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Read a full match report of the Capital One Cup game between Chelsea and Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday Oct 31, 2012.
Advantage Blue: Daniel Sturridge is held aloft after putting the home side ahead for the first time in the game
Another day, another cup classic. The Capital
One Cup has suddenly become the one for entertainment. A match that
could have become mired down in the tension that followed the sides’ Premier
League meeting on Sunday simply blossomed into a terrific flowing game.
Assisted by Anderson delivering one of his best displays for 80 minutes, Manchester
United had seemed in control, heading towards victory with seconds
of normal time left when Nani erred, gifting the ball to Chelsea
when he should have been keeping the ball, not risking it.
It was the key moment, the chance for the hosts to equalise and force extra
time when they finally took a lead they were not to relinquish. It was just
the type of laxness in possession that frustrated United manager Sir Alex
Ferguson.
Other errors crept into United’s play. Scott Wootton, United’s 21-year-old
centre-half, had performed well for 80 minutes until a couple of costly
mistakes betrayed his inexperience.
United’s other callow centre-back, Michael Keane, could easily have been
dismissed late on. Yet Ferguson can hardly be criticised for giving youth a
chance in the fourth competition on his list of priorities.
It is the United way, the Ferguson way, the manager knowing how important it
was for youngsters to believe there was a route into the first team.
Wootton and Keane will be better players for the experience, however chastening. It also needs emphasising that United’s youngsters faced a strong Chelsea side, a starting XI containing the likes of Juan Mata, John Obi Mikel and Petr Cech that was further strengthened with the arrival from the bench of Ramires, Oscar and Eden Hazard. Some of Hazard’s control and passing was an absolute joy to behold.
Victor Moses signalled his promise with a series of direct, penetrative runs. Also delighting Roberto Di Matteo was the resilience shown by his players.
As if the match did not contain enough drama, there was a pitch invader, a couple of fireworks and relentless chants by 6,000 United fans in support of the referee Mark Clattenburg. Two hours before kick-off, Chelsea had announced that they had formally lodged a complaint with the Football Association, alleging that Clattenburg had made a remark of a racist nature to Mikel.
“Justice for Clattenburg”, came the chant from the away section, filling the length of the Shed. The visiting hordes had some other chants, including a fairly toxic one for the watching John Terry, who was supported by those in the Matthew Harding Upper with their familiar banner of “JT Captain, Leader, Legend”. United followers unfurled a banner of their own, declaring “Clattenburg: Referee, Leader, Legend”.
The football soon dominated the attention. Cech denied Nani and Danny Welbeck but then stroked his goal-kick straight out to Oriol Romeu, always a dangerous move as United had been pressing hard, fast and high. Anderson was swiftly on to Romeu, nicking the ball into the path of Ryan Giggs.
Cech hurriedly tried to scramble across, but Giggs was moving with clinical intent, his second touch arrowing the ball between the despairing Cech and the keeper’s right-hand upright.
A United mistake let Chelsea back in. When Alexander Buttner brought down Moses, David Luiz dispatched the penalty. Chelsea fans were then treated to the bad side of Luiz, the careless side. He lost the ball in midfield, allowing Anderson to release Javier Hernández, who placed his shot unerringly past Cech. Roman Abramovich and his friend Andrei Shevchenko looked at each other in frustration.
The game continued to see-saw. Chelsea levelled early in the second half when Gary Cahill powered in a header from a Mata corner.
United hit back, regaining the lead with a magnificent goal. Hernández was lurking around the box but eventually turned away and found Nani.
Oft criticised for his final ball, Nani was magnificent here, moving in a blur through blue shirts, exchanging passes with Anderson before dinking the ball past Cech. “Time to blame the referee,” chanted the United fans.
The home supporters were then up in arms when Mata’s cross hit Michael Keane’s hand. Chelsea fans then sighed as Anders Lindegaard thwarted Daniel Sturridge and Oscar.
Chelsea’s pressure finally told when Ramires attempted to wriggle through and was fouled by Wootton. Hazard made no mistake from the spot, sending the game into extra time.
Wootton blundered again eight minutes later, his ill-considered attempt at a header back to Lindegaard allowing Sturridge the chance to run through and make it 4-3 to Chelsea. Nani and Oscar then squared up, hardly a battle of the heavyweights, before a touch of controversy invaded proceedings.
Keane fouled Sturridge as he went through, bringing baying calls for his expulsion. Even Branislav Ivanovic, sitting behind the Chelsea dugout, was out of his seat, waving an imaginary card. From the free-kick, Luiz almost snapped the bar. Some magic from Hazard then sent Ramires through and around Lindegaard to make it 5-3.
There was still time for a Giggs penalty after Cesar Azpilicueta had fouled Hernández but Chelsea comfortably saw out the final two minutes. As if the game had not conjured up enough drama, the quarter-final draw within half an hour of the final whistle then sent Chelsea to Leeds United, to the club they often rucked with in the Seventies.
The 1970 FA Cup final replay embodied much of the rivalry with Chopper Harris against Eddie Gray, Eddie McCreadie against Billy Bremner, Jack Charlton against Peter Osgood and Norman Hunter versus Ian Hutchinson.
Amongst other duels.
On and off the pitch, it promises to be a tense occasion, a night match of Dec 19, delayed from the usual week because of Chelsea’s involvement in the World Club Championships in Japan. Sub-plots abound. Leeds’ manager, Neil Warnock, has been critical of Chelsea’s behaviour over the Clattenburg controversy.
Di Matteo was signed by Ken Bates during his time as chairman at the Bridge. Bates is currently chairman of Leeds, although he may have sold the club by Dec 19. If the takeover is delayed, Bates’ programme notes will be required reading. The small-talk in the boardroom could be lively if Abramovich travels. It promises to be another compelling Capital One Cup occasion.
Capital One Cup draw
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Cech; Azpilicueta, Cahill, Luiz, Bertrand; Romeu (Oscar 71), Mikel (Ramires h-t); Moses, Mata, Piazon (Hazard 55); Sturridge.
Subs: Hilario, Ferreira, Marin, Saville.
Booked: Romeu, Mikel, Luiz, Oscar, Ramires.
Manchester United (4-1-4-1): Lindegaard; Rafael, Keane, Wootton, Buttner (Powell h-t); Fletcher; Nani, Anderson (Tunnicliffe 81), Giggs, Welbeck (Macheda 99); Hernandez.
Subs: Johnstone, Lingard, Vermijl, Brady.
Booked: Wootton, Nani, Keane, Giggs.
Referee: L Mason (Lancashire).
Wootton and Keane will be better players for the experience, however chastening. It also needs emphasising that United’s youngsters faced a strong Chelsea side, a starting XI containing the likes of Juan Mata, John Obi Mikel and Petr Cech that was further strengthened with the arrival from the bench of Ramires, Oscar and Eden Hazard. Some of Hazard’s control and passing was an absolute joy to behold.
Victor Moses signalled his promise with a series of direct, penetrative runs. Also delighting Roberto Di Matteo was the resilience shown by his players.
As if the match did not contain enough drama, there was a pitch invader, a couple of fireworks and relentless chants by 6,000 United fans in support of the referee Mark Clattenburg. Two hours before kick-off, Chelsea had announced that they had formally lodged a complaint with the Football Association, alleging that Clattenburg had made a remark of a racist nature to Mikel.
“Justice for Clattenburg”, came the chant from the away section, filling the length of the Shed. The visiting hordes had some other chants, including a fairly toxic one for the watching John Terry, who was supported by those in the Matthew Harding Upper with their familiar banner of “JT Captain, Leader, Legend”. United followers unfurled a banner of their own, declaring “Clattenburg: Referee, Leader, Legend”.
The football soon dominated the attention. Cech denied Nani and Danny Welbeck but then stroked his goal-kick straight out to Oriol Romeu, always a dangerous move as United had been pressing hard, fast and high. Anderson was swiftly on to Romeu, nicking the ball into the path of Ryan Giggs.
Cech hurriedly tried to scramble across, but Giggs was moving with clinical intent, his second touch arrowing the ball between the despairing Cech and the keeper’s right-hand upright.
A United mistake let Chelsea back in. When Alexander Buttner brought down Moses, David Luiz dispatched the penalty. Chelsea fans were then treated to the bad side of Luiz, the careless side. He lost the ball in midfield, allowing Anderson to release Javier Hernández, who placed his shot unerringly past Cech. Roman Abramovich and his friend Andrei Shevchenko looked at each other in frustration.
The game continued to see-saw. Chelsea levelled early in the second half when Gary Cahill powered in a header from a Mata corner.
United hit back, regaining the lead with a magnificent goal. Hernández was lurking around the box but eventually turned away and found Nani.
Oft criticised for his final ball, Nani was magnificent here, moving in a blur through blue shirts, exchanging passes with Anderson before dinking the ball past Cech. “Time to blame the referee,” chanted the United fans.
The home supporters were then up in arms when Mata’s cross hit Michael Keane’s hand. Chelsea fans then sighed as Anders Lindegaard thwarted Daniel Sturridge and Oscar.
Chelsea’s pressure finally told when Ramires attempted to wriggle through and was fouled by Wootton. Hazard made no mistake from the spot, sending the game into extra time.
Wootton blundered again eight minutes later, his ill-considered attempt at a header back to Lindegaard allowing Sturridge the chance to run through and make it 4-3 to Chelsea. Nani and Oscar then squared up, hardly a battle of the heavyweights, before a touch of controversy invaded proceedings.
Keane fouled Sturridge as he went through, bringing baying calls for his expulsion. Even Branislav Ivanovic, sitting behind the Chelsea dugout, was out of his seat, waving an imaginary card. From the free-kick, Luiz almost snapped the bar. Some magic from Hazard then sent Ramires through and around Lindegaard to make it 5-3.
There was still time for a Giggs penalty after Cesar Azpilicueta had fouled Hernández but Chelsea comfortably saw out the final two minutes. As if the game had not conjured up enough drama, the quarter-final draw within half an hour of the final whistle then sent Chelsea to Leeds United, to the club they often rucked with in the Seventies.
The 1970 FA Cup final replay embodied much of the rivalry with Chopper Harris against Eddie Gray, Eddie McCreadie against Billy Bremner, Jack Charlton against Peter Osgood and Norman Hunter versus Ian Hutchinson.
Amongst other duels.
On and off the pitch, it promises to be a tense occasion, a night match of Dec 19, delayed from the usual week because of Chelsea’s involvement in the World Club Championships in Japan. Sub-plots abound. Leeds’ manager, Neil Warnock, has been critical of Chelsea’s behaviour over the Clattenburg controversy.
Di Matteo was signed by Ken Bates during his time as chairman at the Bridge. Bates is currently chairman of Leeds, although he may have sold the club by Dec 19. If the takeover is delayed, Bates’ programme notes will be required reading. The small-talk in the boardroom could be lively if Abramovich travels. It promises to be another compelling Capital One Cup occasion.
Capital One Cup draw
- Leeds United v Chelsea
- Swansea City v Middlesbrough
- Norwich City v Aston Villa
- Bradford City v Arsenal
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Cech; Azpilicueta, Cahill, Luiz, Bertrand; Romeu (Oscar 71), Mikel (Ramires h-t); Moses, Mata, Piazon (Hazard 55); Sturridge.
Subs: Hilario, Ferreira, Marin, Saville.
Booked: Romeu, Mikel, Luiz, Oscar, Ramires.
Manchester United (4-1-4-1): Lindegaard; Rafael, Keane, Wootton, Buttner (Powell h-t); Fletcher; Nani, Anderson (Tunnicliffe 81), Giggs, Welbeck (Macheda 99); Hernandez.
Subs: Johnstone, Lingard, Vermijl, Brady.
Booked: Wootton, Nani, Keane, Giggs.
Referee: L Mason (Lancashire).
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