Monday, May 16, 2011

newcastle 2-2






Independent:

Muted send-off for Ancelotti as Abramovich prepares to strike

Chelsea 2 Newcastle United 2

By Mark Fleming at Stamford Bridge


There was no emotional farewell yesterday for manager Carlo Ancelotti,who is expected to pay the price for Chelsea's worst season during theownership of Roman Abramovich with his job.Instead, the Italian cut an isolated figure as Stamford Bridge badefarewell to the Premier League crown. The stadium was less than aquarter-full when the players and coaching staff went on what waseuphemistically called a "lap of appreciation".Didier Drogba, who could also be leaving Chelsea in the summer, smiledand waved to those supporters who had stayed behind, while Ancelottiseemed a little uncomfortable by the occasion. "We have to wait justone week. A week is not a long period, and see what happens," theItalian said.If, as expected, this proves to be Ancelotti's last home game incharge of Chelsea, then it was an unsatisfactory way for theDouble-winning manager to leave. When his fellow Italian ClaudioRanieri was shown the door with similar ruthless disdain by Abramovichin 2004, he was afforded a grand farewell by the Chelsea supporters inhis last game at the Bridge.Not for Ancelotti however. The only time his name was chanted from thestands was after the game had finished and Abramovich had left. Theindifference of the majority of Chelsea fans to Ancelotti's plight isperplexing, as this is the man who will forever be remembered forwinning the Double in his first season. However, some supporterscomplain about a lack of passion from Ancelotti and moan that he toooften follows the path of least resistance.The visit of Newcastle summed up Chelsea's season – they startedbrilliantly, and were ahead by the second minute when BranislavIvanovic bundled home Fernando Torres' near-post flick from a corner.They then wobbled when Ryan Taylor's free-kick was deflected in offJonas Gutierrez's back, before launching a late revival. Alex headedChelsea in front with seven minutes to go, only for it all to go wrongwith Steven Taylor's equaliser in the third minute of stoppage-time.The Newcastle manager, Alan Pardew, said: "It was one of the mostenjoyable goals I can think of. I was thrilled with some of theyounger players' performances. It was a just result."For Chelsea, the 18-year-old Josh McEachran looked tidy and composedin his first Premier League start, one of six changes made byAncelotti to the team that lost 2-1 at Old Trafford last weekend. Butanother of them, the £50m man Torres, was simply awful, which does notbode well for whoever replaces Ancelotti at the helm.


Substitutes: Chelsea Malouda (Ramires, 64) Drogba (Benayoun, 64)Essien (McEachran, 64). Newcastle LuaLua (Ferguson, 69), Ranger(Gutierrez, 76), Samuel Ameobi (Lovenkrands, 82). Booked: ChelseaIvanovic, Terry, Ramires, Lampard. Newcastle Enrique, Simpson.Man of the match: S Taylor. Match rating: 6/10.Possession: Chelsea 56% Newcastle 44%.Attempts on target: Chelsea 7 Newcastle 7.Referee: L Mason (Lancashire).Attendance: 41,739.


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Guardian:


Steven Taylor steals Chelsea's thunder with a late goal for Newcastle


Dominic Fifield at Stamford Bridge


Carlo Ancelotti trudged through the rather awkward post-match lap ofappreciation, with those who had stayed behind mustering enoughenthusiasm to chorus his name and Roman Abramovich applaudingpolitely, but the air of despondency was inescapable. The Italianwants to remain at this club to see out the final year of hiscontract, but he did not appear comfortable as he trod the touchline.If this was a send-off, it was depressingly downbeat.Chelsea's campaign is fizzling out, the point plucked here by StevenTaylor's deserved stoppage-time equaliser for Newcastle leaving mostin this arena numbed. It will end as the worst season of theAbramovich era – in terms of points accrued, trophies claimed andprogress made in Europe – and that will tarnish the memory of theunprecedented Double last season. The players had retreated ratherapologetically at the final whistle as if acknowledging the sense ofunderachievement that has set in.The delay before they re-emerged for the post-match parade tested thepatience of those locals prepared to stay, but everything about thisclub is in limbo at present: the sporting director, Frank Arnesen, isen route to Hamburg; the record signing, Fernando Torres, appears tobe praying for a new season and a fresh start; and the manager's ownposition will only become clear next week.Abramovich and his chief executive, Ron Gourlay, will deliberatebefore the Italian is informed. Does he expect to stay? "I think so, Ithink so," offered Ancelotti, though even that sounded deeplyunconvincing.He is in the dark, and that in itself does not bode well for hisfuture. His priority is to remain at Chelsea and, if he is sacked asexpected, continue in the Premier League. If not, and settled as he isin a flat in this plush pocket of west London, he may simply enjoy asabbatical until an opportunity arises."I don't know what will happen and I want to wait," he said. "We onlyhave to wait one week. It is the club that has to take a decision andjudge me. If my job was good, I will stay. If not, I will have to go.Sometimes I did a good job. Sometimes I could have done better."His team should have done better here. Their bright start hadBranislav Ivanovic bundling in Torres's flicked header, with theprospect of an end-of-season avalanche apparently very real. YetChelsea were stodgy thereafter, a line-up that included six changesfrom Old Trafford the previous weekend struggling to impose theirrhythm on the occasion. Ryan Taylor's free-kick deflected off JonásGutiérrez's back eight minutes later and the visitors were level, withAlan Pardew's charges arguably the more threatening team for longperiods thereafter.Torres summed up the hosts' toils, his touch still elusive and StevenTaylor and Fabricio Coloccini revelling in prolonging his misery. TheSpaniard has now managed one goal in 17 appearances since his £50marrival for Liverpool.He looks eager for a summer break and a chance to take stock.Newcastle barely offered him a sight of goal here, his confidencehaving been frayed further after an early thrashed effort flew out ofplay nearer the corner flag.Newcastle's resilience warranted praise. Shane Ferguson, likeChelsea's Josh McEachran, provided a mature and encouraging displayand a glimpse of a promising future. Joey Barton, forever thepantomime villain, marshalled their ranks impressively and Alex'sheaded goal seven minutes from time, with Tim Krul out of position,felt cruel. Yet Chelsea dawdled at a corner in stoppage time andSteven Taylor nodded in to secure the visitors' point. Newcastle hadprevailed here in the Carling Cup back in September, but this drawmust have felt just as satisfying.Their progress under Pardew may depend upon the level of funding madeavailable this summer. "Newcastle is a big, big club," said themanager. "We now want to attract one or two big players. You've got tooffer the fans hope and belief, and they'll be waiting for a few bignew players to come in. A performance like that will also give theowner the belief that we're doing things in the right way. If I wasthe owner, I'd think my investment was a bit more secure."A top-half finish would constitute a remarkable campaign given thetrauma of losing Andy Carroll so late in the January window. Chelseawill not end with any such satisfaction. Arguably the only moment tobe cherished here was reserved for Ivanovic's toddler, Stefan, whotottered up to the goal in front of the Matthew Harding stand to scorewhile his father looked on proudly.Almost a year ago, the post-match lap had been conducted in giddycelebration; that feels an age ago.


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Telegraph:


Chelsea 2 Newcastle United 2:


Carlo Ancelotti's new-look Chelsea looked anything but challengers fornext season's Premier League title as they threw away victory againstNewcastle.In what could be his final home game in charge, Ancelotti's teamselection very much appeared to have the new campaign in mind and itlooked promising when Branislav Ivanovic scored inside two minutes.But Jonas Gutierrez soon levelled after unwittingly deflecting in RyanTaylor's free-kick and although Alex headed the Blues back in frontlate on, Steven Taylor snatched a draw at the death.After seeing Manchester United depose them as champions yesterday,this afternoon's game was Chelsea's chance to lay down a marker fornext season as they paraded their new home kit.Despite appearing resigned to losing his job in the summer,Ancelotti's line-up reflected this as he made several changes,including starting Fernando Torres, Yossi Benayoun and Josh McEachran.And despite Ancelotti's protestations that they could play together,he decided against pairing Didier Drogba with Torres.It took the new-look Chelsea less than 10 minutes to open theiraccount, Frank Lampard's corner flicked on by Torres for Ivanovic tovolley home.The home side continued to dominate as Roman Abramovich watched onfrom the Stamford Bridge directors' box.But they undid the good work in the ninth minute when Alex gave theball straight to Peter Lovenkrands and John Terry tripped the striker,earning a booking.Making a rare start, Ryan Taylor struck the free-kick, which took ahuge deflection off Gutierrez and flew past the wrong-footed PetrCech.If that was unlucky for Chelsea, they were fortunate in the 16thminute when Shola Ameobi beat Cech in the air and the striker'sgoalbound header was cleared.The hosts also enjoyed a let-off when Ramires lunged horribly at DannySimpson but failed to earn even a booking.A crucial interception from Alex cut out a dangerous Shane Fergusoncross, while Ryan Taylor went close to deflecting the ball into hisown net at the other end after Ashley Cole's centre sparked panic.But as the half wore on, Chelsea began to look like a side that hadnot played together before as Newcastle more than matched them.The hosts' passing was sloppy, while Torres' inability to hold theball up was not helping and it appeared only a matter of time beforeDrogba entered the fray.Torres wasted a good crossing chance immediately after the restart ashis touch began to desert him, with any confidence he might havegained from ending his goal drought last month appearing to haveevaporated.Cole saw a header deflected behind and Ramires flashed wide from 30yards, although Newcastle remained a threat and Gutierrez looped aheader straight into Cech's arms and also curled too close to thegoalkeeper from 25 yards.Lampard had just been booked for going straight through the back ofJoey Barton and Ivanovic soon followed suit for tripping theimpressive Ferguson.The resulting Taylor free-kick was clutched by Cech, despite thelooming presence of Ameobi.With a little more than 25 minutes remaining, Ancelotti abandoned hisexperiment, introducing Drogba, Florent Malouda and Michael Essien forMcEachran, Ramires and Benayoun.Newcastle then lost Ferguson to injury, Kazenga LuaLua coming on.A brilliant Drogba free-kick evaded everyone and Simpson was cardedfor a foul on Essien as Chelsea tried to crank up the pressure.Cole made a hash of a glorious Drogba lay-off before Terry headed overunder pressure.Newcastle introduced Nile Ranger for Gutierrez and they went closethemselves when Lovenkrands' overhead kick screwed off target, theforward immediately replaced by Ameobi's younger brother Samuel.But that 83rd-minute change came during a Chelsea free-kick which setup the home side's second goal, Lampard crossing and Alex leapingabove Tim Krul to head home and net for the first time since October.Ryan Taylor almost levelled in stoppage-time before namesake Stevendid, taking advantage of slack marking to nod in Ranger's header backacross goal.


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Mail:

Chelsea 2 Newcastle 2:

Carlo heads for the exit as Blues fall to a new low

By Matt Barlow


The latest episode in what appears to be the slow death of CarloAncelotti somehow epitomised his second campaign.A lead surrendered, an indifferent performance and a manager lookingon, glazed and isolated.Steven Taylor scrambled Newcastle a deserved equaliser in stoppagetime, a goal which condemns Chelsea to their worst haul of BarclaysPremier League points since Roman Abramovich took over.Ancelotti stood at the mouth of the tunnel, staring into the middledistance, as the teams left the pitch. Four of his players trudgedpast - no eye contact, no handshake - before the Italian spun on hisheels and disappeared towards the dressing rooms.He reappeared half an hour later, trundling reluctantly behind theplayers and their children on an end-of-season lap of appreciation asBranislav Ivanovic's son Stefan stole the show by bundling a couple ofgoals into an empty net in front of the Matthew Harding Stand.Most fans had drained from Stamford Bridge by this point. Perhapsthere were 10,000 left inside the stadium and they applauded the squadand sang the manager's name. Ever dignified, Ancelotti offered agentle wave, lengthened his stride, cut a few corners and was thefirst back down the tunnel.Last year, he was Chelsea's first Double winning manager and led amass choir of supporters from an open-top bus. Last night, he made hisway home from the Bridge, unsure whether he will be back in charge ofthe team and unaware of any hard facts.'I don't know what will happen,' said Ancelotti. 'Everyone can give anopinion about my job here. It is the club who have to judge. If my jobwas good, I will stay. If they think it was not good, I will have togo. In my opinion, sometimes I did a good job, sometimes I could dobetter.'We have to wait just one week. A week is not a long period. You'reasking questions I'm not able to answer. You have to propose thisquestion to the club, not to me. I cannot give an answer.'Chelsea's backing for Ancelotti vanished in February, when chiefexecutive Ron Gourlay revealed the manager's position would beassessed at the end of the season. Since then, the silence has beendeafening.The club, who end their campaign at Everton on Sunday, still look setto finish runners-up behind Manchester United but they cannot surpass74 points.The previous low under Abramovich had been in 2003-04 when ClaudioRanieri's team compiled 79. The same old problems were in evidenceyesterday.A proud and talented team nearing the end of their natural cycle, buta limited squad, undermined by a poor recent transfer policy andlacking variety to change direction when things went badly.Ancelotti made six changes to the side beaten at Old Trafford theprevious week, including giving a full Premier League debut for JoshMcEachran, Yossi Benayoun's first League start for the club and arecall for Fernando Torres, but Chelsea found Newcastle spiritedopponents.Ivanovic used his knee to put the home side ahead in the second minutebut the visitors soon levelled when Ryan Taylor's free-kick hit JonasGutierrez in the back and beat Petr Cech. Torres had a hand in theopener but it failed to inspire him.The Spaniard soon drifted out of touch, seemingly devoid of confidenceand desperate for a rest. Abramovich winced as an early shot from his£50million striker narrowly missed a corner flag. Ancelotti revertedto the old guard after the break.On came the muscle of Didier Drogba, Michael Essien and FlorentMalouda and off went the craft of McEachran, Ramires and Benayoun.With seven minutes left, Alex drifted away from his marker to head ina free-kick which was badly misjudged by Tim Krul. It ought to havebeen the winner but the visitors, who brought famous siblingsubstitutes Sammy Ameobi and Kazenga LuaLua from the bench, respondedwith another set-piece.Ryan Taylor's deep corner reached Nile Ranger, who was free beyond thefar post, and he headed the ball back into the goalmouth.Steven Taylor was completely alone as he headed powerfully inside thepost. 'When you concede a lot of goals in the last minute, somethingis wrong,' mused Ancelotti.

Monday, May 09, 2011

man utd 1-2



Independent:


Gone in 30 seconds: United's flying start ends Chelsea dream

Manchester United 2 Chelsea 1

By Sam Wallace at Old Trafford



Sir Alex Ferguson stopped twice in front of the Stretford End on his way to the tunnel at the end of the game to offer his version of a genuflection to the supporters applauding his team off the pitch. It was a nice touch but, once again this season, and for the 12th time in his remarkable reign, Ferguson bows to no man.

Manchester United's record 19th title is just one point away; chances are they will seal it on Saturday afternoon in the early kick-off against Blackburn Rovers at roughly the same time Manchester City players are walking down the Wembley tunnel ahead of their FA Cup final. You imagine that Ferguson would not want it any other way.

This was the standout performance against top opposition that Ferguson had been looking for ever since Chelsea began their late-season revival with that victory over United at Old Trafford. Given what Carlo Ancelotti's team have been through in their mid-season slump, it was extraordinary that they should be in the title race with three games left but they were never truly in yesterday's match.

Not from the 37th second when, with his very first touch of the game, Javier Hernandez dispatched the ball past Petr Cech for United's first goal. Having made up 12 points on United with that 10-match unbeaten league run, Chelsea succumbed to exhaustion and mediocrity, just as the prospect of an unlikely championship defence came into focus.

Ancelotti's team were poor yesterday. They were two goals down within 23 minutes after Nemanja Vidic scored the second goal of a first half in which Branislav Ivanovic was shocking and David Luiz was not a great deal better. From his seat in the directors' box Arkady Abramovich, his father's representative at Old Trafford yesterday, smiled the wan smile of the distinctly unimpressed.

Not for the first time this season, Ryan Giggs ran the game for United from central midfield. He was given excellent support in two standout performances from Antonio Valencia and Park Ji-sung. Frank Lampard, who scored Chelsea's goal, attempted to rally his team-mates similarly but they were shot to bits and, by the end of the game, decidedly on the back foot.

United should have scored many more in the closing stages, when they peppered the Chelsea goal, not least Wayne Rooney. The United striker had some good moments but he was lucky to escape without a red card when he flicked a V-sign at the Chelsea supporters, having already been booked in the first half for a collision with Luiz.

Rooney was responding to a song in which he was he was repeatedly described in the coarsest possible terms. As he left the pitch following treatment, he responded and the footage might yet land him a Football Association charge. He gets more abuse than any other but he would be well-advised to avoid these traps.

Nevertheless, United were comfortably the dominant force in this game, even though Ancelotti did the sensible thing and dropped Fernando Torres to play 4-3-3. Not that it did him much good in the end. Salomon Kalou – who appeared to draw attention to his dissatisfaction at being left out in his response to scoring against Spurs the previous weekend – had the chance to score with a header in front of goal, just two minutes after United's second, but it was saved brilliantly by Edwin van der Sar.

Ancelotti was always likely to be sacked this summer whatever happened at Old Trafford, which made the evens offered by bookmakers yesterday quite appealing. For the first time in a while he looked despairing at the performance of some of his players – especially Luiz.

The Chelsea manager later conceded that he would have substituted 10 of his players at half-time if he had been allowed to do so. As usual, Ancelotti was gracious in conceding the title to United and praising Ferguson and, as usual, he pleaded complete ignorance when it came to the question of his future.

Looking at the Chelsea entourage in the directors' box yesterday, which included the chairman, Bruce Buck, and the chief executive, Ron Gourlay, it would be fair to say the person who probably has the best idea of Ancelotti's likely fate was young Arkady, not long out of his teens.

In the build-up to Hernandez's goal, Luiz had the chance to cut out Park's pass to the United striker but misjudged it catastrophically. As Ancelotti spread his arms on the touchline as if to demand an explanation, the Sky cameras picked up Luiz responding belligerently: "Not me." He did not come out for the second half and it was not hard to imagine that it may have been a little heated at the interval.

At half-time, the smart money was on Ivanovic to be substituted – having been booked for a crude trip on Rooney, he looked a liability. With every foul, Giggs was in the ear of Howard Webb, reminding the referee that he too was keeping track of the Chelsea right-back's crimes. Just before half-time, Ivanovic trod on Rooney's boot and was fortunate not to pick up another yellow card. It was the right decision.

It was telling that United were one goal ahead before a single Chelsea outfield player had touched the ball – with the exception of Luiz's botched block. The game was over before it even began for Chelsea. Of the three defeats they have suffered to United over the last two months, including the two in the Champions League quarter-finals, this was the worst.

The pass for the second goal came from Giggs on the left who, having won the ball back after a short corner, beat Kalou far too easily and crossed well. Vidic got across Ivanovic to head the ball in from close range. Lampard's goal on 68 minutes was from close range, after Ivanovic won a header down from substitute Ramires' cross.

In the closing stages, with Chelsea's belief and energy utterly sapped, Rooney and Hernandez might have had five goals between them. They knew it was over and the United players left the pitch to a sense of anticipation that when they are back here again it will be with the Premier League trophy.


Substitutes: Manchester United Evans (O'Shea, h-t), Smalling (Fabio, 88). Chelsea Ramires (Mikel, h-t), Alex (Luiz, h-t), Torres (Kalou, 61).

Booked: Manchester United Rooney, Giggs. Chelsea Ivanovic, Essien, Ramires, Torres.

Man of match Giggs. Match rating 7/10.

Possession: Man United 46% Chelsea 54%.

Attempts on target: Man Utd 9 Chelsea 11.

Referee H Webb (South Yorkshire).

Attendance 75,445.




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Guardian:


Manchester United beat Chelsea to move to verge of title



The title is Manchester United's in all but name. Arithmetic states that another point is required, away to Blackburn Rovers or at home to Blackpool, but the matter, in effect, was settled here. Chelsea, the reigning Premier League champions, were forced to confront their own inferiority at Old Trafford. The narrow score misrepresented the authority of Sir Alex Ferguson's players, who had scored after 37 seconds.

Few would have anticipated that United would exercise such domination of Chelsea. Michael Carrick maintained order in midfield to establish a basis for control, but the fixture did not have an academic or technical tone. Ferguson has weighed up these foes and obviously come to the conclusion that there is no need to treat them with particular caution. Chelsea were stretched and baffled by the movement of United.

In the aftermath of this occasion, it is suddenly recalled that United had defeated them home and away in the Champions League quarter-final. If anything, the opponents were less capable still in this encounter. United had come to the conclusion that Chelsea have lost some of the former durability. Much as David Luiz is an excellent footballer, the Chelsea centre-half will need to master the basics of defending if he is to fulfil his potential.

This was no time for kindness and Luiz had to give way to the more rudimentary Alex at half-time. The manager, Carlo Ancelotti, reported the player had a minor injury, but poised and talented as the Brazilian so obviously is there was still nothing to conceal his vulnerability as United mounted their onslaught.

This was a throwback to the exuberant United of former days, when Ryan Giggs attacked with devastating speed. Time has diminished the acceleration, but impact continues to be achieved because of his shrewdness. Chelsea also have men who are edging into the veteran category and none of them could cast aside their age. With their two early goals, United must have made them feel obsolete.

Chelsea did find the net through Frank Lampard to trim the lead, but the score is deceptive. They were never likely to be denied and the inevitable point or three will make them champions of England for the 19th time, so eclipsing Liverpool's record.

Despite football's cosmopolitan cast, the old grudges and rivalries have not become obsolete. In the Old Trafford stands, there may have been nearly as much crowing over that milestone. When Ferguson was appointed a quarter-of-a-century ago, overthrowing the Anfield club was his principal aim.

Success was far from immediate on that front, but Liverpool, picking up nicely under Kenny Dalglish's management, will know more clearly than ever that the onus is now on them to undermine a dominant power. It will take some doing while Ferguson is around.

Chelsea have no role in the conflicts of the north-west, yet they also have to rethink. In some senses the outcome of this fixture is a minor consideration, since the necessity of reshaping the squad was already obvious, but defeat cannot have helped Ancelotti's prospects of dodging the sack.

Football changes rapidly and the line of credit he enjoyed after completing the double a year ago is all but exhausted. Chelsea awakened some interest when trimming United's 2-0 lead, but there was no concerted challenge against a much superior side.

The opposition harmed them immediately. Park Ji-sung had sent Javier Hernández through for the opener in the first few moments. The visitors' durability vanished and United struck again after 23 minutes. Giggs took a short corner, had the ball returned to him and sent in a deep cross that was headed in by a loosely marked Nemanja Vidic.

The acrimony associated with this fixture came later, with the referee Howard Webb showing tolerance when, for instance, declining to show Branislav Ivanovic the second yellow card he probably deserved. It was a raw sort of day, with Wayne Rooney alleged to have gesticulated at visiting fans, but Chelsea felt the sting of this occasion most of all. The pursuit of United had been in vain.

Any question about the outcome ended with the Vidic goal, although Lampard did score after Ivanovic had knocked a cross by the substitute Ramires into his path with 68 minutes gone. Ferguson's side can begin to focus on a Champions League final against Barcelona. While that will be a challenge of a higher order United are entitled to pause and relish their work on the domestic scene.

Their points total will be 82 at most, but United have exercised as much control as circumstances demanded. Edwin van der Sar did make good saves, but it never looked likely that Chelsea would completely repair the grave damage done at the outset and Ferguson grumbled about penalty appeals denied. The form of Ancelotti's squad had been outstanding of late, but that was still a prolonged and unavailing effort to compensate for previous lapses. Ultimately, the superiority of United has been demonstrated. The lead should have been greater still, but an unmarked Hernández headed high from Antonio Valencia's cross in the 86th minute.

While the result did not reflect the trouncing that had been inflicted, everyone present understood United's superiority.





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Telegraph:


Manchester United 2 Chelsea 1:

By Henry Winter



Sir Alex Ferguson has all but completed his mission to knock Liverpool off their famous perch as the most successful club in English league history.

Manchester United are so close they can almost reach out and touch that record 19th trophy. They certainly played like champions on Sunday.

In 1991, Liverpool had 18 titles and United seven. Twenty years on, and thanks to Ferguson’s astonishing ability to build and rebuild sides, United are within one point of breaking Anfield’s mark. The lady with size issues will sing either at Ewood Park next Saturday or against Blackpool here next week.

United demonstrated why they are the best in the land yesterday, why they feel they have a hope in the Champions League final against Barcelona. Nemanja Vidic set the tone, a goalscoring captain who embodied the team’s will to win.

Ryan Giggs and Michael Carrick again excelled as the central partnership, delivering the ball constantly to friendly feet.

Wayne Rooney shuttled selflessly and productively between midfield and attack, supporting Javier Hernández, who took his goal with the ease of a natural-born scorer.

Not even Cristiano Ronaldo ever gave Ashley Cole, the Chelsea and England left-back, as much relentless grief as Antonio Valencia did yesterday.

Any number of contenders for the sponsors’ bubbly could be found in the victorious home dressing room, and it eventually went to Giggs, but the real catalyst was Ji-Sung Park, who ran and harried and created for 90 breathless minutes.

This is why United are champions, they possess so many players like Park who rise to the big occasion.

By contrast, the vanquished champions had nobody who came close to matching such high standards. Chelsea will panic in the summer, probably dismissing Carlo Ancelotti when the very obvious lesson preached at Old Trafford is the importance of stability.

Ferguson’s respect for Ancelotti was evident in the way he embraced the Italian at the final whistle, consoling him, along with his comment that Ancelotti doesn’t deserve “to have his future queried”. Sadly, it will be.

Ancelotti must take some responsibility for yesterday’s flat-footed, slack-tempo approach. The Old Trafford DJ played Pump It Up before kick-off – as if the electric atmosphere needed it, as if United needed any additional impetus.

Giggs, Park and Hernández flew through the champions, cutting through within 36 seconds to score. Red Devils? They were more like the Red Arrows.

This was United at their best, moving with speed and skill, giving an opponent little chance to form a meaningful barricade. Giggs teased a pass to Park, who let the ball run across him and then swept it forward.

Chelsea had a split second to stifle the whirlwind, to keep their title dream alive. They missed it. David Luiz should have cut Park’s ball out. He missed.

Hernández did not. A twitch of the Mexican’s shoulders wrong-footed Petr Cech, a strike from his right boot sent the ball racing into the net, bringing almost a guttural roar from the United support.

Ancelotti, not a man easily given to expressing anger, conveyed his displeasure to Luiz. He should have taken responsibility. He should have cut out the danger.

“Not me,” replied Luiz, unwilling to accept the blame. And that is where part of Chelsea’s problem lies, in the failure of some individuals to be accountable. And that is where part of United’s prominence, the desire of players to fulfil their missions.

Chelsea were as sluggish as United were fleet of foot and mind. Salomon Kalou was dispossessed by Giggs. Park was immense, hounding blue shirts, pressing them into losing the ball. He quickly found Rooney, whose 25-yarder was turned away by Cech.

Still United pressed, still Chelsea yielded possession. Park nicked the ball off Didier Drogba. The South Korean was everywhere, linking with Giggs, dinking a ball to the far post, where Hernández just failed to make contact. Chelsea were a mess.

United’s work-rate and superiority deserved a second. Then came another magical moment for United, another reminder of Giggs’s imagination. Giggs and Park worked a short-corner routine, and the Welshman tricked his way past Kalou. The yard of space by the byline created, Giggs lifted the ball across for Vidic, allowed a free run by Branislav Ivanovic, headed in.

The cadaver of Chelsea’s season twitched occasionally. Edwin van der Sar saved well from Kalou and then pushed away a Drogba free kick. Chelsea could easily have gone down to 10 when Ivanovic caught Rooney painfully on his heel.

Chelsea fans felt United’s No 10 was milking the contact and turned the air blue. Rooney responded with a V sign, although United claimed he was signalling to the assistant referee, Darren Cann, that he had been the recipient of two fouls by the Serb.

Few were taking bets on Ivanovic emerging for the second period and a top-class right-back is required this summer. Amazingly, Ivanovic survived.

Alex came on for Luiz and Ramires replaced Mikel. For all Luiz’s rawness as a defender in the white heat of the Premier League, the Brazilian could have been pushed into midfield, shaking it up. Chelsea claimed afterwards Luiz was carrying an injury.

Just after the hour, Ancelotti played his last card, a £50 million one that Chelsea had hoped would be an ace. Fernando Torres, still shorn of belief, was greeted by chants of “You should have signed for a big club” from the Stretford End.

The Spaniard ran hard enough but Chelsea remained too disjointed, barring one moment.

With 20 minutes remaining, Ramires crossed from the right, the ball deflecting high towards Ivanovic, whose head-down was turned in neatly by Frank Lampard. Apart from this poacher’s touch the midfielder was largely anonymous.

Moments after Cole’s desperate attempt to equalise from his own half failed, Howard Webb blew the final whistle and United players gathered in a massed, jubilant huddle.

Ferguson marched purposefully down the touchline, acknowledging the salutes. His players had proved themselves the best in England. Now they have to prove themselves the best in Europe.




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Mail:


Manchester United 2 Chelsea 1: Sir Alex laps it up after Hernandez and Vidic hand boss the glory

By Matt Lawton



Take a bow, Manchester United. Sir Alex Ferguson did so before the Stretford End moments after the final whistle and rightly so given how impressive his side were on Sunday.

Not for the first time this season, they have proved themselves players who rise to the occasion. A team who now sit within touching distance of the 19th league title they so desperately crave because they possess a spirit that has too often been missing in their main rivals.

They destroyed Chelsea on every level here at Old Trafford: technically and tactically, but also mentally. They were strong where Chelsea were weak, focused where Chelsea suffered fatal lapses in concentration. A group of players, once they secure the point they need from their remaining two games, who will be worthy champions of the Barclays Premier League.

Ferguson will obviously take enormous satisfaction from knocking Liverpool off their perch but he will also derive great pleasure from the way they have taken the title off Chelsea, too. The margin of victory might have been bigger had Howard Webb awarded a penalty, possibly even two.

Are United inferior to some of the teams Ferguson has created in the past? Quite possibly, but it is time to move on from such comparisons and instead recognise the qualities this group possess.

Qualities that have not only allowed them to all but land Ferguson’s 12th championship but gain a place in their third Champions League final in four years, too. Never mind a 17th win in 18 home league games.

Players who so impressed in the two legs of the European quarter-final against Chelsea excelled again on this occasion.

While Park Ji-sung and Antonio Valencia were marvellous on the flanks, Ryan Giggs and Michael Carrick were superb in the centre. Carrick was the model of class and composure, so calm and assured in the midfield battle zone.

In Giggs he had the ideal partner — a player whose passing was bordering on perfection, as impressive as players like Frank Lampard and Michael Essien were disappointing.

Giggs received Sky Sports’ man-of-the-match champagne afterwards and it was far from an injustice but, for this observer, he was actually pipped by Park for such an accolade.

The South Korean started with the pass that enabled Javier Hernandez to score his 20th goal of the season after just 36 seconds and he was outstanding from the first minute to the last, offensively and defensively.

At the back, United were again so much better than their opponents. Where Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic were so formidable — Vidic even grabbing what proved to be the decisive second goal — David Luiz and John Terry were surprisingly disappointing. Luiz still looks like an excellent January signing but he was very much at fault for the first goal and looked so nervous that Carlo Ancelotti decided to hook him at half-time.

Chelsea never expected to get back in a position where they could win the league this season but the moment they did they choked, their failure to cope with the pressure of the situation something that might well be used in evidence against Ancelotti by his employers.

Ferguson’s position is obviously much more secure and as a manager he looks like a genius this week. He took the decision to rest so many players in a European semi-final and the gamble has paid off beautifully. A place alongside Barcelona at Wembley and a team playing with fresh legs here at Old Trafford four days later. ‘That has won us the title,’ declared Ferguson.

Ancelotti rather hoped his decision to leave Fernando Torres on the bench would pay off but after little more than half a minute his team were a goal down. It was a spectacular start, Park receiving a pass from Giggs and then sending Hernandez clear with a super delivery of his own before watching the Mexican guide a terrific finish beyond Petr Cech. Luiz protested to his colleagues, insisting he was not at fault. But he was — he should have intercepted Park’s pass.

United were so much more alert. Wayne Rooney forced a fine save from Cech with a beautifully hit strike and Hernandez was then inches away from meeting a Park cross with a close-range effort.

Other opportunities would follow before Chelsea eventually responded with a corner that very nearly enabled Didier Drogba, then Salomon Kalou, to strike. But when Giggs followed a short-corner routine with Park in the 23rd minute by beating Kalou and then delivering a perfect cross, Vidic surged ahead of a static Branislav Ivanovic to send a bouncing header beyond Cech for United’s second goal.

Chelsea had their moments and Edwin van der Sar was forced to make a couple of decent saves — to deny Kalou and Drogba.

Ancelotti took off John Mikel Obi as well as Luiz at half-time, sending on Ramires and Alex, but United remained dominant, even if Lampard managed to reduce the deficit in the 68th minute when he pounced on Ivanovic’s header — from a deflected Ramires cross — with a close-range volley.

By then, United had been denied two possible penalties. First when Lampard blocked a Valencia cross with a raised hand, then when Valencia and Terry collided.

But Rooney and Hernandez should have scored after that — Rooney seeing one effort cleared off the line by Alex — and it would have felt hugely unfair had Chelsea snatched an equaliser during a tense, if still one-sided, final 20 minutes.

Will this be Ferguson’s greatest achievement? That is open to debate but he has not enjoyed many moments more than this one.


MATCH FACTS

MANCHESTER UNITED (4-4-1-1): Van der Sar 7; Fabio 6 (Smalling 88min),
Ferdinand 7, Vidic 7, O’Shea 6 (Evans 46, 6); Valencia 8, Carrick 7, Giggs 7, Park 9; Rooney 8; Hernandez 8. Subs not used: Kuszczak, Anderson, Nani, Scholes, Berbatov. Booked: Giggs, Rooney. Scorers: Hernandez 1, Vidic 23.

CHELSEA (4-3-3): Cech 6; Ivanovic 5,
Luiz 5 (Alex 46, 6), Terry 6, Cole 6; Essien 6, Lampard 6, Mikel 5 (Ramires 46, 6); Kalou 6 (Torres 61, 5), Drogba 6,
Malouda 6. Subs not used: Turnbull,
Ferreira, Benayoun, Anelka. Booked:
Ivanovic, Essien, Ramires, Drogba.
Scorer: Lampard 69.

Man of the match: Park Ji-sung.
Referee: Howard Webb 7.
Attendance: 75,445.




================================




Mirror:



Man United 2-1 Chelsea:

By Martin Lipton


More than just a victory to underline the truth and rewrite history.

More than three points to prove the most important point of all.

Instead, simply an object lesson in quality from first minute to last, the sort of display that even Barcelona will have to acknowledge that ­demonstrated this is a United team to stand comparison with those of their glorious past.

Forget the scoreline, the ­statistical blip that might fool you into believing the title decider was a contest.

It wasn’t. It was a mauling, a massacre, the sort of comprehensive dismantling of your closest rivals that can take years for a team to get over.

As Old Trafford rose as one to celebrate the triumph that will surely be confirmed at Ewood Park next Saturday, the dividing line between trophy haves and have-nots has never been so graphic.

Chelsea might have spent £75million in January but in the final analysis it made no ­difference. Didn’t even close the gap a fraction.

Indeed, rather than Howard Webb giving United the benefit of the doubt as Sir Alex Ferguson had wanted, the referee could easily have sent Chelsea down to 10 and awarded two penalties.

Those potential ­decisions illustrated the gulf.

Nobody in blue could compete with the energy shown by the outstanding Ji-Sung Park.

None had an iota of the vibrancy of Javier Hernandez, the imagination of Wayne Rooney.

Neither, either, did the Chelsea back-line look even close to their counterparts, Ashley Cole destroyed by Antonio Valencia, Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic the very embodiment of the defensive solidity the Londoners misplaced as they walked out of the tunnel.

Last night, Fergie’s raised-arm salute to the Stretford End was the symbol of United’s ­dominance, while a chastened Carlo ­Ancelotti looked as beaten and battered as his team.

And beaten, battered, ­bewildered they were, a side that will now be broken up, with Ancelotti’s successor asked to rebuild rather than work off the architect’s design bequeathed by Jose Mourinho.

A monument seven years in the construction but brought down, for good, in the space of 90 minutes in which United simply took Chelsea apart piece by painful piece.

Ancelotti’s final message to his players was simple: be calm, relax, believe in ­yourselves. Fergie’s was even simpler: win.

Within 37 seconds, it was clear who was listening, and who not.

Receiving from Ryan Giggs, Park made ground before ­slipping beyond David Luiz’s desperate, mistimed lunge, sending Hernandez through on goal.

More than half of the players on the pitch had not touched the ball as the Mexican ­unerringly found the back of the Chelsea net, Luiz’s response of ‘not me’ as Ancelotti sought to apportion blame summing everything up.

Still 89 minutes to go but Chelsea were totally thrown and for 25 minutes, United utterly in command.

Park was everywhere, it seemed, Rooney dropping into spaces and causing mayhem, Valencia starting to terrorise Cole, Chelsea passing the ball into touch with staggering, almost inconceivable ­regularity.

Only the reactions of Petr Cech – needing every inch of his frame – denied Rooney’s 30-yarder, Hernandez needed just a touch to convert a curling Park centre, with the England superstar narrowly wide after a truly thrilling length-of-the-field move that summed up everything good about United.

And on 24 minutes, they had what they deserved.

Cech excelled again to keep out Park’s surprise snapshot but Chelsea fell asleep at the resulting short corner, Giggs skated past Salomon Kalou and Branislav Ivanovic stood there as Vidic powered in from behind him to head down and over the line. Maybe, had Kalou headed past Edwin Van der Sar when John Terry flicked on soon ­afterwards, or Didier Drogba’s free-kick beaten the Dutchman, it might have been different.

But Ivanovic, on a search and destroy mission to get Rooney, was lucky to stay on and while Luiz and John Obi Mikel were hooked at the break, and the ineffecutual Fernando Torres sent on with half an hour to go, United were far, far better.

Frank Lampard escaped as he handled Valencia’s cross, Terry also appeared to down the winger and even when Lampard nudged home after Ivanovic nodded on from Ramires’ deflected cross, United rarely looked worried.

Alex’s brilliant goalline ­clearance denied Rooney, who then missed three presentable chances in quick succession.

And when Torres, fed by Florent Malouda 18 yards out, pulled lamely wide of the near post, it was a metaphor for his contribution since ­deadline day.

There was nothing left for Chelsea to give.

United, though, have ­effectively completed part one of the grand odyssey.

Part two stands before them at Wembley on May 28.

Play like this and anything is possible.





================================




Sun:


Man Utd 2 Chelsea 1

By SHAUN CUSTIS



THE table does not lie. Manchester United are deservedly the Premier League's team of the season.

They proved it at Old Trafford yesterday by seeing off nearest challengers Chelsea with a cracking performance not reflected by the narrow scoreline.

That record-breaking 19th title, which will eclipse arch-rivals Liverpool, is in the bag. One point from their last two games will confirm they have wrestled the trophy back from the Blues and it is surely just a formality.

The players are convinced. They jumped around in a big huddle at the end, while manager Alex Ferguson bowed to the fans.

And how much better will they enjoy the champagne if they wrap it up against Blackburn next week, 20 minutes before neighbours Manchester City take to the field for the FA Cup final against Stoke.

Isn't that just typical? Though City knocked United out in the semi-finals, they will still have to play second fiddle to the big beast across town even if they win at Wembley.

Fergie is not usually a man to count his chickens. But even he was talking like the job was done and, with the Champions League final to come against Barcelona, the domestic and European double is on.

Meanwhile, the inquests will begin at Stamford Bridge about where it has gone wrong. Manager Carlo Ancelotti is tipped to lose his job, despite winning the Double last season and finishing runner-up this time.

Owner Roman Abramovich should take a step back and have a good think about that before he swings the axe. A couple of new faces to freshen up the squad could make all the difference.

Supposedly, this has been a mediocre season, where United have merely been the best of a bad job. Yet the Red Devils were infinitely superior to a Chelsea side which had been coming on strong with eight wins and a draw in their previous nine outings.

United were in control within 36 seconds of the kick-off and never looked in danger from then on.

The brilliant Ji-Sung Park collected the ball from Ryan Giggs and his pass through the middle evaded the outstretched leg of David Luiz.

Javier Hernandez was on to it and, left one on one with Petr Cech, calmly tucked the ball into the corner. It was the 20th goal of a stunning debut season for the young Mexican.

Luiz protested to the bench that it was not his fault. But it certainly looked like he could have done better and Ancelotti thought so too. At half-time the £23million man was subbed.

The early goal set the tone for the afternoon and it took an excellent save from Cech to stop Wayne Rooney making it two.

Park, whose batteries never run low, was everywhere - hurrying, scurrying, getting in tackles and powering in shots, such as when Cech beat away his right-foot strike to concede a corner which led to United's second goal on 23 minutes.

Giggs took a short one, got the ball back and, when his cross cleared Luiz, skipper Nemanja Vidic nipped in front of the static Branislav Ivanovic to head home.

It was unusual for this Chelsea defence, the misers of the Premier League, to be cut open so easily. They just did not look at it.

Ashley Cole, for instance, was having a torrid time against Antonio Valencia. The Ecuadorian star is getting better every week after coming back from six months out with a broken ankle.

The visitors had a couple of chances but veteran Edwin van der Sar was equal to the task. He pushed away Salomon Kalou's header and saved Didier Drogba's free-kick.

When Ivanovic, already on a yellow card, caught Rooney on the ankle it looked like Chelsea might go down to 10 men.

Ivanovic got away with it but Rooney was not happy and, as he limped towards the touchline, aimed two fingers in the direction of the baying Blues fans.

It is a shame he could not keep himself in check. He was playing so well and making his point well enough on the pitch.

Rooney was soon back on, giving his opponents trouble again, and it was an awful long way back for Chelsea.

They were fortunate not to concede a penalty when the ball clearly struck the sliding Frank Lampard's arm from a Valencia cross.

United dropped the tempo briefly and Fergie spotted it. He was out in the technical area trying to sort it all out when Chelsea pulled a goal back.

A cross from sub Ramires flicked off Jonny Evans and Ivanovic's header down was instinctively diverted into the net by Lampard with 22 minutes remaining.

Yet you did not get the feeling this was the start of a great Chelsea comeback. It was just a United hiccup. They could have restored their two-goal advantage immediately. Hernandez squared for Rooney, whose sliding shot was blocked on the line by Alex.

Rooney then had three opportunities within about 30 seconds, as he shot wide, just failed to dribble round Cech and had another effort deflected over the bar.

It was a tidal wave and somehow Hernandez also headed over from another Valencia cross.

The Blues had one sniff to equalise but £50million Fernando Torres, who had come on for the last half-hour in place of Kalou, dragged his effort wide.

More misery for the Spaniard, total despair for Chelsea.


===============================

Sunday, May 01, 2011

tottenham 2-1





Independent:



Video nasty as Kalou ignites title race

Chelsea 2 Tottenham Hotspur 1: Blues move within three points of United but the case for a helping hand from technology is strengthened

By Steve Tongue at Stamford Bridge


The unanswerable case for video technology was made yet again here yesterday evening as Chelsea benefited from two goals that all available evidence suggested should not have been allowed. It could not be said with any certainty that the whole of the ball had crossed the line for Frank Lampard's equaliser on the cusp of half-time after the latest howler by the accident-prone goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes.

In fact, the verdict from all the camera angles available to Sky Sports in their live coverage was that it had not done so. To compound Tottenham's sense of injustice, Salomon Kalou was narrowly offside as Didier Drogba set him up for the winning goal a few minutes from the end of a typically frantic derby. Thus can some of the season's biggest issues be influenced, in this case potentially costing millions of pounds.

Spurs will certainly be out of pocket if, as now seems likely, they miss out on Champions' League football next season. Stranded four points behind Manchester City, whom they visit on 10 May, they are even vulnerable to sixth-placed Liverpool, who could deprive them of a place in the Europa League. Two days before that game, Chelsea undertake their own trip to Manchester, hoping that Arsenal have done them a favour at the Emirates today by beating United and keeping the gap at the top to three points.

Carlo Ancelotti employed the politics of compromise in picking both Fernando Torres and Drogba to start and although the latter was formidable, Torres again achieved far less and was withdrawn after an hour. There was little indication that having finally scored last Saturday after more than 12 hours in a Chelsea shirt it had made a new man of him. The one benefit of his arrival has been to inspire Drogba, whose shooting made Gomes a nervous wreck. "Didier played for the team," his manager said, after admitting: "We were lucky. The decision [for the first goal] was wrong."

Lampard pointed out that after the even worse mistake that cost him a goal for England against Germany at the World Cup, "I was due one of those". His uncle, Harry Redknapp, was dignified in his acceptance of the error while making his frustration clear: "The linesman has had a guess and guessed wrong. Until we get technology it's going to keep happening."

Spurs played well, with Luka Modric excellent and Rafael van der Vaart deeper than usual, in a line of four across the midfield. The Dutchman played an important role in a stunning goal after 18 minutes. Gareth Bale directed a throw-in towards him to hook adroitly over his shoulder for Sandro, who took a step forward and from 30 yards hammered the ball past Petr Cech.

That all happened after Drogba was denied one of the goals of the season when he lined up a free-kick 35 yards out and thudded it against the bar. Spurs seemed to be heading to the dressing room with their lead intact after Gomes touched Michael Essien's header over the bar. In added time, however, Gomes fumbled Lampard's drive towards his line in familiar hapless fashion, then grabbed it back. After brief consultation, the referee Andre Marriner indicated Chelsea had their equaliser.

Drogba had obviously decided to capitalise on any lingering unease in the goalkeeper's mind. When he hit another ferocious shot seven minutes into the second half, Gomes was not sufficiently confident to attempt a catch, but grateful that it was at a comfortable height to parry away.

Ten minutes later the Ivorian audaciously struck a free-kick at least 40 yards out and Gomes did little more than pat it away at Kalou, who with his first touch after replacing Torres, could not control his shot.

Kalou made amends soon after Sir Alex Ferguson had left the stadium, but again the replays suggested the goal should not have been allowed, for he was offside as Drogba knocked the ball forward.

Attendance: 41,681

Referee: Andre Marriner

Man of the match: Drogba

Match rating: 7/10




==============================================




Observer:



Salomon Kalou keeps Chelsea in title hunt as Spurs fluff their lines

Dominic Fifield at Stamford Bridge



Chelsea's title defence had previously felt tinged with desperation, at best an optimistic pursuit from an apparently hopeless position, though now it is fuelled with conviction.

This late win thrust the holders to within three points of Manchester United at the top, with a trip to Old Trafford to come next weekend. Sir Alex Ferguson had left the arena 15 minutes before the final whistle quietly content, the Premier League trophy apparently within his grasp; had he stayed, he might have ended up crying "conspiracy".

Even freakish good fortune is propelling Chelsea on to the leaders' shoulders at present. Both their goals here were laced with controversy, the kind of rewards that would normally be flagged down by the officials and, if only grudgingly, later conceded as correct calls. Yet, when the holders needed them most, they reaped the benefits from critical oversights.

This was an eighth win in nine league games. Such luck would never have been with them back in a dire mid-winter when a run of 10 points from 11 matches seemed to have wrecked their chances. Their luck has now turned.

Carlo Ancelotti, whose side trailed United by 15 points in March with form and confidence drained, conceded as much in the aftermath. "We were lucky," was his honest assessment, even if his team's refusal to surrender their title is rather more admirable.

There was a relentlessness to their approach here, the contest frantic as both teams vied to maintain their season's remaining objectives, until Didier Drogba sliced his shot across the mess in the six-yard box and the substitute Salomon Kalou prodded in a winner. The Ivorian appeared to be offside as Drogba connected, though there was no flag to save Spurs. The assistant referee, Martin Yerby, had benefited Tottenham earlier this season when allowing Tom Huddlestone's winner against Fulham. Here he left them frustrated.

Yet their real exasperation was reserved for his fellow linesman, Mike Cairns. The visitors had led through Sandro's staggering first goal for the club, a half-volley dispatched with venom to rip through Petr Cech's fingertips from 30 yards, and were just starting to consider a first win here since 1990 as the interval approached when Frank Lampard spat a shot at goal from distance. The attempt dipped but was still collectible, only for Heurelho Gomes to endure a repeat of the butter fingers that benefited Real Madrid last month. The shot squirmed through his grasp, dribbling back towards the line. For all the controversy that ensued, the error was shocking. Lampard was unrepentant afterwards. "I think after what happened to me in the World Cup game against Germany, I deserved a bit of luck," he said.

There was at least a desperate attempt at recovery, and Gomes had appeared to claw the ball away before it had crossed entirely, but Cairns was already edging tentatively back towards halfway. The confusion was brief, choked by Andre Marriner's award, and the Spurs players duly retired at the interval smouldering with a sense of injustice, and Gomes with agonised regret.

"It's not the time to crucify him," said Harry Redknapp, but the balance of the contest had tipped. Tottenham created only sporadic half-chances thereafter as they sat increasingly deep, their energy levels sapped as they chased the ball. Kalou's second could ultimately prove to be the goal that denied them a £30m return to the Champions League.

Chelsea, in contrast, have restored their momentum. Their good fortune was not merely reserved for refereeing oversights and inexplicable goalkeeping errors here. Ancelotti would not accept as much, but he had effectively escaped punishment for his risky decision to recall Fernando Torres to his starting line-up in place of Kalou, using the Spaniard as his central striking pivot and asking Drogba to operate in a wider and deeper role.

Changing a winning side had felt unnecessary, even if the £50m Torres had opened his account the previous weekend. His withdrawal just after the hour seemed to confirm the inclusion as a misjudgment, a sentiment reinforced by the impact Kalou then made.

Drogba's power and presence remained, even if his combination play with Torres continues to be lacking. The Ivorian battered a 35-yard free-kick on to the bar, via Gomes's touch, and later drew a less convincing save from the goalkeeper with Kalou missing the rebound. When that sailed high and wide, Chelsea's challenge appeared on the wane.

Ferguson left moments later hoping victory against Arsenal on Sunday would edge his team eight points clear and within sight of the finish line. "He didn't see the last goal," said Ancelotti. "I will send him a message to say we won."

Whether Torres starts Sunday's game at Old Trafford remains to be seen – he lasted only until the break in the Champions League quarter-final there – but Chelsea's recovery is impressive regardless.

At half-time in the league meeting with United at Stamford Bridge in March they had effectively trailed the leaders by 18 points. Now they can realistically travel to Manchester on Sunday aspiring to spread panic with two more games still to play.

"It's been important that we were able to close that gap in the last two months, and that means my team had a good reaction," said Ancelotti. "I don't want to joke, but when the sun comes out and the temperature is hotter, we play better. We suffer in the winter temperatures. It could be a good reason to explain this."

That will not be an acceptable explanation for the owner, Roman Abramovich, if this campaign ends trophyless, with the manager's own future at this club potentially to be determined on the success of his team's title defence. Yet, where once there was only vague hope, now Chelsea have belief.


THE FANS' PLAYER RATINGS AND VERDICT

TONY GLOVER, OleOle.com/blogs/Chelsea blogs

This was a fantastic result. There is no sweeter feeling than beating Spurs and it's even funnier that one of the goals didn't cross the line and the other was offside. Hilarious. Everyone played well today but for me Mikel was the best player on the pitch. Now we are right up there with United and might even nick the title.

The fan's player ratings Cech 7; Ivanovic 8, David Luiz 8, Terry 8, Cole 8; Essien 6 (Ramires 57 7), Mikel 9, Lampard 7; Drogba 8, Torres 8 (Kalou 62 7), Malouda 6 (Anelka 73 7)


DAVE MASON, Observer reader

Two terrible decisions against us. I don't understand what system was in place to award that ball over the line. But what the hell was Gomes doing for the goal? I've lost all patience with him. One win in 11 games, that's the sort of form we had when we brought Redknapp in as manager.

The fan's player ratings Gomes 3; Kaboul 6, Gallas 8, Dawson 7, Corluka 6 (Pienaar 78 n/a); Lennon 1, Sandro 9, Modric 6, Bale 3; Van der Vaart 6 (Jenas 85 n/a); Pavlyuchenko 6 (Defoe 58 6)




============================================




Telegraph:


Chelsea 2 Tottenham Hotspur 1

By Duncan White, at Stamford Bridge



For once Sir Alex Ferguson’s timing was off. With only a few minutes left of this game he evidently decided he had seen enough and left his seat in the stand to beat the traffic.

He would not have got far he got before he heard the roar from Stamford Bridge that told him the title race is not yet over.

“He didn’t see the last goal so he probably thought it was a draw,” Carlo Ancelotti said. “We sent him a message to let him know we scored.”

Chelsea moved to within three points of Manchester United, who travel to the Emirates to play Arsenal on Sunday.

This was Chelsea’s eighth win in nine games as Carlo Ancelotti, who is expected to lose his job at the end of the season, leads a late charge — from fifth at one stage – for an unlikely title.

It was not only in the timing of the goal that Chelsea were fortunate, though, and this result will be hard to take for Spurs.

Having taken the lead, through a spectacular striker from Sandro, Chelsea equalised with a Frank Lampard shot that squirmed through a hapless Heurelho Gomes but did not cross the line and won the game through a goal from Salomon Kalou who was just offside.

Tottenham's chances of catching Manchester City and qualifying for the Champions League have been severely diminished. Two mistakes that could cost Tottenham £30million.

“We can’t throw in the towel if we don’t qualify,” Redknapp said.

“This is a team that could win the championship in the next couple of years so we have to keep being positive. We have got to keep looking to push on.”

It had all started so well for Spurs. They weathered 20 minutes of Chelsea dominating, with Florent Malouda’s movement from the left giving them real problems.

Redknapp had spent several minutes trying to get Sandro to stop ranging forward in pursuit of Lampard and appeared to have given up when the Brazilian went sprinting goalward again.

Rafael van der Vaart cleverly flicked Gareth Bale’s throw into the space behind him and Sandro, running on, cut the ball on the full and sent it arching into the top corner, with Petr Cech not able to get enough of his glove to the ball.

When Sandro ran over to celebrate in front of the bench, Redknapp finally got the opportunity to give the player his tactical lesson. A bemused Sandro had to cut short his duck dance.

“I still don’t think he understood me,” Redknapp said.

Until that point Gomes had been Spurs’ best player. Didier Drogba, starting with, and once again outshining, Fernando Torres, hit a ferocious free-kick that dipped late and the Brazilian goalkeeper did superbly to tip the ball onto the bar.

He was also alert in pushing over a Michael Essien header. With less than a minute to go until the break he ruined all that with an error that recalled his soft concession against Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo in the Champions League.

Lampard’s shot was an awkward height to field but was straight at Gomes and hardly travelling at speed. Still, he let the ball between his legs and it rolled goalward. What happened next provoked confusion.

The referee Andre Marriner and most of the players carried on playing, with Gomes throwing out the ball, before the official realised that his assistant, Mike Cairns, had given the goal. The Chelsea fans went into belated celebration while Tottenham’s players crowded Marriner in protest.

“The linesman’s had a guess, really,” Redknapp said. “It’s impossible to see from where he is. It’s an honest guess but he guessed wrong. He made a mistake. It happens all the time and if we don’t get the technology it is going to keep happening.

"It takes five seconds to make the right decision.” With the crowd goading him at his every touch, Gomes looked drained of confidence. The assistant might have made the mistake but the goalkeeper had put his team in that position.

“This is a time to stand by him, not to crucify him,” Redknapp said.

Gomes was clearly still shaken when he parried another powerfully struck Drogba free-kick straight to Kalou, whose wild swing sent the ball high over the bar from close range. Kalou had only just come on as Ancelotti sought to re-energise his flagging side.

Torres, the man Kalou replaced, had actually impressed in the opening minutes but faded from the game.

Chelsea had pressed remorselessly in the closing stages. Malouda had a penalty appeal rejected, Lampard shot over from a Drogba flick and John Terry, on his 500th appearance for the club, could not get enough power on his sidefooted shot.

The winner came eventually, though.

Anelka and Drogba had caused panic in the Spurs box before the latter hit the ball across the area to Kalou, who was just offside. He poked the ball into the net to keep the title race alive.





=================================================




Mail:



Chelsea 2 Tottenham 1: Kalou scrambles winner as Blues scrape controversial win

By Rob Draper



Chelsea, the beneficiaries of some outrageous fortune and even worse officiating on Saturday, refuse to surrender their Premier League trophy lightly.

Fifteen points behind Manchester United two months ago, Carlo Ancelotti's team moved to within three on Saturday before next week's title showdown at Old Trafford.

Unexpectedly, this most bizarre of title races continues to enthrall right to the end. Sir Alex Ferguson, who was at Stamford Bridge but left before the 89th-minute winning goal, will not be overly concerned, but he will undoubtedly recall that it was just over a year ago at Old Trafford that a Chelsea victory turned last year's title run-in.

As then, Chelsea have drawn upon deep reserves of mental strength to revive their season.

The difference on Saturday was that abysmal officiating in their favour was added to that mix, which is an unbeatable combination.

Though they deserved neither their equalising goal from Frank Lampard, which was awarded despite not crossing the line, nor their winner from Salomon Kalou, which was offside, they produced a rampaging performance in a pulsating London derby.

They refused to capitulate, ekeing out three points to maintain their unlikely dream of retaining their title.

Chelsea do make the most of their opportunities. Few will dwell on the continuing renaissance of Didier Drogba, the strength of John Obi Mikel or the indefatigability of Lampard when assessing this game.

More shamefully, little will be made of an opening strike from Sandro that would be a contender for goal of the season had Wayne Rooney not already appropriated that title.

Saturday was all about referee Andre Marriner, or more pertinently, his assistants Mike Cairns and Martin Yerby, who made two big calls and got both wrong.

Admirably, both managers maintained their dignity in the wake of the decisions. Harry Redknapp should take most praise, given that a Champions League spot is now slipping away from his club.

'The linesman has made an honest judgment and made a mistake but he hasn't gone into the game wanting to give a wrong decision or done it because he doesn't want us to win,' he said.

'We were lucky,' said Ancelotti. 'I have to be honest. The decision was wrong but it was a difficult decision.'

Watch and learn, Jose Mourinho, Sir Alex Ferguson and numerous cheap imitations. How to exercise free speech and maintain your integrity.

Having opted to restore Fernando Torres to the apex of his attack, with Drogba sacrificed to a right-hand berth, Ancelotti could feel initially justified with a flurry of chances, none better than the Ivorian's superb 40-yard dipping free-kick on 14 minutes which appeared to be touched on to the bar by Heurelho Gomes.

Just four minutes later, his effort was surpassed by Sandro.

Much of this game was scintillating, yet nothing topped the opening goal.

A delightful overhead pass from Rafael van der Vaart fell invitingly into the Brazilian's path 30 yards from goal.

He took a touch and unleashed a swerving, dipping strike high into the net and raced to the bench, anticipating a gleeful reception but ran into a lecture from Redknapp on the importance of tracking Lampard.

Chelsea's early ascendancy thereafter withered, which made what transpired all the more crucial.

When Lampard struck the ball from 30 yards out on 45 minutes, there was little danger as Gomes collected. But then came a fumble, followed by a squirm and suddenly the goalkeeper was scrambling to pull the ball back from the line. Diving in: Younes Kaboul (right) slides in to challenge Chelsea's Florent Malouda

Marriner and his assistant Cairns appeared to be playing on as confusion reigned and Ancelotti and Redknapp exchanged friendly banter on the touchline.

Somehow, a good 20 seconds after the incident, a decision was taken to award a goal, wrongly as it turned out.

'He's had a guess,' surmised Redknapp correctly.

Cairns should have followed what appeared to be his instincts, when his body language was unconvincing: if in doubt, award nothing. You can't be serious! Gomes (left) argues with referee Andre Marriner at half-time

Lampard, denied in Bloemfontein with England when his shot bounced beyond the Germany line, was the beneficiary of a decision made without the benefit of TV replays.

Chelsea were revived, yet when Drogba let fly again on 53 minutes, Gomes parried well.

The striker remains Chelsea's best hope, the focal point of their attack for now, if not for long, a fact acknowledged by the withdrawal of Torres for Kalou just past the hour.

Relishing his restoration, Drogba thundered a free-kick at Gomes and the nervous Brazilian goalkeeper pushed the ball away weakly to the feet of Kalou, who miscued wide.

It did, though, appear Chelsea would receive no further favours from the officials when Ramires played in Florent Malouda on 69 minutes.

The Frenchman collapsed under the weight of Younes Kaboul's tackle, but Marriner was unmoved and Spurs mightily relieved.

Thus it remained until the 89th minute when Lampard played in Drogba, who turned Kaboul and mishit his shot.

It fell for Kalou, three yards out and significantly offside. Unlike the officials, he made no mistake. On such details are titles won, or so Chelsea would like to believe.




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Mirror:


Chelsea 2-1 Tottenham: Controversial win keeps Blues' title challenge alive

By Steve Stammers



With more than a hint of controversy, Chelsea managed to keep the Premier League title race alive.

A horrendous mistake by Tottenham goalkeeper ­Heurelho Gomes and a late goal from Salomon Kalou that looked suspiciously offside kept Chelsea in touch with Manchester United and dealt ­Tottenham’s hopes of playing Champions League football next season a severe blow.

Gomes allowed a Frank Lampard shot to squirm under his body and in a late Chelsea assault, Kalou diverted a mis-hit shot from Dider Drogba over the line from just two yards.

Tottenham queried both goals – that Lampard’s shot did not cross the line and that Kalou should have been flagged offside.

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp refused to lambast assistant referee Mike Cairns for signally the Lampard strike.

Redknapp said: “Technology has to come in. That took seconds for it to be seen. It takes five seconds to say ‘yes, it’s a goal’ or ‘no, it’s not’.

“It is not a dishonest guess [from Cairns]. He has not done it because he wants Chelsea to win – he’s done what he felt was the right decision but he got it wrong” His side were undoubtedly unlucky ­losers, but the pressure is now on ­United to secure a result at The Emirates this afternoon or next week’s showdown at Old Trafford will become a real shoot-out for the title.

For John Terry, it was a landmark game as he celebrated his 500th match for Chelsea. For manager Carlo Ancelotti, the clash represented his 106th as the manager at Stamford Bridge and arguably his most daring gamble as the Premier League season reaches its climax.

Ancelotti opted for the so-far dysfunctional strike force of Fernando Torres and Didier Drogba. It has been argued that the partnership contains one Alpha-male too many.But a week’s intensive work on the Cobham training ground gave Ancelotti enough encouragement to start with the duo against a Tottenham outfit desperate for a top-four finish.

But before they could make an early impact, it was Gareth Bale who looked a threat when he accelerated down the Tottenham left flank and a rugged and illegal challenge from David Luiz was needed to halt his progress.

And despite the territorial superiority, it was Tottenham who looked more dangerous.

Torres, though, came to life in the 10th minute with a superb ball into the Tottenham area that was a fraction too long for Frank Lampard.

In the 13th minute a Drogba free-kick from 30 yards thundered against the bar and away to safety.

Six minutes later, Tottenham’s Brazilian Sandro enjoyed more success. A throw in from Bale was played to Rafael van der Vaart and back to the Brazilian who unleashed a stunning shot from 25 yards that flew past Petr Cech.

Heurelho Gomes then tipped over a header from Michael Essien as Chelsea went in search of an equaliser and then, come the 30th minute, was a landmark moment in the Premier League.

Van der Vaart went down after a foul by Drogba. Then Drogba - yes, Drogba - had the audacity to complain to the Spurs striker that he was over-reacting.

Sandro showed his defensive qualities when he tracked back to block Lampard’s surge on to Ashley Cole’s low cross but a minute from half-time came another chapter in the Gomes book of howlers.

Lampard’s shot from 25 yards was hit with power and with accuracy but it was straight at the Brazilian. It should have been meat and drink for him - but think back to Cristiano Ronaldo’s shot for Real Madrid in the Champions League and you get the picture.

Gomes debated the decision. He was convinced the ball did not cross the line and replays suggested it was marginal.

Football fans are noted for their irony but at the start of the second half the Chelsea fans gave Gomes the kind of reception matched only by the greeting he normally receives at White Hart Lane.

This was to be a real test of the goalkeeper’s nerve and to be fair, it held when Drogba let fly from 20 yards and Gomes pushed it away. But he rode his luck in the 63rd minute.

He parried Drogba’s long free-kick and the ball fell to Salomon Kalou, just on as the substitute for Torres. Kalou failed to make a clean connection and Gomes had a reprieve. But he was finally beaten again with just minutes on the clock.




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Star:


CHELSEA 2 TOTTENHAM 1: BLUNDER REF GORMLESS GOMES KEEP TITLE RACE ALIVE

By Paul Hetherington


CHELSEA 2 -- TOTTENHAM 1

LUCK smiled on Chelsea last night to enable them to put title pressure on Manchester United.

First, they were awarded an equaliser by Frank Lampard when the ball wasn’t entirely over the line.

Then substitute Salomon Kalou prodded home the winner in the 89th minute from what looked to be an offside position.

So Chelsea’s fifth successive league win means they are now only three points behind United, who play at Arsenal today.

Stamford Bridge has always been a Chelsea stronghold – particularly when Tottenham are the visitors.

And there was more agony for Harry Redknapp’s men in this controversial London derby.

Spurs went into the game looking for their first win at Chelsea for 21 years. And they could have been ahead after only nine minutes, when Chelsea right-back Branislav Ivanovic slipped on the heavily-watered pitch.

That left Roman Pavlyuchenko in the clear but he dragged his shot across the face of the goal.

Tottenham, however, did surge ahead ten minutes later with a magnificent strike by Brazilian midfielder Sandro.

He controlled the ball neatly with his left foot and instantly hit it with his right to send the ball arrowing in from 25 yards.

Amazingly, when Sandro raced to Spurs boss Harry Redknapp to celebrate, he appeared to receive a lecture, presumably for an earlier mistake, before being congratulated.

Just before that, a strike by Didier Drogba from a free-kick even further out had rattled the bar.

As Chelsea looked for an equaliser, keeper Heurelho Gomes denied Florent Malouda and Michael Essien.

But Chelsea equalised in the last minute of the first half with one of the most controversial goals of the season.

Lampard’s strike from 25 yards squirmed through the hands and legs of the hapless Gomes and rolled towards the net.

The Spurs keeper just managed to prevent all of the ball crossing the line. But assistant referee Mike Cairns said it was a goal, even though he was 15 yards behind play.

A member of the Sky Sports team covering the match told me: “We have looked at all the camera angles and it was not a goal.”

But it stood – much to the fury of the Spurs players and staff.

Redknapp defended Gomes. He said: “I don’t know what happened with that first goal but he is still a great keeper.”

It could have got worse for Gomes personally in the second half when he could only push out a 40-yard Drogba free-kick, but Kalou – with his first touch – made a mess of converting the rebound.

Kalou had replaced £50million Torres, who clearly wasn’t happy with the decision.

It was Spurs’ turn to get a lucky break when referee Andre Marriner failed to award a penalty when Younes Kaboul brought down Malouda.

But they certainly had no luck a minute from normal time when Kalou turned in Drogba’s mis-hit shot from a marginally offside position.

Lampard said: “In the two key instances which brought our goals, they might not have been allowed.

”But we still deserved to win the game and I had one big decision against me last summer – so I deserve that!”

Chelsea skipper John Terry said: “There’s no chance of us giving up on the title – and United know that. They know how strong our squad is and we’ll fight right to the end.”





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