Chelsea 5-4 Manchester United: Chelsea exact a measure of revenge

Published on 01/11/2012 10:27

Chelsea sensationally avenged their bitter Barclays Premier League defeat to Manchester United tonight as they won an nine-goal Capital One Cup thriller at Stamford Bridge.

United looked set to pile on the misery for the European champions with a 3-2 fourth-round victory three days after ending their ten-year wait for a league win in west London, in the most controversial manner imaginable.

But Eden Hazard scored a penalty with the last kick of normal time before Daniel Sturridge and Ramires completed an amazing comeback just 24 hours after Arsenal’s astonishing 7-5 win at Reading.

Like yesterday, defending was nowhere to be seen as United led three times through Ryan Giggs, Javier Hernandez and Nani and Chelsea hit back with a David Luiz penalty and Gary Cahill header.

Giggs also scored an extra-time consolation from the spot for United as the Mark Clattenburg was briefly forgotten.

The 6,000 United fans, far more than on Sunday, mercilessly taunted their opponents throughout about both that saga and the John Terry scandal, briefly unfurling a banner which read “Clattenburg: Referee, Leader, Legend” and engaging in several chants, including “Justice for Clattenburg”. United took the lead in the 22nd minute following a defensive mix-up by Chelsea, Giggs taking advantage by scoring with a well-placed shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the area.

Luiz brought Chelsea level nine minutes level with a coolly-taken penalty after Alexander Buttner had chopped down Victor Moses.

But Hernandez, who got the winner on Sunday, continued his fine record against the Blues with another smart finish two minutes before the break.

Again the hosts came back, this time Cahill powering home a Juan Mata corner in the 52nd minute.

But they simply could not keep things watertight at the back and were cut apart by a superb combination between Anderson and Nani seven minutes later, the Portuguese dinking a beautiful finish past Petr Cech.

Chelsea were denied a strong penalty claim when the ball appeared to strike Wootton’s arm, adding to their list grievances following the two sendings off in the league game.

But they did get a penalty in the fourth minute of injury time as this time Wootton was punished for a push on Ramires and Hazard rolled his penalty low down the middle.

Worse was to come for Wootton seven minutes into extra time as his attempted header back was too short and Sturridge, who up till then had been awful, rounded Anders Lindegaard to score.

Moses should have killed the game when put clear by Sturridge but Ramires finally did after unselfish work by Hazard. Ramires danced around the Danish keeper for number five.

The visitors were not done, Giggs slotting home from the spot after a foul on Hernandez, but there was not enough time to get an equaliser.

Indeed the final word went to Hazard, who hit the post, again with the last kick.

Chelsea: Cech, Azpilicueta, Cahill, Luiz, Bertrand, Romeu, Mikel, Moses, Mata, Piazon, Sturridge. Subs: Hilario, Ramires, Oscar, Hazard, Ferreira, Marin, Saville.

Manchester Utd: Lindegaard, Da Silva, Wootton, Keane, Buttner, Anderson, Giggs, Fletcher, Nani, Hernandez, Welbeck. Subs: Johnstone, Powell, Macheda, Lingard, Vermijl, Brady, Tunnicliffe.