Mobile Site
KENYA
NIGERIA
Chelsea exacted some sort of revenge, when they came back three times and eventually emerged 5-4 winners in a feisty Capital One tie at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.
The reigning European Champions produced a stirring display of grit and determination, as they managed to find the extra goal each time United pulled ahead, until they finally took the first lead of the game in the 97th minute.
Thrice
United had led thrice, and Chelsea found an answer every time and once they got their noses in front, held on.
A ghastly defensive mistake between Petr Cech and Oriol Romeu let Ryan Giggs through, to fire United ahead in the 22nd minute.
Victor Moses weaved his way into the United box and was brought down in the 31st minute, David Luiz made no mistake from the spot to draw Chelsea level.
Then United went up an extra gear, Chicharito found a gap between the Chelsea central defenders, and coolly slotted in on 43 minutes, to keep United ahead at the half.
Controversy
Match officials averted a controversy in the 52nd minute, when Gary Cahill's header was correctly adjudged to have crossed the line, despite the protests of Rafael, who was on the line, and had headed the ball back into play.
United would get the third goal when Nani sent a classy chip beyond Cech, polishing off arguably the best move of the game. But Chelsea were not done.
With regular time expired and the visiting fans in full voice, the European Champions attacked again. Ramires was shaping up to fire a shot at goal, when he was tripped. The referee did not hesitate.
Eden Hazard waited until Lindegaard had committed himself, before rolling the penalty almost down the middle, into an empty net, to pull Chelsea level again, and send the tie into extra time.
Counter
Daniel Sturridge finally put Chelsea ahead for the first time when he scored a fourth for Chelsea in the 97th minute.
But the drama was not over.
Ramires, who had come off the bench, exploded forward on a Chelsea counter and scored a fifth for Chelsea, but United found a fourth goal when Chicharito was fouled with a two minutes of extra time left.
Giggs put the penalty away, to end an eventful game 5-4
