http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Chelsea-c38786 1-0: UEFA Champions League
Wayne Rooney’s first-half strike guided Manchester United to a 1-0 victory in the first-leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final tie against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday evening.
The win puts United in the driver’s seat to qualify for the semi-finals of the competition, as they take a vital away goal into the second leg, which will be played at Old Trafford on 12th April.
Chelsea opted for a 4-4-2 formation for the game with http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Rio-Ferdinand-c31173 back into the starting line-up after he missed the last 11 games through injury. Javier Hernandez and Wayne
Rooney started upfront, while Ji-Sung Park and Luis http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Antonio-Valencia-c6345 operated on the wings.
Chelsea started the game strongly and applied the early pressure on United. Torres came really close to scoring in the second minute but Ferdinand showed great presence to block the Spaniard’s diving header in front of goal. In the 20th minute,
Drogba smashed a powerful strike after a lovely spell of passing, but Van Der Sar tipped the ball over the bar with a brilliant save.
United opened the scoring in the 24th minute from their first real chance of the game. http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/England-c749
striker tapped home from 10 yards to make it 1-0 for the Red Devils.
Chelsea were forced on the back foot after conceding a vital away goal to United. The Blues stepped up their efforts to find an equaliser and Torres had a huge shout for a penalty turned down, but replays showed that the referee made the correct decision
as the Spaniard had clearly dived.
The Blues were dominant in ball possession and created several chances but United’s defence was at it’s very best to deny them.
Just after the resumption of the second half, Drogba went past http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Nani-c27299, as Valencia was forced
to fill in the right-back position.
Both teams created opportunities to score but could not pounce on them. Carlo Ancelotti’s side desperately looked to equalise and had a couple of clear-cut opportunities magnificently saved by Van Der Sar. A fine header from Torres was beautifully palmed
away be the Dutchman to deny the Blues.
In stoppage time, Chelsea had a huge shout for a penalty kick after Evra hauled down http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Ramires-c30523 inside the box, but the referee waved play on. Replays showed that the Blues were hard done by the decision as the Frenchman had clearly tripped Ramires inside the
box.
United held on to a slender lead and will take a massive advantage going into the second leg at Old Trafford.
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