The most anticipated game of round 33 of the Premier League was current leaders Chelsea against third place Manchester United. Chelsea has been struggling to get results lately, but has still kept gaining points and continue their comfortable spread from Arsenal and Manchester United. Manchester United has been playing fantastic, especially after demolishing Manchester City at home last weekend. The red devils were more inspired than ever, but were visiting the toughest stadium of all. Chelsea is the only team in the Premier League that has not lost at home, with only three draws, and twelve victories. With two new starters for today’s game, both sides were looking to get something from them on top. Didier Drogba for Chelsea and Radamel Falcao for Manchester United.
Manchester United started the game with lots of possession and within three minutes, Wayne Rooney missed a valuable opportunity to put the red devils in front. Luke Shaw attacked through the left side, and put a ball back to Wayne Rooney as he was waiting on top of the box. Rooney placed the ball with the outside of his left, but was just a bit wide. Even David De Gea thought it was a goal, as he celebrated a bit too early.
Manchester continued to dominate, with 70% of ball possession, but made a mistake that Chelsea took advantage of. Minute 38″ Falcao lost a ball at the half line as he was not able to turn on John Terry, Cesc Fabregas picked up the lose ball and began to attack. Fabregas gave the ball to Oscar, who timed Eden Hazard’s run perfectly and back heeled a perfect assist. Eden Hazard lost his mark with his speed and finished with his left foot from close range through De Gea’s legs. This was Hazard’s eighteenth goal of the season, as he is a potential candidate to win “Best Young Player in the BPL” or “Best Player in the BPL.”
In the second half Manchester United continued to dominate, as the blues kept awaiting for a mistake. It appeared to look like Jose Mourinho did not care about having ball possession at this point and was playing a strategic game. Minute 54″ Ander Herrera lost a ball in the midfield that was picked up by Drogba, Drogba attacked and challenged Chris Smalling on a one to one. Drogba was able to produce a lobbed shot that went over De Gea and Hazard on a acrobatic jump made contact, but hit the top woodwork.
Manchester United kept having ball possession, but was not a threat on a well organized Chelsea that kept holding back. Minute 76″ Manchester United produced their most dangerous play of the second half. Luka Shaw found Falcao on a through ball on the left side, Falcao shot with his left and hit the top outright of the right post.
Time was running out for the red devils, minute 95″ there was a controversial play in Chelsea’s box. Ander Herrera beat Gary Cahill in a loose ball, as Cahill came late and dropped Herrara inside the box. Even though Ander Herrera won a ball and went out of threat into the left side away from the goal, he was still dropped inside the box. Bad call from the referee and Manchester was not awarded with a penalty kick.
Chelsea wins a very important game and Manchester United came up short to gain second place. Chelsea now has 76 points and is ten points above Arsenal and eleven above Manchester United. Chelsea and Arsenal both have one less game. If Chelsea wins their next two games against Arsenal and Leicester City, they will be the new Barclay’s English Premier League Champions. Manchester United still has to keep fighting and focus to end up in the top four places. Going for a league tittle is now near impossible, Manchester will visit Everton next weekend.
Photo Credit: Getty Images Sport/Ian Walton
