Manchester United 1 - 3 Chelsea

Old Trafford, Manchester
10th May 2005

Manchester United's dismal end-of-season form continued, causing amongst other things a share-price slump. Three goals (including one offside goal, one Carroll shocker and one piece of rubbish defending) for the Blues settled the game, but not before Man United had given them a scare.

Fergie had said that this game was a chance for the Reds to put down a marker for next season, showing Chelsea that we were better than them, but carroll's error proved to be the turning point.

The United boys proved that they were good losers when they formed a guard of honour for the Champions as they entered the ground, although the fans were much less forgiving of Chelsea stealing Robben, beating us in the cup and courting controversy. Throw in the Rio and Kenyon thing, and they deserved to be booed.

United had started the brightest, with Ronaldo jinking his way into the box in the first minute to fire straight at Cudicini.
Worse was to come for Chelsea. They failed to clear a corner properly, with Rooney firing the ball into the centre of the fray. It sped through the box, past Cech, allowing Van Nistelrooy a cheeky back-heel into the back of the net. United were coasting, with just 12 minutes gone!

More dominant United play followed, with Keane snarling and fighting his way in the middle of the pitch. It was only when Tiago took an innoculous shot from way out that United were caught. Carroll, with his typical one-shocker-a-game reliability, simply stood and watched as the ball sailed into the corner. Get Howard in NOW!

Half-time came and went at 1 - 1, and Chelsea came out more fired up int eh second half. After spooning a number of chances, Gudjohnsen was effectively allowed a free shot on goal, with Rio and Wes screwing up what had so far been a reasonably good offside system.
We rallied, but scarcely got a shot on goal, whilst time-wasting Chelsea should have had their players booked more often for arguing with the ref, kicking the ball away and general time-wasting.

The game was secured when Cole poked home from an offside position to make it a miserable last home game for the Reds.

Man Utd: Carroll, Gary Neville, Brown, Ferdinand, Silvestre, Fletcher (Saha 72), Keane, Scholes, Ronaldo, Rooney, van Nistelrooy.

Subs Not Used: Howard, Smith, O'Shea, Fortune.
Booked: Keane, van Nistelrooy.
Goals: van Nistelrooy 7.

Chelsea: Cudicini, Johnson (Jarosik 72), Ricardo Carvalho, Huth, Gallas, Geremi, Tiago, Makelele, Lampard, Cole (Grant 90), Gudjohnsen (Nuno Morais 86).

Subs Not Used: Cech, Forssell.
Booked: Makelele, Lampard, Gallas.
Goals: Tiago 17, Gudjohnsen 61, Cole 82.

Att: 67,832.
Ref: G Poll (Hertfordshire).