made an energetic start and Drogba forced a fine fingertip save from Van der Sar with a rising drive from the angle as Chelsea attempted to apply early pressure.

It was United, however, who took the lead with a superbly constructed goal after 24 minutes as they delivered the away goal Ferguson had insisted upon in the build-up to the tie.

Carrick, whose range and accuracy of passing was a feature of United's play, found Giggs with a raking ball and when the veteran displayed superb touch and control to find Rooney, he scored with a low finish past Petr Cech.

Chelsea offered their increasingly frustrated supporters some hope seconds before half-time when United somehow survived a desperate scramble. Torres failed to apply a touch to Drogba's effort and when Lampard looked certain to score from the rebound Evra made a desperate, and decisive, block.

Tie is not over - Ferguson

Drogba was trying manfully to spark life into Chelsea and he fashioned a chance for Ramires that the Brazilian, arriving at pace in the area, could only divert wide of the target.

United suffered a blow when the unlucky Rafael was hurt in a touchline collision with Drogba and, despite his efforts to play on, was stretchered off and replaced by Nani.

As United held firm, with an ever-present menace on the counter-attack, Ancelotti made a double change with 20 minutes left, replacing Yuri Zhirkov and Drogba with Florent Malouda and Nicolas Anelka.

Torres almost broke the barren spell he has endured at Chelsea moments after the change with a fine looping header from Ramires' cross that was clawed away to safety by Van der Sar as Chelsea looked to build momentum.

Van der Sar had been a model of composure when Chelsea did pierce United's defence and his handling was secure once more when Lampard's free-kick found a way through the defensive wall.

United had anxious moments as they survived two penalty appeals - but their satisfaction at their night's work was evident as they celebrated with their supporters in a corner of Stamford Bridge at the final whistle.

Live text and stats

Wednesday, 6 April 2011

Champions League

Home Team	Score	Away Team	Time
Chelsea	0-1	Man Utd	FT
(HT 0-1)
		Rooney 24

Chelsea

01Cech
02Ivanovic
03A Cole
17Bosingwa (Mikel 78)
26Terry
05Essien yellow card
07Ramires yellow card
08Lampard
18Zhirkov yellow card (Malouda 70)
09Torres yellow card
11Drogba (Anelka 71)

Substitutes

22Turnbull,
19Ferreira,
10Benayoun,
12Mikel,
15Malouda,
21Kalou,
39Anelka

Man Utd

01Van der Sar yellow card
03Evra
05Ferdinand
15Vidic yellow card
21Rafael (Nani 51)
11Giggs
13Park Ji-Sung (Smalling 90+4)
16Carrick
25Valencia
10Rooney
14Hernandez (Berbatov 78)

Substitutes

29Kuszczak,
12Smalling,
23Evans,
17Nani,
18Scholes,
28Gibson,
09Berbatov

Ref:A Undiano MallencoAtt:37,915

CHELSEA

MAN UTD

Possession

Chelsea 48%
Man Utd 52%

Attempts on target

Chelsea 10
Man Utd 5

Attempts off target

Chelsea 6
Man Utd 0

Corners

Chelsea 3
Man Utd 5

Fouls

Chelsea 15
Man Utd 13

Final Result
Full Time
90:00+4:20 The referee blows his whistle to end the game.
90:00+3:16 Substitution Chris Smalling comes on in place of Ji-Sung Park.
90:00+2:40 Booking Fernando Torres is cautioned.
90:00+0:45 Fernando Torres concedes a free kick for a foul on Antonio Valencia. Antonio Valencia takes the direct free kick.
89:19 Nicolas Anelka takes a shot. Save by Edwin Van der Sar.
87:33 Nicolas Anelka has a header from deep inside the six-yard box and clears the crossbar.
84:49 Branislav Ivanovic takes a shot. Save by Edwin Van der Sar.
82:43 Antonio Valencia challenges Florent Malouda unfairly and gives away a free kick. Ashley Cole takes the free kick.
82:29 Foul by Dimitar Berbatov on Branislav Ivanovic, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by John Terry.
80:07 Rio Ferdinand challenges Florent Malouda unfairly and gives away a free kick. Shot on goal comes in from Frank Lampard from the free kick, save by Edwin Van der Sar.
79:13 Booking Edwin Van der Sar is cautioned by the ref for time wasting.
78:23 Antonio Valencia challenges Fernando Torres unfairly and gives away a free kick. The free kick is delivered right-footed by Frank Lampard from left wing.
77:53 Substitution Jose Bosingwa leaves the field to be replaced by Mikel.
77:27 Substitution Dimitar Berbatov is brought on as a substitute for Javier Hernandez.
76:46 Florent Malouda takes a shot. Rio Ferdinand gets a block in.
74:38 Patrice Evra fouled by Ramires, the ref awards a free kick. Patrice Evra restarts play with the free kick.
73:57 Fernando Torres takes a shot. Save made by Edwin Van der Sar.
73:21 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Florent Malouda by Nemanja Vidic. Frank Lampard takes the free kick.
73:21 Booking Booking for Nemanja Vidic for unsporting behaviour.
70:01 Substitution Nicolas Anelka comes on in place of Didier Drogba.
69:37 Substitution Yury Zhirkov goes off and Florent Malouda comes on.
69:27 Effort from outside the box by Michael Essien goes wide right of the target.
67:12 Ryan Giggs takes the outswinging corner, clearance by John Terry.
66:45 Luis Nani delivers the ball.
65:48 Michael Essien gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Michael Carrick. Direct free kick taken by Nemanja Vidic.
65:48 Booking Michael Essien goes into the referee's book for unsporting behaviour.
64:55 Javier Hernandez is caught offside. Petr Cech restarts play with the free kick.
61:50 Ji-Sung Park fouled by Didier Drogba, the ref awards a free kick. Michael Carrick takes the free kick.
60:44 Ryan Giggs decides to take a short corner.
59:52 Ramires gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Patrice Evra. Patrice Evra takes the direct free kick.
59:52 Booking Ramires booked for unsporting behaviour.
56:48 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Ramires by Patrice Evra. Frank Lampard takes the direct free kick.
56:14 Didier Drogba produces a right-footed shot from close range which goes wide of the right-hand post.
55:47 Frank Lampard takes a inswinging corner from the left by-line to the near post, clearance by Javier Hernandez.
54:44 The assistant referee flags for offside against Javier Hernandez. Free kick taken by Petr Cech.
53:00 Patrice Evra challenges Didier Drogba unfairly and gives away a free kick. Didier Drogba takes the direct free kick.
52:24 Luis Nani takes a shot. Save made by Petr Cech.
50:30 Substitution (Man Utd) makes a substitution, with Luis Nani coming on for Rafael Da Silva.
49:34 Header by Ramires from deep inside the penalty area misses to the left of the target.
48:41 The ball is delivered by Ashley Cole.
45:30 Michael Essien fouled by Ji-Sung Park, the ref awards a free kick. Branislav Ivanovic takes the direct free kick.
45:01 The game restarts for the second half.
Half Time
45:00+1:23 The half-time whistle blows.
45:00+0:24 Frank Lampard takes a shot. Rio Ferdinand gets a block in.
44:59 Frank Lampard takes a shot. Blocked by Patrice Evra.
44:07 Wayne Rooney takes a shot. Save by Petr Cech.
40:53 Centre by Wayne Rooney.
39:31 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Branislav Ivanovic by Ryan Giggs. The free kick is swung in right-footed by Didier Drogba, clearance made by Rio Ferdinand.
38:54 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jose Bosingwa by Ji-Sung Park. Direct free kick taken by Jose Bosingwa.
35:13 Yury Zhirkov concedes a free kick for a foul on Javier Hernandez. Ryan Giggs restarts play with the free kick.
35:13 Booking Yury Zhirkov receives a caution for unsporting behaviour.
32:27 Michael Essien takes a shot. Michael Carrick gets a block in.
31:39 Yury Zhirkov takes a outswinging corner to the near post, clearance made by Javier Hernandez.
30:51 Fernando Torres takes a shot.
30:06 Antonio Valencia concedes a free kick for a foul on Ashley Cole. Direct free kick taken by Ashley Cole.
29:34 Didier Drogba challenges Nemanja Vidic unfairly and gives away a free kick. Edwin Van der Sar takes the direct free kick.
28:50 Ramires gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Patrice Evra. Patrice Evra takes the direct free kick.
26:59 Michael Carrick is penalised for a handball. Michael Essien takes the indirect free kick.
23:13 Assist by Ryan Giggs.
23:13 GOAL - Wayne Rooney:Chelsea 0 - 1 Man Utd Wayne Rooney gets on the score sheet with a goal from inside the box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Chelsea 0-1 Man Utd.
22:17 Ryan Giggs takes a outswinging corner from the left by-line played to the near post, clearance by Didier Drogba.
21:33 Ashley Cole challenges Antonio Valencia unfairly and gives away a free kick. Rio Ferdinand takes the direct free kick.
19:31 Yury Zhirkov concedes a free kick for a foul on Antonio Valencia. Ryan Giggs takes the direct free kick.
19:01 Corner from the right by-line taken by Frank Lampard, clearance by Rio Ferdinand.
18:50 Didier Drogba takes a shot. Save made by Edwin Van der Sar.
18:24 Jose Bosingwa produces a cross.
18:07 Antonio Valencia gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Fernando Torres. Frank Lampard takes the free kick.
16:33 Free kick awarded for a foul by Ashley Cole on Antonio Valencia. Rio Ferdinand takes the direct free kick.
15:50 Corner taken by Ryan Giggs from the right by-line.
15:37 Ji-Sung Park takes a shot. Didier Drogba gets a block in.
14:57 Outswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Ryan Giggs.
14:18 Ji-Sung Park takes a shot. Blocked by John Terry.
13:56 Michael Essien concedes a free kick for a foul on Ryan Giggs. Wayne Rooney takes the free kick.
12:59 Unfair challenge on Michael Carrick by Didier Drogba results in a free kick. Rio Ferdinand restarts play with the free kick.
9:19 Fernando Torres concedes a free kick for a foul on Ji-Sung Park. Patrice Evra restarts play with the free kick.
8:14 Centre by Fernando Torres.
6:08 Fernando Torres takes a shot. Save made by Edwin Van der Sar.
4:58 Didier Drogba takes a shot from 35 yards and went wide of the right-hand post.
3:12 Foul by Fernando Torres on Rio Ferdinand, free kick awarded. Edwin Van der Sar takes the direct free kick.
0:33 Free kick awarded for a foul by Patrice Evra on Fernando Torres. Jose Bosingwa takes the free kick.
0:00 The match begins.

Live text and data provided by The Press Association.

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