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The Sunday TimesApril 27, 2008
Michael Ballack's double keeps Chelsea in the title huntChelsea 2 Manchester United 1
Joe Lovejoy at Stamford Bridge
After those two Champions League stalemates, a match that lived up to its billing. Chelsea took punitive advantage of Sir Alex Ferguson’s gamble on fielding a half-strength team and kept their title hopes alive with a deserved tooth-and-nail victory, gained by two goals from the resurgent Michael Ballack.
Plagued by injury, it has taken a long time for Germany’s World Cup captain to come to the fore after his recruitment by Jose Mourinho nearly two years ago, but in the absence of Frank Lampard, who is mourning his mother, Pat, Ballack stepped up to the plate and settled this dramatic summit meeting with a plunging header and the sort of penalty with which his countrymen have broken so many English hearts down the years.
Manchester United chose to rest six players before the decisive second leg of their Champions League semi-final against Barcelona on Tuesday and will rue the decision if they drop a point in either of their remaining Premier League games against West Ham at home or Wigan away while Chelsea win their last two, at Newcastle and at home to Bolton. In that event, Avram Grant would be transformed overnight from “The Undertaker” to “The Miracle Worker”.
Did he believe his team could yet triumph? “Yes,” he said. “If you are not optimistic in situations like this, you shouldn’t be involved in sport.” His players clearly share his belief. They were the better, more assertive side for most of the game, and fought back with impressive spirit after Wayne Rooney had briefly deflated them, fastening on to a ghastly backpass by Ricardo Carvalho to equalise.
Ferguson’s six changes after the 1-1 draw in the Nou Camp included omitting Cristiano Ronaldo, Carlos Tevez, Paul Scholes, Patrice Evra, Owen Hargreaves and Ji-Sung Park. If he thought the likes of Anderson, Nani, Darren Fletcher and Mikael Silvestre would be good enough to see off Chelsea at near-full strength he was wrong.
Grant’s team, missing only Lampard and Claude Makelele, seized the initiative from the start, as if sensing that United were there for the taking, and dominated a first half in which only some shoddy work by their front three prevented them from taking a commanding lead.
In fairness to the champions and league leaders, they were undermined after 10 minutes by the loss of Nemanja Vidic, their rock-solid centre-half, who was carried off on a stretcher after catching an accidental knee to the face in a collision with Didier Drogba. In the consequent reshuffle, Wes Brown moved into the middle to partner Rio Ferdinand and Hargreaves came on at right-back. Almost immediately, Joe Cole hinted at the vulnerability of the new centre-back pairing by surging through to shoot against the woodwork from 12 yards.
Cole threatened again, Edwin van der Sar saving at his feet on the edge of the six-yard box after a sweeping move that had Ballack at its heart, and Chelsea’s authority was epitomised when Carvalho took the ball off Nani on the halfway line, like taking candy off the proverbial toddler.
Just before half-time, Ronaldo could be seen on the bench mouthing “Come on” to his teammates, who appeared to be caught in the same tentative, safety-first mode in which they stalled in Spain.
His entreaty had no effect. Just the opposite, as the first half went into stoppage time, Drogba’s cross from deep on the right picked out Ballack who, from a central position, headed powerfully past Van der Sar’s left hand.
In a touching rehearsed celebration, the Chelsea captain, John Terry, ran to the bench and returned with a replica shirt bearing the legend: “Pat Lampard RIP”.
Incensed by the poverty of his team’s performance, Ferguson resorted to the hairdryer during the interval, and the desired improvement was immediately forthcoming. United were much more competitive, but their equaliser took the form of a gift, from the unlikeliest source. Carvalho, easily Chelsea’s best defender all season, was taken by surprise by Paulo Ferreira’s quick free kick and hastily tried to knock the ball back to Petr Cech. He had not spotted the lurking Rooney, who intercepted with ease and ran on, holding off Terry, before taking careful aim from 18 yards and shooting in via Cech’s right-hand post.
The first goal the England striker has scored against Chelsea took the steam out of them temporarily, but after drawing breath they hit back hard. Ballack might have regained the lead had his 25-yard free kick not hit poor Carvalho, standing in United’s defensive wall.
With time running out and the title fast disappearing over the horizon, Grant flung on first Nicolas Anelka, then the afterthought that is Andriy Shevchenko, but his team’s spirit seemed to be fractured beyond repair when Ballack and Drogba squabbled at embarrassing length over who should take a free kick.
United must have thought they were home and hosed when Brown, under pressure from Drogba, got away with handling the ball well inside the penalty area. Chelsea, however, were far from finished and with six minutes of normal time remaining, Michael Essien’s cross from the right was handled by Michael Carrick. This time, Alan Wiley did point to the spot.
It was the sort of pressure penalty that has found England’s players wanting so often, but fortunately Chelsea had a German on hand to take it. Ballack kept his nerve while those around him were afraid to look and sent Van der Sar the wrong way in shooting unerringly into the keeper’s right-hand corner.
Given five minutes of added time in which to repair the damage, United would have done so but for two goalline clearances, by Ashley Cole and Shevchenko, denying Ronaldo and Fletcher respectively.
The tension, as much as the arrival of summer, had the players at boiling point and Ferdinand and Jon Obi Mikel scuffled near the end. There were more unsightly scenes after the whistle, as the United players warmed down on the pitch, but today all that matters is that these two teams are level at the top, only goal difference separating them with two enthralling weeks to go.
Ballack’s show of strength
Chelsea prevailed because of the might of Michael Ballack. The midfielder’s opening goal was just reward for Chelsea’s dominance. Didier Drogba beat Wes Brown with a turn and, fatally, two of United’s midfield three, Michael Carrick and Darren Fletcher, were drawn towards the ball. Drogba then crossed to the far post where Ballack arrived in space to head home
The run-in
MAN UTD
Sat May 3 West Ham (h) The good news: nothing at stake for West Ham who could play the kids The bad news: United have lost their last three games to the Hammers
Sun May 11 Wigan (a) The good news: Wigan boss Steve Bruce remembers he owes a lot to Fergie and puts out a second-string team The bad news: Wigan are still not safe and could have all to play for
CHELSEA
Monday May 5 Newcastle (a) The good news: Keegan might decide to thwart his nemesis Fergie by fielding a weakened side The bad news: Michael Owen has found his form
Sun May 11 Bolton (h) The good news: Chelsea have not lost a game at home in four years The bad news: Wanderers are not yet out of the mire and the fight goes on ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Telegraph:
Michael Ballack punishes United's impertinenceBy Roy Collins at Stamford Bridge
Chelsea (1) 2 Manchester United (0) 1
Manchester United remain hot - or at least lukewarm - favourites for the Premier League title, albeit that the most likely way they will hang on to their crown is by the hollow margin of goal difference, which is a bit like winning an election on a recount. But what Chelsea's magnificent fightback has done is to remove any margin for error at a stage of the campaign when one slip, one momentary loss of concentration or one clumsy handball, like the one from Michael Carrick that delivered victory by penalty here, can destroy a season's work.
On top of that, United have been tripping over every paving stone and discarded supermarket trolley on what was supposed to be a clear road to the title these past few weeks, collecting just five points from their last four games. And should they now fail to win their final two matches to take the title, manager Sir Alex Ferguson will have some explaining to do about his remarkable gamble with his team for this match, which bordered on impertinence. With only a point needed to make it all over bar the shouting, Ferguson left Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez on the bench, while Paul Scholes sat in the stands.
If it looked like a calculated insult to Chelsea, which would also allow United to negate the value of any home victory, Fergie will argue that it was a necessary resting of his most valuable troops before Tuesday's Champions League semi-final second leg against Barcelona at Old Trafford. If they had hung on to the point that was theirs for the taking, after Wayne Rooney's first goal against Chelsea - at the 16th time of asking - people would have applauded his courage.
As it is, critics will now be questioning his judgment, and possibly his sanity, because that is the way it is in a results-driven business. All the judgment calls from outside the touchlines are made with the splendid aid of hindsight, though many of us did raise both eyebrows when the team sheet emerged from the away dressing room.
No wonder Chelsea manager Avram Grant had such a broad smile when a shirt-sleeved Fergie greeted him on the touchline before the game. Hugs and jokes followed but, at the end, Fergie offered only a handshake and a face of thunder while a bare-chested Chelsea captain John Terry raised a clenched fist of triumph to the fans before punching the Perspex side of the retractable tunnel as he took his leave.
Grant simply raised his eyes to the heavens before accepting the applause of Chelsea fans. Given that they have been openly hostile to him for much of his time in charge, a lesser man might have offered a rude gesture in exchange. This was his moment, vindication of his softer style of management since taking over from Jose Mourinho and sweet revenge for defeat at Old Trafford in his first game in charge last September.
Now Avram Who? can not only plant both feet in Chelsea history, as only the third manager to win the title, he can succeed where Mourinho failed by guiding his team past Liverpool in Wednesday's Champions League semi-final second leg. Grant, who refused to say whether Chelsea were still in the title race after the win at Everton 10 days ago, now says: "Of course we can win it. If you are not optimistic now, you shouldn't be in sport."
With the sun on their backs, Chelsea's thoroughbreds started as though they fancied their chances of posting the 10-0 victory that would have seen them go top of the Premier League, rather than the proud share of it that they have claimed. Yet they seemed to be running out of steam when Didier Drogba's lovely right-wing cross allowed Michael Ballack to head them in front in first-half stoppage time.
United were so negative in the opening half, with Rooney on the wing much of the time in a 'none up-front' formation, that it was miraculous that he and Ryan Giggs were flagged offside in quick succession. But United are never that quiet for long - Barcelona on Wednesday notwithstanding - and when Paulo Ferreira and Ricardo Carvalho messed up a free-kick, Rooney produced a wonderful finish off a post.
It all turned nasty after that, officials from both sides haranguing fourth official Mike Riley, while Drogba and Ballack argued with each other over who was to take a free-kick on the edge of the box. Drogba won that one but when Carrick handled Michael Essien's cross five minutes from time, not seen by referee Alan Wiley but spotted by assistant Shaun Proctor-Green, the Drog sensibly handed over responsibility to Ballack. When you have a pressure penalty, always entrust it to a German.
Best moment: A sublime tackle by Ricardo Carvalho to dispossess Nani when starting the wrong side of his man
Worst moment: Carvalho's failure to collect a short Paulo Ferreira free kick which led to Wayne Rooney's equaliser
Man of the match
Michael Ballack (Chelsea) 8/10
Two goals from four shots
81 per cent pass success ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Independent:
Chelsea 2 Manchester United 1: Ballack puts race in balance
German does the double to keep Chelsea's title challenge alive as Ferguson rages at 'diabolical' penalty decisionBy Steve Tongue at Stamford Bridge
Like the leader of a marathon developing cramp, Manchester United are limping towards the finishing line and suddenly looking over their shoulder. After an enthralling 90 minutes of football – 99 if all the added time is included – a defiant Chelsea are right there with them and ready for the final sprint, though two factors still count against them.
Firstly, if the teams remain level on points, United's goal difference, currently superior by 16, would win them the title. Secondly, Chelsea's next game, at Newcastle tomorrow week, is the hardest of the remaining four that the two contenders face.
United will be expected to win at home to West Ham two days before that and must then visit Steve Bruce's Wigan on the final weekend, when Chelsea will be optimistic about defeating Bolton at Stamford Bridge. Both camps nevertheless had reason to believe as the dust settled early yesterday afternoon. The much-criticised Chelsea manager, Avram Grant, said: "I think we can win the title. In sport, you need to be optimistic. The spirit and courage of the players was great."
The lugubrious Grant had even shown a touch of emotion as the final whistle ended United's furious late rally, in which two attempts were kicked off the line. His smile was reciprocated by the crowd, who greetedhim more warmly than at any time since he became the unpopular replacement for Jose Mourinho in September.
After he lost his first game 2-0 at Old Trafford, Chelsea were sixth in the table, and by Christmas trailed United by eight points. How they have come to regret two recent last-minute goals: Emile Heskey's for Wigan at the Bridge and, five days later, the one Carlos Tevez nodded in for United at Blackburn. Those defining moments represented a swing of three points United's way, which is just as well for them, since they have now won only one of their last four games.
At a time when they might have expected to be sitting pretty,United are experiencing what Sir Alex Ferguson calls "squeaky bum time". He still believes the experience he and his squad have gleaned will help them to achieve the club's 17th championship – only one fewer than Liverpool – and a 10th in the past 16 seasons. After admitting: "Chelsea were the better team in the first half," he railed against the award of the first penalty given against Unitedthis season, which allowed Michael Ballack to score his second goal and win the game in the 86th minute.
"It was absolutely diabolical," Ferguson said. "It's a major decision. Granted it has hit Michael Carrick's hand but he's not lifted his hand. If it goes down to decisions like that, we're in trouble and are going to have to perform really well. But in the second half we played very well and it's still in our hands."
The penalty decision was made by a well-placed assistant refereerather than Alan Wiley, who might have issued more than six yellow cards (four of them to United) on a feisty occasion that never quite boiled over until half-a-dozen United players were warming down afterwards. Patrice Evra was reported to have been involved in an altercation with groundstaff after taking exception to a remark by one of them. Later, Rio Ferdinand apologised for accidentally kicking a female steward in his frustration at the result.
After Ballack headed Chelsea into the lead just before half-time, Rooney had taken advantage of a dreadful error by the otherwise impeccable Ricardo Carvalho to equalise. But Chelsea's win, however controversially achieved, was well deserved. Michael Essien, Ballack and John Obi Mikel compensated splendidly for the absent Frank Lampard, and Joe Cole was back to his lively old self.
United fans holding a banner reading "Champions" even before kick-off must have been concerned by the way Chelsea dominated from the first minute, when Wes Brown's careless back-header, spilled by Edwin van der Sar, was an ominous start. Midway through the half Joe Cole, having apparently missed his chance, smacked a shot against the angle of bar and post; and in added time before the interval Ballack headed Essien's perfect cross just inside the post.
The home side were in control when Paulo Ferreira decidedto take a short free-kick in his own half to Carvalho, who even more inexplicably flicked it straight to Rooney. The England striker hared off and finished superbly. Didier Drogba, having won an argument with Ballack over who should take a free-kick, saw Van der Sar save it brilliantly,but the goalkeeper could do nothing about the German's penalty. The drama was not done: in five minutes of added time, Ashley Cole and the substitute Andriy Shevchenko both had to hack off the line.
As a possible rehearsal for the Champions' League final, which these two are marginal favourites to reach, everyone outside Anfield and the Nou Camp will be urging: bring it on.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Observer:
Ballack and Chelsea refuse to take title as redChelsea 2 Ballack 45 Manchester United 1 Rooney 57
Duncan Castles
Like the resilience of this remarkable squad of Chelsea footballers, the title race continues unabated. As they were from the moment the team sheet was printed, questions will continue to be asked about whether Sir Alex Ferguson has offered them back the Premier League trophy.
First, let us applaud Chelsea. Victory essential, their long, proud unbeaten home record on the line against a team almost every critic considers superior, and deprived of one of their driving forces by the death of his mother, this was a team who truly rose to the occasion.
Better from the first minutes, Chelsea spent much of the second half trying to re-establish an advantage ceded to the best defensive unit in the country by a self-inflicted error, their lead so hard won by Michael Ballack's 45th-minute header washed away by an errant Ricardo Carvalho back-pass. Four minutes from time Ballack restored it - as cool a converter of a correctly awarded penalty as you would expect from Germany's captain.
The title now comes down to whether United, comforted only by a superior goal difference, can extract a better set of results from West Ham and Wigan than Chelsea can inflict upon Newcastle and Bolton Wanderers.
Now, let us query United. For Ferguson this was a selection gamble gone horribly wrong. With Tuesday night and a Champions League semi-final second leg against Barcelona in mind, United's manager left out his two leading scorers in fielding a half-strength side. In all, there were six changes from Camp Nou - Cristiano Ronaldo, Carlos Tevez, Patrice Evra and Owen Hargreaves among the names shuffled out of a line-up apparently designed to protect parity rather than extract an advantage.
This was a championship decider in which both teams started understrength. Chelsea donned black armbands in memory of Frank Lampard's mother Pat, who was, as John Terry wrote in his programme notes, 'simply a wonderful woman'. Lampard, understandably, remained at home with his father.
The game was captivating from the outset. After eight minutes, Nemanja Vidic fell victim to a knee to his chin. If Didier Drogba's intervention was accidental, it only added to the uncertainty of an already unstable United rearguard. As Drogba claimed possession of every aerial ball that fell his way, the disease spread gradually across United's other markers. Wes Brown had already flummoxed his own goalkeeper with an imprecise back header that Joe Cole gathered for Michael Essien to lob marginally over.
In full rampaging bison form, Essien charged through for a strike that Edwin van der Sar just matched and a pair of clever crosses that found no takers. Salomon Kalou writhed into the area for a futile penalty claim. Seemingly halted by a stretched Michael Carrick tackle, the ball bounced back to Cole for a spinning volley against a post.
If United managed to retain possession for more than 60 first-half seconds, they did it only once. They were, however, a threat on the counter. Again and again, Nani went running in the Chelsea half, ball at feet, options all around him. With his best opportunity, the Portuguese back-pedalled Terry to the edge of his own area then shot wildly over, an unmarked Wayne Rooney screaming incandescently alongside. Other breaks were lost to tackles or poor passes and neutrals wondered what the score might have been had Ronaldo started.
As Drogba ran into Mikaël Silvestre to prostrate himself in search of a penalty, then petulantly slapped Darren Fletcher, United seemed to be riding out the storm. Appearances, though, were deceptive. As the first half entered stoppage time, Drogba was again allowed the room to pivot on the edge of the area and cross. Arriving from the far post, an unchecked Ballack continued diagonally onwards and headed the delivery flush across the keeper. Terry summoned a Chelsea shirt from the bench - printed on its back 'Pat Lampard RIP'.
Bloody-minded enough to add neither Ronaldo nor Tevez at the interval, Ferguson then benefited from an extraordinary lapse of concentration from Chelsea's best defender. From a free-kick at the halfway line Paulo Ferreira touched square to Carvalho. Without looking, he clipped the ball back towards Petr Cech, had it intercepted by Rooney, and watched impotently as the striker accelerated on and finished off the inside of an upright.
Outrageous fortune dissatisfied with that turn of events, she struck Rooney down with a hip injury that threatens his participation on Tuesday night. Belatedly, Ronaldo entered the field, soon to be faced by Nicolas Anelka as Chelsea switched formation to 4-4-2, wingers playing so far up it was frequently a 4-2-4.
Drogba fired a free-kick at a top corner to be denied by Van der Sar. So was Cole as he ill-advisedly left his boot in on the keeper for a second time in the match. Andriy Shevchenko was thrown into the mix - unusually holding to the left-wing beat he had been asked to run - and Drogba unsuccessfully petitioned for a penalty after heading a long ball down off Brown's arm. The next time Chelsea claimed one, Alan Wiley relented.
Essien, now at right-back, attacked his wing and centred well. Carrick attempted to block and caught the ball with a tucked-in left arm - enough for an astute linesman to flag for a spot-kick. Where Ballack and Drogba had argued over the taking of free-kicks, there was no disputing that this was the German's. With not a trace of doubt, he jogged forward, waited for Van der Sar to flex his knees and dispatched the ball to the opposite corner. Remarkably, it was the first penalty United had conceded in the Premier League this season.
In the last frantic minutes of a coruscating game Carrick might have had a penalty while Ronaldo and Fletcher had netbound efforts cleared by Ashley Cole and Shevchenko. The points, though, were Chelsea's. The title there to be claimed by them, United must do it all over again. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Mail:
Ballack brings back the belief: United still in pole position but Chelsea will take race to the finish
Chelsea 2 Manchester United 1
By IAN RIDLEY
That is why television now pays billions for the Premier League; why millions from Kingston-upon-Hull to Kuala Lumpur tune in.
It wasn't pretty — often it was pretty ugly — but the sound and the fury that emerged from Stamford Bridge accompanied an incident-crammed, controversy-filled game at the end of which we still just about have a title contest.
Lunchtime on a sunny English spring day meant prime time in Asia, two goals from Michael Ballack overshadowed Wayne Rooney's first against Chelsea in 16 appearances.
Ballack's winner was also a first — the first penalty United have conceded this season. Germans and penalties. There was never a doubt.
Except in United's mind. Sir Alex Ferguson was furious with the assistant referee and appeared at the end of the match to be heading for referee Alan Wiley but instead pulled away his complaining players, who had been squaring up to opponents and referee moments earlier amid an ill-tempered, desperate and frustrated late onslaught for a point.
And what irony in that last-gasp assault. The Chelsea manager Avram Grant had sent on forgotten £30 million striker Andriy Shevchenko to pinch a winning goal.
Instead, he cleared a shot off the line to preserve their lead. "It was an exciting and emotional game," said Grant. "In sports you need to be optimistic and today we were, before the game and during it."
"Chelsea were the better team in the first half," Ferguson admitted, before lamenting second-half decisions.
The advantage is still with United, though. Such is their superior goal difference — 16 — that wins from their last two games, at home to West Ham and away to Wigan, will give them the championship no matter what Chelsea achieve against Newcastle away and Bolton at home.
The momentum, though, might just be with the London side after this deserved victory over a United team that started at well below full strength, with Ferguson taking a gamble and resting players ahead of the Champions League return against Barcelona, a luxury Chelsea could not afford before their game against Liverpool.
United are wilting with the line in sight. They have now taken only two points from their last three away games. Self-doubt is besetting them at the wrong time of the season and they are starting to look vulnerable.
Yesterday they lost a bloodied Nemanja Vidic early on after he took an accidental knee in the face from Didier Drogba in the most graphic example of the physical intensity of the game, while Rooney was forced from the field with a strain in his left hip that threatens to preclude him from the crucial endgame.
For Chelsea, all was well that ended well. At one point, the tension of the game at its height at 1-1 in the second half, Ballack and Drogba argued over who should take a free-kick.
Instead of looking to be indicative of a team losing the plot, it turned out to be a case of the will to win spilling over.
"I am proud of them," said Grant. "It has come from wanting to win."
The day represented a difficult juggling act for Ferguson. He would surely have wanted to have secured the title yesterday but he knew that with his side's goal difference so good, United could afford to lose.
Thus, with the visit of Barcelona on Tuesday in mind, he made six changes from midweek, notably dropping Cristiano Ronaldo to the bench, along with Carlos Tevez and Owen Hargreaves. He had to rip up that strategy with less than a quarter of the game gone, however, with the woozy Vidic having to be carried off on a stretcher. On came Hargreaves at right-back, with Wes Brown moving into central defence.
Chelsea, who got off to a rip-roaring start, had made three changes themselves. The main one saw Michael Essien replacing Frank Lampard, who was absent due to the death of his mother, Pat. In the first couple of minutes, Essien shot over United bar, then saw a volley saved by Edwin van der Sar.
They went even closer when Petr Cech sent a long ball upfield and Salomon Kalou laid it off to Joe Cole, who wriggled his way into the United penalty area and sent a shot against their crossbar.
The lead came seconds after fourth official Mike Riley had held up the board to signal four minutes of added time. Drogba, again retaining possession well as Brown climbed over him, worked some space to send in a cross from the right to the far post, where Ballack arrived on cue to guide a header past Van der Sar's groping left hand.
United had been uncharacteristically unambitious in the first half and their equaliser 10 minutes into the second came out of the blue — and out of the Blues. Referee Alan Wiley was waving play on after Anderson fouled Drogba but the Chelsea player demanded a free-kick.
He was soon wishing he hadn't. From the kick near the halfway line, Paulo Ferreira played the ball inside to his Portuguese team-mate Ricardo Carvalho, who, in turn, played it inside. Rooney pounced, John Terry unable to catch him, and strode on before drilling a low shot past Cech and in off a post.
It was Rooney's last meaningful action after suffering the injury that should not keep him out of Barcelona game. Now Ronaldo was introduced and United scented success, especially with Drogba and Ballack arguing. Grant left them to it, letting his assistant Steve Clarke and captain Terry sort things out.
But there was no row over who would take the penalty in Lampard's absence after Carrick handled Essien's cross. Drogba even offered Ballack his best wishes as the German kept his cool as Mikael Silvestre and Van der Sar sought to distract him. He duly dove home.
Ashley Cole, from Ronaldo, and then Shevchenko from Darren Fletcher's header cleared off the line. "The save of the year," enthused Grant of the latter. Actually, if Chelsea do win it from here, that will be the save of the year.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Express:
GREAT BALLACK’S ON FIRE AT BRIDGE
Sunday April 27,2008 By John Richardson Chelsea 2 Manchester United 1
Towels on sun loungers, high-performance engines and ice-cool penalties – you can’t beat the Germans.
So with time running out on Chelsea’s resolute chase of Manchester United’s title crown, enter Michael Ballack.
As everyone around him was fraying at the edges in the sunshine – he had earlier been involved in a scuffle with team-mate Didier Drogba – the former Bayern Munich star was asked to deliver from 12 yards after assistant referee Shaun Proctor-Green had flagged for a handball involving Michael Carrick.
This was a big game for us. How can you have football without emotion?
United boss Sir Alex Ferguson went ballistic on the touchline. Chelsea, though, sensed that to wrest United’s title crown away from Old Trafford – a win for Ferguson’s men would have sealed it – maybe wasn’t mission impossible after all. It just needed some Teutonic nerves from the spot. After what seemed an eternity as United players ranted about the decision and Edwin van der Sar was yellow-carded for delaying it even longer, Ballack duly obliged with cool precision.
Avram Grant’s career as Chelsea manager might have started with a whimper – a lacklustre 2-0 defeat against United at Old Trafford in September – but there were plenty of bangs this time around.
Add the compassion for Frank Lampard’s plight – Chelsea’s regular penalty taker is mourning the death of his mother – and the potent mix finally consumed United.
While a raging Ferguson later stormed onto the pitch to drag some of his players, including Van der Sar, Ryan Giggs and Rio Ferdinand, away from the officials – Mr Proctor-Green won’t be on his Christmas card list – Chelsea celebrated knowing they have taken the title fight to the wire.
Ballack, who had also scored Chelsea’s opening goal, dedicated the crucial victory to Lampard and his family. “This victory is for Frank and his family,” he said. “It’s a difficult time for him and everyone here.
“As for scoring from the penalty spot, it’s no problem. I can handle the pressure. A lot of players in our team could have done that. Everyone at Chelsea wants to win.”
Skipper John Terry added: “We have had to put up with people saying there is no way we can catch Manchester United. Well, what are they saying now? I believe that this win gives us a huge advantage.”
But because of United’s much superior goal difference, it is still United’s title to lose. Wins in the games against West Ham (home) and Wigan (away) will make it 10 Premier League gongs for Fergie.
Even after Ballack’s penalty choker, United still had opportunities to pull the game out of the fire in typical brinkmanship fashion.
Cristiano Ronaldo, who started the game on the bench, saw an effort cleared off the line by Ashley Cole, while the almost forgotten Andriy Shevchenko turned away a goal-bound Darren Fletcher header.
If this is a taster for a possible Champions League final in Moscow, then pass the smelling salts.
Chelsea were seemingly on the way to preserving an 81-game unbeaten league run at the Bridge with Ballack’s first goal just before half-time.
Drogba managed to extract himself from a running battle with Ferdinand to find space on the right hand side and dink in the perfect cross for Ballack to ghost in and head past Van der Sar.
To the delight of the Chelsea hordes, who had displayed their affection for the absent grief-stricken Lampard following the death of his mother Pat, a shirt with her name on the back was unfurled by the celebrating Chelsea players.
For Ferguson it was now a case of whether to send for the cavalry, and both Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez warmed up on the edge of the pitch.
But an aberration by Ricardo Carvalho let United back in. His sloppy pass let in Wayne Rooney, who had been struggling with a hip injury. He forgot the pain to race in and secure his first goal against Chelsea.
Rooney soon limped off. Much earlier United had lost Nemanja Vidic, whose trip to Barcelona was spent in hospital with a stomach bug.
Yesterday he was flat on his back again with a nasty facial injury. Drogba’s boot poleaxed the Serb in the 11th minute, leaving his mouth needing stitches and minus a tooth.
Joe Cole fired against the post, and then Ballack and Drogba became involved in a pushing and shoving affair when Chelsea were awarded a free-kick just outside the box.
Drogba took it, forcing Van der Sar into a save, but Ballack later took centre stage from the penalty spot.
Grant said: “This was a big game for us. How can you have football without emotion?”
Absolutely! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------NOTW:
Chelsea 2, Man United 1
FERGIE DROPS A BALLACK ANDY DUNN at Stamford Bridge
ON a day when Sir Alex Ferguson gambled with Manchester United's entire season, the surest bet in football kept the title race alive.
There are NO greater certainties in the game.
A penalty. A German. A formality.
Whatever the situation, whatever the pressure, whatever the stakes.
I don't know what the translation of the name Ballack is — but you can bet it sounds remarkably similar.
Just change the vowels. Because Michael has them aplenty.
Cojones, the Latin contingent at Stamford Bridge might call it. As Fergie turned deep purple, Ballack remained ice blue.
But don't let the drama of the Chelsea midfielder's decisive late spot-kick, the tantrums of a Knight of the Realm who should know better or the predictable abandonment of the Respect campaign disguise the real issue here.
Ferguson — student of the odds that he is — took a calculated punt with his tactics and selection.
And he ended up with egg on his florid face.
Doctor Sure, when Wayne Rooney negated Ballack's first-half header, the only thing changing the colour of his features was the early afternoon sun.
But barely half an hour later, Rooney was seeing the same doctor who had finally returned a concussed Nemanja Vidic to planet earth, Ferguson was churlishly stopping his players from shaking ref Alan Wiley's hand and Stamford Bridge was flooded with optimism.
Of course, United should still beat West Ham and Wigan and retain the title.
But there's no guarantee. Certainly no German-from-12-yards guarantee.
Even Didier Drogba did not try to take the responsibility from Ballack after the assistant referee spotted Michael Carrick dropping a sly hand on to Michael Essien's cross.
Drogba — presumably having exhausted the supply of opponents to fall out with — threw a hilarious hissy-fit as his team-mate suggested he might take a free-kick from just outside the penalty area.
To call it a playground row would be an insult to primary school kids the length and breadth of the country.
Right, team-mates done with, Drogba then turned on his assistant manager.
And as Steve Clarke's ears burned, Avram Grant fiddled.
But just maybe, he is that fabled lucky general. And up stepped Ballack from the spot after Carrick's indiscretion.
And if you think that was fortunate, try this.
Deep into injury-time, Darren Fletcher's header appears to have only one destination — a spot just inside the far post.
And who pops up on the line to clear away a season-ending conclusion to this fascinating game? Andriy Shevchenko.
Football, eh? Bloody hell!
The moment was typical of the game. Incident-packed without being quality-packed.
United had a couple of extremely good claims for penalties — none more so than when sub Cristiano Ronaldo was wrestled to the ground by Ballack — but Ferguson's teamsheet infected his players with an unusual air of caution.
With unfamiliar conservatism.
Apart from giving them no room for error at Old Trafford next Saturday and at the JJB Stadium on the final day of the season, United now go into their Champions League game against Barcelona on the back of a dispiriting and damaging match. And possibly without Rooney and Vidic.
Drogba's knee accidentally put one of the Serb's molars through his lip (and sent him into Amy Winehouse land), while Rooney appeared to damage a hip when he twisted early in the second half after a minor collision with Ricardo Carvalho.
At least he aggravated it in a good cause, skilfully accepting a gift from Paulo Ferreira and Carvalho early in the second half.
Inexplicably, the full-back took a quick free-kick to his unprepared countryman, who promptly flicked it into the path of Rooney.
The England striker — according to no less a judge than Fabio Capello — is not a natural finisher. He could have fooled me.
Darting on to his right foot, he then sent a sweet strike that gave a passing kiss to the inside of the post before putting United level.
In the process, his problem was exacerbated, although the hopeful prognosis was that it was just a sore side. I assume that referred to the individual rather than the collective.
In truth, Rooney had given his team ill-deserved equality.
With Ronaldo supplementing his tan on the bench alongisde Carlos Tevez, United had meandered through the first half with no intentions of introducing themselves to Petr Cech.
Joe Cole — give him options and he is confused, give him none and he is lethal — hit a post and a selection of Chelsea players wanted just one touch too many when it really mattered.
But their dominance was finally reflected on the neon scoreboard when Drogba's wonderful cross (just in case you get the wrong impression, he is actually a splendid player when you can see through the theatrical fog) was coolly headed in by Ballack, exposing the vulnerability of makeshift defender Owen Hargreaves.
Gesture Shirt off, a nice gesture to remember Pat Lampard, a yellow card from Wiley. Do I need to make a comment? Of course not.
And Chelsea, you thought, would cruise it against a strangely unambitious United — until the Portuguese pair performed their party trick.
But Carrick and Ballack came to Grant's rescue and, not surprisingly, he was in talkative mood after Wiley had called a halt to proceedings.
Grant knows that the odds are still stacked in United's favour.
But this was a win against a major rival that the Israeli will use as a plank in his argument to keep the job.
And as for his opposite number...unusually, the backside squeaking loudest was on a coach heading north last night.
GAMES TO GO – CHELSEA: May 5 Newcastle (a), May 11 Bolton (h).
MAN UTD: May 3 W Ham (h), May 11 Wigan (a).---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------People:
Tinkerman Fergie gives Grant's men title lifeline Chelsea 2 Man Utd 1 Dave Kidd Alex Ferguson has outwitted them all during years of title duels - Kevin Keegan, Arsene Wenger, even Jose Mourinho.
Yet faced with unsung Avram Grant, the wiliest old gunslinger in town took aim and shot himself in the foot.
This was the day when Manchester United should have slammed the door shut on Chelsea and secured a 10th Premier League crown.
But the Old Trafford gaffer chose a bizarre time to axe Cristiano Ronaldo and hand the momentum to Chelsea by making five changes to his starting line-up.
If United are to win this title now - and they still will as long as they despatch West Ham and Wigan - then they will have limped over the line after a major wobbling fit.
This title shoot-out was like so many other momentous days in English football history. There was gripping drama, raging controversy, lionhearted commitment - and a German scoring the winning penalty.
Michael Ballack has been written off as roundly as Grant for much of his two years at Stamford Bridge - but since recovering from a long-term ankle injury, the German has found his feet.
Grant's ability to win the big matches has been doubted for so long - yet after coming from behind to defeat Arsenal last month, he pulled it off again here in dramatic circumstances to draw level on points with the champs.
A last-minute own goal from John Arne Riise had given Chelsea a crucial advantage in their Champions League semi-final against Liverpool four days earlier.
And this time Chelsea enjoyed another late stroke of luck, eagle-eyed linesman Shaun Proctor-Green spotting a Michael Carrick hand-ball in the 84th minute after ref Alan Wiley had missed the incident.
Ballack, who had been locked in a very public running battle with teammate Didier Drogba over dead-ball responsibilities, grabbed the ball and thumped home the winning penalty.
The German midfielder had headed Chelsea into a richly-deserved lead just before half-time - a goal dedicated to Frank Lampard's mother Pat, who died on Thursday.
One of Grant's achievements has been the way he has successfully fused Lampard and Ballack in Chelsea's midfield. But in Lampard's absence, it was Ballack who galvanised an epic victory.
Wayne Rooney thudded home an equaliser early in the second half after a rare mishap from Ricardo Carvalho - before the England striker left the field with a stomach muscle injury that could harm United's twin assault on the Premier League and Europe.
Rooney hopes to face Barcelona in the Champions League semi-final second leg on Tuesday - but if he does not make it, he will give Ferguson further headaches after widespread surprise at his tactics both in the Nou Camp last week and here. Carlos Tevez remained on the bench, with Patrice Evra and Paul Scholes left out of the 16, as Fergie morphed into that old Stamford Bridge tinkerman Claudio Ranieri.
The tone was set after just 30 seconds when a misguided Wes Brown back-header had keeper Edwin Van der Sar sprawling to push the ball to safety. United were disrupted after only 10 minutes when Nemanja Vidic was stretchered off with a facial injury after a collision with Drogba, and they never threatened in the first half.
Joe Cole shook an upright, Drogba sent Ferguson ballistic with a penalty-area dive - and then, in first-half injury-time, Ballack thundered in a far-post header from Drogba's cross.
There was no immediate sign of a United revival after the break - until Carvlalho, usually so reliable, scuffed an attempted square pass to John Terry, allowing Rooney to advance on goal and drill home a shot off the post, before being replaced by Ronaldo.
Suddenly, United had found some belief and Petr Cech was parrying away a stinging Ryan Giggs long-ranger. And when Chelsea earned a free-kick on the edge of the area, Ballack and Drogba's squabbling almost descended into open warfare.
After Drogba forced a decent save from Van der Sar from the dead-ball, the German and the Ivorian had a blazing row, which ended with coach Steve Clarke going on to the pitch and squaring up to Drogba.
Then came the moment that blew the title race open. Michael Essien's cross from the right was blocked by Carrick, and when the linesman called over Wiley to signal a penalty, the two match officials were pursued by raging United players. So much for respect.
Ballack sent Van der Sar the wrong way with a spot-kick of typical Germanic efficiency - sparking bedlam around Stamford Bridge and near-madness among the United troops.
Rio Ferdinand, likely to take over as captain of United and England, could have been sent off for a scrap with Claude Makelele. Then Ashley Cole cleared off the line from Ronaldo, and Andriy Shevchenko hacked off the line from Darren Fletcher.
At the final whistle, Ferguson stormed on to the pitch to pull his players away from the match officials and Grant even lost it himself, for a split-second, holding his arms aloft and roaring in celebration at the Chelsea fans in the East Stand.
The two men may meet again in Moscow next month - but not before one hell of a scrap to the finish.
CHELSEA
STUNNER OR BUMMER?
SHINERS
Michael BALLACK 9
Two goals and an inspirational display from the German, who was not even derailed by his row with Drogba.
John TERRY 8
Led by example as always, rarely losing anything in the air and urging on his troops. Enjoyed some feisty post-match celebrations.
Ashley COLE 7
A crucial late goal-line clearance on an indifferent day for the left-back, who was, at least, committed to the fight.
John Obi MIKEL 7
The man who controversially snubbed United for Chelsea was quietly efficient in midfield, a vital cog in the machine.
Michael ESSIEN 7
Tireless work and no little guile from the Ghanaian midfield man who epitomises Chelsea's unquenchable spirit.
Joe COLE 7
Thumped a shot against the post early on. Though he was not at his stylish best, he was always a threat to United. (sub: Makelele, 87 min)
Salomon KALOU 7
Very lively on the left in the opening exchanges, helped set the tone for Chelsea's subsequent domination. (sub: Shevchenko, 81 mins)
SHOCKERS
Ricardo CARVALHO 5
A shocking rare blunder allowed Rooney to snatch the equaliser. That mistake overshadowed his polished display.
Paulo FERREIRA 6
Decent enough defending but was often poor in his distribution and crossing before being sacrificed. (sub: Anelka, 66 min, 5)
SHIRKERS
Petr CECH 6
The Chelsea keeper was blameless for the Rooney goal but had little to do apart from one save from Giggs.
Didier DROGBA 6
On a day that was all about Chelsea's team spirit, in the face of adversity, Drogba let himself down by provoking rows with Ballack.
MAN UTD
STUNNER OR BUMMER?
SHINERS
Edwin VAN DER SAR 7
The Dutch goalkeeper made a couple of decent saves and always looked a reassuring presence between the United posts.
Mikael SILVESTRE 7
The Frenchman was as whole-hearted and reliable as ever as he was called into the side in place of Patrice Evra.
Wayne ROONEY 7
Grabbed his goal when Chelsea gave him one shaft of daylight. Total commitment but was forced to limp off. (sub: Ronaldo, 63 min, 6)
Darrren FLETCHER 7
He is not as eye-catching as most of his illustrious teammates but the Scot never lets anyone down and almost snatched a late leveller.
SHOCKERS
Wes BROWN 4
First-minute blunder set the tone for a poor United display and he was shaky when he moved to centreback early on.
Michael CARRICK 5
The United playmaker never really sparked into life and finished a forgettable day by conceding the decisive late penalty.
Ryan GIGGS 5
Not the skipper's most impressive display, he did not make much impact - although one shot almost embarrassed Cech.
ANDERSON 5
The Brazilian needed to bomb forward more if United were going to take this game by the scruff of the neck. (sub: O'Shea, 64 min, 6)
Nemanja VIDIC 5
Lasted just 10 minutes before being knocked out and suffering a bad facial injury in a collision with Drogba. (sub: Hargreaves, 14 min, 5)
Rio FERDINAND 6
Steady enough at the heart of defence until the dying moments, when he could have been sent off after a fracas with Makelele.
SHIRKERS
NANI 4
Never had an impact apart from one 50-yard run and off-target shot. Not a patch on fellow Portuguese winger Ronaldo, on this evidence.
HOW THEY DID IT
CHELSEA MAN UTD
2 Goals 1
8 Shots (on) 7
5 Shots (off) 1
8 Corners 3
0 Offsides 6
15 Fouls 16
3Y/0R Cards 4Y/0R
53 Poss % 47
Attendance: 41,828 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Mirror:
Michael Ballack blows title race wide openPaul Smith 27/04/2008
Michael Ballack blew the title race wide open yesterday, scoring twice to send Chelsea level on points with Manchester United at the top of the Premier League.
But United boss Sir Alex Ferguson left Stamford Bridge furious, convinced a decision by referee Alan Wiley might have cost his side the title.
German international Ballack said: "This gives us a chance. We are still very much in the hunt for the title after this fantastic result.
"Obviously there was pressure on the team going into the game but we stood up to the challenge and I still believe we can catch United."
Ballack and his team-mates held up a special team shirt devoted to Frank Lampard's mother Pat, who died last week, after his first goal, and he dedicated the Blues' victory to her.
"This victory was for Frank and his family," he said. "We are a very close club and our thoughts remain with him."
Ferguson accused Wiley of handing victory to Chelsea. A thrilling match was delicately poised at 1-1 when Michael Carrick was adjudged to have handled a cross.
"The penalty was an absolutely diabolical decision," raged Ferguson. "Granted, it hit his hand but he did not lift his hand above his shoulder and the ball was going direct to Rio Ferdinand.
"The referee should have seen it rather than rely on the linesman. If we are not going to get decisions like that then we could be in real trouble. When Ronaldo came on he was pulled back by Ballack for a penalty and nothing was given.
"I accept Chelsea won the first half but I thought we fought back well in the second."
Ballack headed Chelsea in front before half-time, but a ghastly error by defender Ricardo Carvalho gifted Wayne Rooney the chance to put United level.
Ballack - who had clashed with teammate Didier Drogba as they vied to take a free-kick 20 yards out - was coolness personified as he converted from the spot after Wiley's decision.
Yet Ferguson remains confident that United will pick up back-to-back title. "It is still in our hands," he said.
"We can do it. We have two games, West Ham and Wigan - and what's more we can also beat Barcelona on Tuesday."
But Rooney may be doubtful for that Champions League semi-final second leg after he limped out of yesterday's action with a groin problem.
Chelsea manager Avram Grant, under fire from fans for so much of the season, was warmly applauded by the home supporters after his side moved level on points with United at the top - albeit with an inferior goal difference.
"If you are not an optimist you shouldn't be in sports," said Grant, who fielded a three-man strike force of Drogba, Nicolas Anelka and Andriy Shevchenko in the late chase for victory.
"You need to be an optimist from game to game and also during the game like we did today. At 1-1 we needed to win.
"I am confident but we need to win these two remaining games and hope United loses one point."
Manchester United are at home to West Ham next Saturday, while Chelsea visit in-form Newcastle two days later.
Liverpool clinched fourth place as they came back from two goals down at Birmingham to draw 2-2.
Peter Crouch and Yossi Benayoun denied Birmingham a precious win and Reds boss Rafa Benitez - with one eye on the Champions League semi-final second leg at Chelsea on Wednesday - said: "I was really pleased with the way the team responded in the second half.
"I felt we needed to change players to try to keep a high tempo. But it was also good that some of them clearly wanted to show me I should think about them when I picked my team at Chelsea.
"To finish in the top four is always a minimum requirement - at Liverpool you must be in the Champions League and now we know we will be.
"I am not satisfied, I would like to finish higher. But at least we know that is secure and we can turn our attentions to trying to go to the final of the Champions League this season."