Manchester: A controversial goal from Didier Drogba helped Chelsea to a crucial 2-1 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford on Saturday and leapfrog the champions at the top of the Premier League table.
Goals from Joe Cole after 20 minutes and a second from substitute Drogba in the 79th -- in an offside position when he collected the ball before scoring -- put Chelsea 2-0 ahead before substitute Federico Macheda scored two minutes later to give United hope of salvaging at least a point.
The victory, inspired by an outstanding display from Florent Malouda, lifted Chelsea to 74 points, two ahead of United with both teams having five matches to play.
Chelsea had the best of the opening half but United, without injured striker Wayne Rooney, had the better of the second in a largely tense game with few scoring chances for either side.
Chelsea began the match, billed as the probable title-decider, with far more verve than United who looked leaden-footed and flat following their defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Tuesday, and Chelsea's early dominance paid off when they went ahead.
Malouda, who has been in outstanding form recently, powered his way through three defenders before holding off Darren Fletcher and crossing for Cole who scored with an impudent flick off his heel after 20 minutes.
United failed to lift their game for the rest of the half but they looked livelier after the break with Dimitar Berbatov leading the line as a lone front man and going close with a well-taken header after 60 minutes.
But just when United seemed likely to find an equaliser, Chelsea doubled their lead.
Drogba, who replaced Nicolas Anelka 10 minutes earlier got the goal when he blasted the ball past Edwin van der Sar, but he was clearly in an offside position when he collected the ball from Saloman Kalou.
Italian teenager Macheda set up a frantic finale when he bundled the ball in off a clearance from Chelsea keeper Petr Cech, but although Berbatov powered in a volley and a had a header saved, United could not save themselves.
Arsenal, in third place on 68 points, could close the gap on United to one point if they beat Wolverhampton Wanderers in a 1400GMT kickoff at the Emirates Stadium.
Comments
0 comment