man utd 5-4 (aet)

Independent:

Sweet revenge for Chelsea as Sir Alex blames Nani for decisive penalty
Chelsea 5 Manchester United 4 (aet; Score at 90 min 3-3):
Roberto Di Matteo's side rescue victory from the jaws of defeat after another thrilling tie

Sam Wallace

Sitting up in his private box last night, the television cameras caught Roman Abramovich rubbing his forehead in frustration and turning to his companion in the seat next to him for an explanation as to why his Chelsea team insist on doing things the hard way.

Given that companion was Andrei Shevchenko, it was a least a man well-versed in the tumultuous life of Chelsea football club. Three times they fell behind, and three times they came back into a glorious Capital One Cup tie replete with nine goals, nine bookings, three penalties, a smattering of mistakes and a 94th-minute equaliser.

Three of those goals were in extra-time as Chelsea finally pulled away from a Manchester United team that proved to be a little too raw and inexperienced to match an opponent that got stronger with every substitution and just would not lie down. Just to make life simple, Ken Bates' Leeds United await Chelsea at Elland Road in the next round.

It will be the first time that the former owner of Chelsea has faced the club he sold to Abramovich over nine years ago and it would be fair to say that they did not part on the best of terms. Neil Warnock, the Leeds manager, has been the most outspoken in his criticism of Chelsea's handling of the Mark Clattenburg affair. Another game and another argument awaits Chelsea.

Last night, as Di Matteo sent on Ramires, Eden Hazard and then Oscar to turn this tie around it was clear that even with the Fifa Club World Cup awaiting in Japan in December, Chelsea were not prepared to let this the dear old League Cup go without a fight. The Capital One Cup is now down to the capital two with Chelsea and Arsenal, who will face Bradford City, the clear favourites to win the competition.

It was a second error of the night from the 21-year-old academy product Scott Wootton that let in Daniel Sturridge for Chelsea's fourth goal in the eighth minute of extra-time, and the first time the home side had been in the lead. In a frantic last period of extra-time, Ramires scored a fifth before Ryan Giggs, 29 days' shy of his 39th birthday, hit his second from the penalty spot to narrow the deficit.

Ferguson chose not to blame Wootton excessively, reflecting that it is always a risk to pick young defenders as opposed to young strikers. Having partnered him with the 19-year-old Michael Keane, that was evidently a risk Ferguson felt was worth taking. Keane might have been sent off for a foul on Sturridge although overall his performance was better than that of his defensive partner.

Instead, Ferguson blamed Nani for giving the ball away in the 94th minute at the end of normal time with United leading 3-2. It ended with Wootton fouling Ramires and gifting substitute Eden Hazard the penalty that would take the game into extra-time. "Nani decided to try and beat a player and we ended up conceding a penalty kick," Ferguson said. "At that point, the young players started to feel it and it was very difficult for them in extra-time."

In the hours before kick-off, Chelsea passed the point of no return in the Mark Clattenburg affair, formalising their complaint with the Football Association over the allegation of racial abuse against John Obi Mikel on Sunday.

It was a lively occasion from the start, or rather it was lively from the moment that the United fans in the Shed End unfurled a banner that read "Clattenburg - referee, leader, legend" on the upper tier. They sang "Time to blame the referee" at the home crowd when Chelsea went behind. There were smoke flares and a pitch invader who managed to get on and off the pitch eluding the Chelsea stewards.

Chelsea gifted United the first goal. Petr Cech, captain for the night, passed the ball out to Oriol Romeu who was immediately under pressure and easily robbed of possession by Anderson. With Cech stranded, Giggs picked his corner.

The equaliser came seven minutes after United's goal, an easy decision for referee Lee Mason to award a penalty, scored by Luiz, for Alexander Buttner's badly-timed challenge on Victor Moses who was dangerous down the right,

Hernandez scored United's second two minutes before half-time. It was a silly mistake by Luiz who brought the ball out of defence and was easily caught out by Rafael's challenge. From there the ball was fed to Anderson and on to Hernandez who finished beautifully.

Sturridge had fallen over the ball in the first half - "Are you Torres in disguise?" sang the United fans - and was too casual when unmarked at the front post from a corner early in the second half. Gary Cahill came to the rescue with a header from a corner that showed up United's deficiencies at set-pieces.

Rafael did get the ball out from under the bar and there was a delay in giving the goal which, replays showed, was a foot over the line. A good decision by the officials. It might have been Halloween but this was no ghost goal.

Within seven minutes of Chelsea's equaliser, United were ahead again, when Hernandez worked the ball from the left side of the area. Nani picked it up on the edge, played it into Anderson and got the return ball straight into his stride. He shaped to strike the ball hard but lifted a delicate ship over Cech.

Mata's shot in the box clearly struck Keane's hand but Mason did not give a penalty. In the end Wootton's mistake gave Hazard his chance from the penalty spot to save the tie. Sturridge and Ramires scored the fourth and fifth before Giggs scored a penalty after Cesar Azpilicueta knocked over Hernandez. Chelsea got over the line but they did so having expended a lot of energy on the trophy that is fifth among their priorities this season.

Man of the match Mata.

Match rating 9/10.

Referee L Mason (Lancs).

Attendance 41,126.

Bridgewatch: Was everyone on their best behaviour?
Home fans
Chelsea called for both sets of supporters to be on their best behaviour in the match-day programme and most of 41,126 capacity crowd did heed that warning. There was extra security in the wake of the ugly scenes that followed Javier Hernandez's winning goal on Sunday but those match day programmes were thrown at the Mexican as he wheeled away in celebration last night.

Away fans
A vocal 6,000 travelling Manchester United supporters came accompanied with a "Clattenburg – referee, leader, legend" banner. A smoke bomb was thrown on to the pitch following David Luiz's equaliser from the penalty spot. Constantly asked their home counterparts the whereabouts of John Terry. "We want Clattenburg" followed an offside decision against Hernandez late on.

Players
Both sets looked on their best behaviour, before a Nani strop led to a mêlée involving a dozen players in extra time. Until then referee Lee Mason was never surrounded or questioned with any real anger.

Managers
No touchline confrontations between Roberto Di Matteo and Sir Alex Ferguson this time. Di Matteo and a few members of the Chelsea back-room staff vehemently protested the non-award of a penalty but that was a rare flashpoint. Ferguson left most of the barking to his assistants.

Officials
All in all, a good night for the men in black until Mason's decision not award Chelsea a late penalty for Michael Keane's handball. Juan Mata's cross clearly deflected off the arm of the Manchester United defender and the referee was well-placed to make the correct decision. Mason made the right call to give Chelsea a first-half spot-kick when Victor Moses was bundled over by Alexander Buttner.


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Guardian:


Chelsea earn dramatic victory over Manchester United in Capital One Cup
Chelsea 5
David Luiz (pen) 31,
Cahill 52,
Hazard (pen) 90+4,
Sturridge 90+8,
Ramires 90+26


Manchester United 4
Giggs 22,
Hernández 43,
Nani 59,
Hernández (pen) 90+30

Daniel Taylor at Stamford Bridge

It was another breathless encounter and, this time, Chelsea will not care too much about the refereeing they think went in Manchester United's favour. They were behind three times, dragged the game into extra time with a 94th-minute penalty and, finally, booked their place in the quarter-finals by the odd goal in nine.
Where to start? This was also a night when the referee, Lee Mason, booked nine different players and was fortunate, perhaps, that Eden Hazard's penalty spared him another inquest about a key decision going against Chelsea. Mason had missed a pretty obvious penalty not long before when Juan Mata's cross struck Michael Keane, United's 19-year-old centre-half, on both arms.
In the end it was largely inconsequential, thank goodness, and Sir Alex Ferguson's decision to play two raw and inexperienced centre-halves eventually counted against his team. Scott Wootton, 21, was culpable for giving away the penalty Hazard converted when he bundled over Ramires. The same player then gave Sturridge the chance to put Chelsea ahead for the first time when he failed to get enough on his header back to the goalkeeper, Anders Lindegaard, seven minutes into the first period of extra time. Wootton and Keane tired badly during the late stages and the younger man was fortunate not to be sent off after fouling Sturridge when he was the last defender.
Chelsea, on the balance of play, deserved to go through. They, like United, were guilty of some terrible defending at times, but they had subjected their opponents to some draining second-half pressure after Nani made it 3-2 just before the hour. It was difficult thereafter to keep count of the number of chances they accumulated before the late flurry of goals that culminated with Ramires eventually putting in Chelsea's fifth, going round Lindegaard after some lovely play from Hazard. Even then, there was another late twist at the other end as César Azpilicueta fouled Javier Hernández to give away the third penalty of the match. Ryan Giggs completed the scoring on a night of drama, excitement and intrigue, but very little in terms of organised defending.
The tone had been set in the 22nd minute when Petr Cech played a short goal kick to Oriol Romeu and the Spaniard dithered, lost the ball and watched helplessly as Giggs picked his spot to open the scoring.
David Luíz's penalty, after Alex Büttner's badly-judged trip on Victor Moses, made it 1-1 nine minutes later but the Chelsea defender then reminded us of his own capacity for inviting trouble, running over the halfway line with the ball and being caught in possession. The Luíz slalom undoubtedly looks good when it comes off, but it also has a habit of endangering his team when he loses possession. Rafael won the ball, Anderson played the killer pass and Hernández did the rest with an angled shot.
So much has been written about what happened when these sides met on Sunday and, specifically, whatever Mark Clattenburg reputedly said to Mikel John Obi and Mata, it seems to have been almost overlooked that the two sides both came away from that match with considerable questions about their defending. In truth, their reconfigured line-ups – Sir Alex Ferguson made 10 changes to his United team, and Di Matteo settled on six – fared even worse. The night was rife with carelessness.
Chelsea, though, played with the greater urgency in the second half and had the stronger, more experienced bench. Ramires and Hazard were among the substitutes and their introductions had a significant impact.
Sturridge had passed up two presentable opportunities by the time Mata, Chelsea's best player, swung a corner over from the left and Gary Cahill issued another reminder about what a handy knack it is when a centre-half can cause problems in the opposition penalty area. His header had flashed past Lindegaard and gone a yard behind the goal-line by the time Rafael turned it against the crossbar and out.
This was the first spell of the match when Chelsea were clearly on top but they were level for only seven minutes, Nani scoring with a lovely, clipped finish, bursting into the penalty area and dinking his shot over Cech at the end of a cultured exchange of passes involving Hernández and Anderson.
What followed was an extraordinary succession of near-misses, desperate clearances and wasted chances in front of Lindegaard's goal. United always carried menace in their own attacks but they were in a dishevelled state by the end. Ferguson withdrew Büttner after a difficult first half for the Dutchman, moving Rafael to left-back and Darren Fletcher to the right of defence. In the circumstances, it was probably no surprise they were so vulnerable.
For Chelsea, reflecting on a trip to Leeds United in the last eight, it will not make up for what happened on Sunday, when their unbeaten record in the league was sacrificed. Yet it still represents a satisfying evening's work, particularly given how close they were to going out.


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Telegraph:

Chelsea 5 Manchester United 4 (aet):
By Henry Winter

Another day, another cup classic. The Capital One Cup has suddenly become the one for entertainment. A match that could have become mired down in the tension that followed the sides’ Premier League meeting on Sunday simply blossomed into a terrific flowing game.
Assisted by Anderson delivering one of his best displays for 80 minutes, Manchester United had seemed in control, heading towards victory with seconds of normal time left when Nani erred, gifting the ball to Chelsea when he should have been keeping the ball, not risking it.
It was the key moment, the chance for the hosts to equalise and force extra time when they finally took a lead they were not to relinquish. It was just the type of laxness in possession that frustrated United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
Other errors crept into United’s play. Scott Wootton, United’s 21-year-old centre-half, had performed well for 80 minutes until a couple of costly mistakes betrayed his inexperience.
United’s other callow centre-back, Michael Keane, could easily have been dismissed late on. Yet Ferguson can hardly be criticised for giving youth a chance in the fourth competition on his list of priorities.
It is the United way, the Ferguson way, the manager knowing how important it was for youngsters to believe there was a route into the first team.
Wootton and Keane will be better players for the experience, however chastening. It also needs emphasising that United’s youngsters faced a strong Chelsea side, a starting XI containing the likes of Juan Mata, John Obi Mikel and Petr Cech that was further strengthened with the arrival from the bench of Ramires, Oscar and Eden Hazard. Some of Hazard’s control and passing was an absolute joy to behold.
Victor Moses signalled his promise with a series of direct, penetrative runs. Also delighting Roberto Di Matteo was the resilience shown by his players.
As if the match did not contain enough drama, there was a pitch invader, a couple of fireworks and relentless chants by 6,000 United fans in support of the referee Mark Clattenburg. Two hours before kick-off, Chelsea had announced that they had formally lodged a complaint with the Football Association, alleging that Clattenburg had made a remark of a racist nature to Mikel.
“Justice for Clattenburg”, chanted came the chant from the section, the length of the Shed. The visiting hordes had some other chants, including a fairly toxic one for the watching John Terry, who was supported by those in the Matthew Harding Upper with their familiar banner of “JT Captain, Leader, Legend”. United followers unfurled a banner of their own, declaring “Clattenburg: Referee, Leader, Legend”.
The football soon dominated the attention. Cech denied Nani and Danny Welbeck but then stroked his goal-kick straight out to Oriol Romeu, always a dangerous move as United had been pressing hard, fast and high. Anderson was swiftly on to Romeu, nicking the ball into the path of Ryan Giggs.
Cech hurriedly tried to scramble across, but Giggs was moving with clinical intent, his second touch arrowing the ball between the despairing Cech and the keeper’s right-hand upright.
A United mistake let Chelsea back in. When Alexander Buttner brought down Moses, David Luiz dispatched the penalty. Chelsea fans were then treated to the bad side of Luiz, the careless side. He lost the ball in midfield, allowing Anderson to release Javier Hernández, who placed his shot unerringly past Cech. Roman Abramovich and his friend Andrei Shevchenko looked at each other in frustration.
The game continued to see-saw. Chelsea levelled early in the second half when Gary Cahill powered in a header from a Mata corner.
United hit back, regaining the lead with a magnificent goal. Hernández was lurking around the box but eventually turned away and found Nani.
Oft criticised for his final ball, Nani was magnificent here, moving in a blur through blue shirts, exchanging passes with Anderson before dinking the ball past Cech. “Time to blame the referee,” chanted the United fans.
The home supporters were then up in arms when Mata’s cross hit Michael Keane’s hand. Chelsea fans then sighed as Anders Lindegaard thwarted Daniel Sturridge and Oscar.
Chelsea’s pressure finally told when Ramires attempted to wriggle through and was fouled by Wootton. Hazard made no mistake from the spot, sending the game into extra time.
Wootton blundered again eight minutes later, his ill-considered attempt at a header back to Lindegaard allowing Sturridge the chance to run through and make it 4-3 to Chelsea. Nani and Oscar then squared up, hardly a battle of the heavyweights, before a touch of controversy invaded proceedings.
Keane fouled Sturridge as he went through, bringing baying calls for his expulsion. Even Branislav Ivanovic, sitting behind the Chelsea dugout, was out of his seat, waving an imaginary card. From the free-kick, Luiz almost snapped the bar. Some magic from Hazard then sent Ramires through and around Lindegaard to make it 5-3.
There was still time for a Giggs penalty after Cesar Azpilicueta had fouled Hernández but Chelsea comfortably saw out the final two minutes. As if the game had not conjured up enough drama, the quarter-final draw within half an hour of the final whistle then sent Chelsea to Leeds United, to the club they often rucked with in the Seventies.
The 1970 FA Cup final replay embodied much of the rivalry with Chopper Harris against Eddie Gray, Eddie McCreadie against Billy Bremner, Jack Charlton against Peter Osgood and Norman Hunter versus Ian Hutchinson.
Amongst other duels.
On and off the pitch, it promises to be a tense occasion, a night match of Dec 19, delayed from the usual week because of Chelsea’s involvement in the World Club Championships in Japan. Sub-plots abound. Leeds’ manager, Neil Warnock, has been critical of Chelsea’s behaviour over the Clattenburg controversy.
Di Matteo was signed by Ken Bates during his time as chairman at the Bridge. Bates is currently chairman of Leeds, although he may have sold the club by Dec 19. If the takeover is delayed, Bates’ programme notes will be required reading. The small-talk in the boardroom could be lively if Abramovich travels. It promises to be another compelling Capital One Cup occasion.

Capital One Cup draw
Leeds United v Chelsea
Swansea City v Middlesbrough
Norwich City v Aston Villa
Bradford City v Arsenal

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Cech; Azpilicueta, Cahill, Luiz, Bertrand; Romeu (Oscar 71), Mikel (Ramires h-t); Moses, Mata, Piazon (Hazard 55); Sturridge.
Subs: Hilario, Ferreira, Marin, Saville.
Booked: Romeu, Mikel, Luiz, Oscar, Ramires.

Manchester United (4-1-4-1): Lindegaard; Rafael, Keane, Wootton, Buttner (Powell h-t); Fletcher; Nani, Anderson (Tunnicliffe 81), Giggs, Welbeck (Macheda 99); Hernandez.
Subs: Johnstone, Lingard, Vermijl, Brady.
Booked: Wootton, Nani, Keane, Giggs.
Referee: L Mason (Lancashire).


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Times:

Chelsea 5 Manchester United 4: Ramires provides the final flourish

Oliver Kay

 So much talk around Stamford Bridge in recent days has concerned claim and counter-claim, controversy and conspiracy, that the thought of this enthralling Capital One Cup tie swinging on the award of a penalty deep into stoppage time might have had Chelsea’s supporters screaming blue murder.
 In the event, it was Chelsea who were the beneficiaries of the penalty awarded — quite rightly — by Lee Mason, the referee, and converted with typical coolness by Eden Hazard, the substitute. Manchester United had led three times on the ground where they won 3-2 in acrimonious circumstances on Sunday, but they and in particular Michael Keane and Scott Wooton, their young central defenders, were blown away in extra time as goals from Daniel Sturridge and Ramires put Chelsea 5-3 ahead.
 With Ryan Giggs scoring the ninth of the goal of the night from the penalty spot in the final minute of extra time, it was quite a game and, after the rancour and more that followed Mark Clattenburg’s performance on Sunday, it was gratifying that Mason and the other match officials got more of the big decisions right than wrong. There were three penalties correctly awarded and successfully converted — two for Chelsea and one for United — even if the home team would complain, with some justification, that they should have had another.

For Chelsea, victory offers more than a small degree of revenge for their Barclays Premier League defeat. This result, achieved with no little spirit and no little style after they went 3-2 down, spared them from a third consecutive defeat at the time of year when they have often struggled. Both Sturridge and Ramires took their goals with impressive verve, exploiting the tired young legs and minds in the United defence to take the ball around Anders Lindegaard to score and to leave the home supporters talking, pleasingly, of the contributions of their players rather than the officials.
 There is something wonderfully nostalgic about the sight of Giggs playing in this competition at the age of 38. Lucas Piazón, the Chelsea playmaker, and Michael Keane, the United defender, had not been born when Giggs won his first senior medal in what was then the Rumbelows Cup in 1992.
 Last night Giggs was operating in one of the advanced central midfield roles in a replica of the 4-1-4-1 formation that Ferguson favoured in the Barclays Premier League match on Sunday, with Darren Fletcher in the Michael Carrick position. The specific role is one that he can barely have filled in his long career, but he seemed to be enjoying it even before scoring the goal that put United ahead midway through the first half.
 For Chelsea, it was an appallingly sloppy goal to concede — not for the last time. For this goal, at least, David Luiz was not to blame. The blame lay with Petr Cech, the goalkeeper, who inexplicably put Oriol Romeu under pressure with an ill-advised short goal kick. Romeu still had time to avert the danger but Anderson was quick to punish the dawdling Chelsea youngster, taking the ball off him and feeding Giggs, who struck a shot past Cech from the edge of the penalty area.
 That seemed a little harsh on Chelsea, who had made the early running, with Victor Moses to the fore. The forward has played just 77 minutes of Premier League football for Chelsea since lining up against them for Wigan Athletic on the opening weekend of the season, but, operating on the right wing, he offered several glimpses of a talent that has usually been described as “raw” so far in his young career.

Having earlier picked out Sturridge with a perfect cross that the forward wasted, Moses effectively forced the equaliser in the 29th minute. Bursting into the penalty area, he was too quick and too clever for Alexander Büttner, who felled him with a clumsy challenge. David Luiz stepped up and dispatched the type of penalty that might have an uninformed observer believing that he was a no-nonsense defender.
 Unfortunately for Chelsea, there is far too much nonsense with David Luiz. Carrying the ball across the halfway line does not constitute nonsense — even if plenty of coaches in England might disagree — but doing so with reckless abandon does. David Luiz was tackled by Rafael Da Silva, another young Brazilian with an impetuous streak, and Anderson’s perfect pass released Hernández, who beat Cech to score for the sixth time in his nine appearances against Chelsea.
 At half-time Sir Alex Ferguson replaced the unimpressive Büttner with Nick Powell, the teenager signed from Crewe Alexandra. This brought a reshuffle that saw Powell move into a playmaking role, Giggs to holding midfield, Fletcher to right-back and Rafael to left back. Roberto Di Matteo, the manager, sent on Ramires in place of Mikel, whose selection, after Sunday’s controversy, did not pay off.

The standard of the defending, at both ends, remained poor. Juan Mata swung over a corner from the left and Cahill rose to equalise with a header. In a week when match officials have been lambasted, credit to Jake Collin, the assistant, for signalling that the ball had crossed the line — even if it was by several inches — before Rafael cleared.
 Once again, it seemed the momentum was with Chelsea. Once again, United claimed the lead. This one was a beauty — Hernández to Nani to Anderson to Nani, who dinked the ball over Cech to make it 3-2.
 Chelsea’s play merited a third goal, but both Moses and César Azpilicueta missed the target with headers and on 72 minutes Mason denied Chelsea a penalty when Keane handled the ball.
 Finally, in the fourth minute of stoppage time, Chelsea got their equaliser, with Wooton’s foul on Ramires. Hazard rolled home a penalty to ensure the drama went to extra time.

 Chelsea (4-2-3-1): P Cech — C Azpilicueta, G Cahill, David Luiz, R Bertrand — O Romeu (sub: Oscar, 71min), J O Mikel (sub: Ramires, 46) — V Moses, J Mata, L Piazón (sub: E Hazard, 55) — D Sturridge. Substitutes not used: Hilario, P Ferreira, G Saville, M Marin. Booked: Romeu, Mikel, David Luiz, Oscar, Ramires.

 Manchester United (4-1-4-1): A Lindegaard — Rafael Da Silva, W Keane, S Wootton, A Büttner (sub: N Powell, 46)— D Fletcher — Nani, Anderson (sub: R Tunnicliffe, 81), R Giggs, D Welbeck (sub: F Macheda, 99) — J Hernández. Substitutes not used: S Johnstone, M Vermijl, R Brady, J Lingard. Booked: Wootton, Nani, Keane, Giggs.

 Referee: L Mason.


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Mail:

Chelsea 5 Manchester United 4:
Capital punishment for Reds reserves as Blues fight back three times for sweet revenge

By Laura Williamson


After all the controversy of Sunday, Chelsea and Manchester United reconvened at Stamford Bridge and produced a humdinger of a Capital One Cup tie: a treat to savour rather than a trick on a rainy Hallowe'en night.
It had its moments of controversy, of course; plenty of them. We even had some of the terrace banter that is so often missing from clashes between the top clubs. But more than anything it was an enjoyable, exciting cup tie.
Goals from Ryan Giggs, Javier Hernandez and Nani seemed to have booked United a place in the quarter-finals, only for Chelsea to conjure up three equalisers from David Luiz, Gary Cahill and Eden Hazard to force extra time.

Daniel Sturridge, who had endured a largely dismal evening, put his side ahead in the 97th minute before Ramires sealed victory with the cutest of finishes after 116  minutes of pulsating football.

And yet there was still time for Giggs to score his second of the evening with a penalty in the final minute of the match.

There were only five survivors from Chelsea’s starting XI on Sunday, with John Mikel Obi and Juan Mata, the players at the centre of the initial allegations against referee Mark Clattenburg, both included. Sir Alex Ferguson made 10 changes.

But the repercussions of United’s 3-2 win at the weekend were impossible to ignore. United fans unfurled a banner saying ‘Clattenburg. Referee, Leader, Legend’ and there were more pointed chants referring to the absence of John Terry, who was  serving the third game of his  four-match ban for racially abusing Anton Ferdinand.

Was there an element of revenge in Chelsea’s win? Perhaps. But the real bonus for the champions of Europe was the manner in which they came back three times and then went on to win. That can only breed confidence after a difficult few days.
Anderson and substitute Nick Powell were plusses for United, who also saw 38-year-old Giggs play the full 120 minutes, while Victor Moses was influential for Chelsea before Ramires and Oscar began to run the show when they were introduced in the second half.
That it was Sturridge who gave Chelsea the lead for the first time in this match, however, was something of a surprise given his overall performance.

With Fernando Torres suspended following his red card on Sunday, this was Sturridge’s first start for Chelsea this season — and the perfect opportunity to show his ability in the central striking role he craves. 
Yet the 23-year-old was initially comfortably marshalled by United’s young central defensive pairing of Scott Wootton and Michael Keane. It was Moses who looked far more accomplished, outmuscling Alexander Buttner after half an hour to win his side a penalty, which David Luiz converted.

Chelsea had gone behind in bizarre circumstances in the 22nd minute. After a free-kick from Buttner went wide, Petr Cech played a short pass to Oriol Romeu, who was dispossessed by Anderson.
Giggs was the lucky recipient and the Welshman scored by the time Luiz had ambled back on to the pitch.
The Brazil defender played more of a role in United’s second goal, taking the ball up field before watching it cannon back into Chelsea’s half. With the centre half stranded, Hernandez exploited the huge gap to score his fourth goal in three games in the 43rd minute. This one, however, was definitely not offside.

United’s young defence seemed to be in control, but Chelsea were level seven minutes after the restart as Gary Cahill powered home a header from a Mata corner.
After looking as if he would rather be anywhere but Stamford Bridge, Nani suddenly burst into life to score United’s third. A smart one-two with Anderson saw the winger burst into space and finish with his right foot. Cech was left to collect the bottle that was hurled on to the pitch.
Di Matteo pushed for an equaliser. Cesar Azpilicueta was closed down in a promising position at the far post and then Chelsea appealed for a penalty when Mata’s shot hit Keane’s hand. Fourth official Mike Dean got a mouthful from Di Matteo but Lee Mason was unmoved.

The referee, however, was apparently only prolonging the drama. In the fourth minute of stoppage time he pointed to the spot after Wootton bundled over Ramires. Hazard converted with the coolest of right-foot strikes down the middle and, finally, Chelsea were in the ascendency.

Sturridge wasted another glorious chance but, eventually, he converted an opportunity, taking the ball round Anders Lindegaard in the 97th minute after a misjudged header back from Wootton.

Keane was then perhaps fortunate to receive only a yellow card for  pulling back the Chelsea striker before Ramires danced through United’s defence to put the match beyond doubt. Even then, Giggs converted a penalty after Azpilicueta was judged to have fouled Hernandez.

Chelsea’s prize is a trip to Elland Road to face Leeds, and former owner Ken Bates, in the quarter-finals. Leeds manager Neil Warnock said he was ‘disgusted’ by Chelsea accusing Clattenburg of making ‘inappropriate comments’ this week. You get the impression that might be an exciting Cup tie, too.


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Mirror:
Chelsea 5-4 Manchester United
Darren Lewis

Back from the dead: Blues raise spirited comeback in nine-goal Halowe'en thriller

A later than last minute equaliser took the game into extra-time at Stamford Bridge before Sturridge and Ramires sealed it

Just what the doctor ordered after a tough few days for Chelsea.
Just what the Blues needed to remind us all that - for all the controversy surrounding them - they do actually have a half decent squad.
And another of the games - after Reading v Arsenal - that football has needed to remind us that there is still so much to love about this beautiful game.
Chelsea needed a show of character after having their unbeaten Premier League run ended at the hands of Sir Alex Ferguson last Sunday.
Roberto Di Matteo spoke after this win about the big characters in his dressing room that had stepped up to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat last night.
You can bet your boots too that they will relish a quarter-final tie against a Leeds side managed by Neil Warnock - the man who this week accused Chelsea of trying to "kill" referee Mark Clattenburg with their racism allegations.
But the Blues would do better to focus on their Premier League programme.
Especially after Andre Villas-Boas revealed his Chelsea side never recovered from having two men sent off and racism allegations levelled at them at QPR 12 months ago.
Back then the west Londoners went on to claim a big League Cup victory - just as they did last night at Everton - suggesting they were back on track.
But in the Premier League they went on to lose two of their subsequent three games and could never regain their consistency.
Asked if there was any danger of that this time around, Di Matteo talked about what he perceived as refereeing injustices that have hit Chelsea then and now.
Yet if his men - with Swansea away on Saturday - show the bottle they produced last night in the Premier League then they needn't worry about officials.
Sir Alex's men went ahead through the evergreen Ryan Giggs in the 22nd minute.
The Welshman cashed in after Oriol Romeu - handed a hospital ball by his keeper Petr Cech - was robbed by Anderson.
The Brazilian fed Giggs in acres of space and we've all been watching the winger for far too long to know that he does not spurn opportunities that good.
Chelsea levelled on 31 minutes when Alexander Buttner hacked down Victor Moses on the left side of the United box.
David Luiz made no mistake from the spot. At that point - with fans trading insulting chants, an idiot supporter running onto the pitch and a flare going off in an upper tier - you wondered we'd see more of bad behaviour we had on Sunday.
But it remained all about the football and Javier Hernandez, Sunday's matchwinner, raced clear from Anderson's superb ball to make it 2-1 a minute before half time.
Gary Cahill levelled again nine minutes after the break when he rose highest to convert Juan Mata's corner.
But United went ahead again. This time through Nani who traded passes with Anderson before sending a sumptuous chip over Cech.
With Chelsea's Cesar Azpilicueta missing a sitter on 69 minutes, United looked to be holding Roberto Di Matteo's men at arms length.
Then young United defender Scott Wooton brought down Ramires and allowed substitute Eden Hazard to score with the last kick of normal time.
The Blues fans that had streamed out began piling back in for extra time.
They were right to do so.
Four minutes in Wooton's attempted header back to goal fell nicely for Sturridge, who rounded Lindegaard and scored.
And when Ramires left Lindegaard on his backside to make it 5-3 that looked to be it.
But then this is the Capital One Cup, where defending goes out of the window and goals are in vogue.
So it came as no surprise that referee Lee Mason pointed to the spot on 119 minutes when Azpilicueta bundled over Hernandez.
Giggs made no mistake with the penalty. But by then Chelsea had done enough. They move into the last eight of the Capital One Cup.


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Sun:

Chelsea 5 Man Utd 4

By MARK IRWIN

NINE goals, 10 yellow cards, three penalties and one crazy, crazy night at the Bridge.
Victory in the fourth round of the Capital One Cup might not mean too much when you are the champions of Europe.
But Chelsea fans will celebrate it like May all over again when it comes at the expense of the team who had mugged them just three days earlier.
With the three minutes of added time expired, United were 3-2 ahead once more and convinced they had won again at the home of their fiercest rivals.
But before ref Lee Mason could blow for full-time, Ramires was barged over in the penalty area by rookie defender Scott Wootton and suddenly all bets were off again.

Eden Hazard calmly rolled his spot-kick past Anders Lindegaerd and United’s young defence never recovered from that sickening setback.
Seven minutes into extra-time time poor Wootton blundered again when he inexplicably headed Juan Mata’s crossfield pass straight into the path of Daniel Sturridge.
The England striker, starting his first game of the season in the absence of the suspended Fernando Torres, was not going to refuse such a gift as he went round the stranded Lindegaard to fire his team ahead for the first time all night.
United’s kids, who had already surrendered the lead three times, were simply unable to respond in the same manner and fell further behind when Ramires was played in by fellow sub Hazard in the 115th minute.
And though Ryan Giggs reduced the arrears from the spot in the dying seconds following Cesar Azpilicueta’s foul on Javier Hernandez, Chelsea were not going to be denied their moment of revenge.
No matter how low this competition might figure in the priorities of both these sides, there is never a low-key encounter when these bitter rivals are in direct opposition.
For Chelsea this was the opportunity to make a point after the events of three days previously, when they had been reduced to nine men before losing to an offside goal.
For United, it was the chance to twist the knife on the team who have emerged as their most consistent challengers in recent years.
In the end it was the team with the slightly less dodgy defence which triumphed to take their place in the last eight, where they will travel to Leeds.

Yet even if this match had a twist in the tale, it had an all-too-familiar start as Chelsea were once again undone by their weaknesses at the back.
Alex Buttner had just shot wide from a hopeful free-kick when Petr Cech took a short goal-kick to Oriol Romeu on the edge of the penalty area.
But the young Spanish midfielder turned straight into the lurking Anderson and could only watch in horror as he surrendered possession to Giggs.
Unmarked and unchallenged, Giggs calmly stroked his shot beyond Cech’s reach for the 165th goal of his extraordinary United career.
Chelsea’s frustration increased when Rafael went unpunished for a check on Lucas Piazon before Mikel collected another yellow card for tripping Danny Welbeck.

But with angry Chelsea fans chanting ‘You’re worse than Clattenburg’ at ref Mason, they finally got a decision to their liking when Moses was tripped by Buttner in the box and David Luiz converted the penalty.
Unfortunately for Chelsea, that goal seemed to convince Luiz that he was a striker rather than a centre-half and charging recklessly forward, he lost possession to Rafael and left a gaping hole behind him for Anderson to thread a pass through to Javier Hernandez.
The Mexican hotshot was far too quick for the labouring Gary Cahill as he raced clear to shoot past the stranded Cech.
Roman Abramovich, sitting next to Andrey Shevchenko in his executive box, slumped deep into his seat as his team suffered yet another self-inflicted wound from the £22million Brazilian.

But the owner’s annoyance was quickly forgotten as Cahill headed Chelsea level yet again in the 52nd minute from another Mata corner.
Yet just as Chelsea dared to believe the tide had turned, they were undone yet again by a moment of pure magic from Nani.

Taking the ball from Hernandez, the Portuguese winger exchanged passes with Anderson before lifting an exquisite angled chip over Cech to restore United’s lead.
But once Chelsea threw on superstar subs Hazard, Oscar and Ramires it was always just a matter of time before the visitors crumbled.

DREAM TEAM

SUN STAR MAN — MATA (CHELSEA)

CHELSEA: Cech 6, Azpilicueta 6, Cahill 6, Luiz 5, Bertrand 6, Romeu 5, Mikel 6, Moses 7, Mata 8, Piazon 6, Sturridge 6. Subs: Ramires (Mikel 46) 6, Hazard (Piazon 55) 6, Oscar (Romeu 71) 8. Booked: Luiz, Oscar, Romeu, Mikel, Ramires.

MAN UNITED: Lindegaard 6, Rafael 7, Wootton 4, Keane 5, Buttner 5, Anderson 7, Giggs 7, Fletcher 6, Nani 7, Hernandez 7, Welbeck 5. Subs: Powell (Buttner 46) 6, Tunnicliffe, (Anderson 81) 5, Macheda (Welbeck 99) 5. Booked: Nani, Wootton, Giggs, Keane.

REF: L Mason 8


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Star:

CHELSEA ESCAPE FROM A SPOT OF BOTHER

By David Woods

LEE MASON should have helped restore Chelsea's faith in referees - but boss Roberto Di Matteo was still not happy.

 The former debt collector balanced the books as he awarded the Blues two penalties last night.
 Those spot-kicks helped Chelsea scrape through to the Capital One Cup quarter-finals against the United youngsters, but Di Matteo was upset a third was not given.
 The second, converted by Eden Hazard, came in the final minute of normal time and denied Fergie's fledglings a victory which would have damaged the Londoners even more than Sunday's 3-2 defeat.
 That Premier League game, of course, saw Chelsea's amazing claim that ref Mark Clattenburg racially abused John Obi Mikel on the pitch.
 Eleven Chelsea players who featured on Sunday played a part last night.
 For United it was just three, so defeat for the Blues again in front of owner Roman Abramovich would have been embarrassing.
 The United trio included Javier Hernandez, who claimed the winner after coming off the bench in the league game.
 He scored again last night, with Ryan Giggs - a fellow used substitute on Sunday - claiming a double and Nani also notching as United took the lead three times.
 But Di Matteo's men battled back to avoid a third successive defeat.
 The Italian did not need reminding October 23 last year sparked a run of four defeats and a draw in seven games, the beginning of the end for Andre Villas-Boas. October 23 this year saw the Blues lose 2-1 at Shakhtar Donetsk.
 Ex-Barcelona star Oriel Romeu's error helped United take the lead in the 22nd minute, allowing Anderson to nick the ball off him and prod it to Giggs. The Welshman's trusty left foot did the rest.
 Chelsea's equaliser came in the 30th minute, after a rash challenge in the box from Alex Buttner on the lively Victor Moses.
 David Luiz took the kick confidently, driving low to the right of Anders Lindegaard who got a hand to it.
 But in the 43rd minute United were back in front when Luiz was tackled by Rafael, the only United starter left from Sunday.
 The ball rolled to Anderson, who picked out Hernandez. He steadied himself to drill past Petr Cech for his sixth goal in nine appearances against the Blues.
 Chelsea were back level in the 52nd minute when Gary Cahill rose impressively to power in a header from a Juan Mata corner.
 United took the lead again in the 59th minute when Anderson and Nani swapped passed and the Portuguese ace lifted his finish over Cech.
 With seconds left the immaturity of the United team was shown again when Scott Wootton needlessly pushed Ramires in the back.
 Despite the 21-year-old's anguished denials, it was a shove and Hazard stroked in the penalty.
 In the seventh minute of extra-time Wootton's woes increased. Trying to guide a header back to Lindegaard, he instead gave it to Daniel Sturridge, who rounded the keeper to tap in.
 Chelsea made it 5-3 in the 116th minute as Hazard played in Ramires to slot home and there was a third penalty at the death after Cesar Azpilicueta brought down Hernandez. Giggs fired it home.
 Fergie, who blamed Nani for the key Chelsea penalty as he had been caught in possession, also admitted it had been a risk playing Michael Keane, 19, and Wootton as centre-backs.
 He said: "We had to gamble on the centre-backs. It is not easy.
 "You can get away with putting on a young forward but playing young defenders away, at a place like Chelsea, is always going to be difficult."
 Despite Mason's two penalty awards, Di Matteo was upset a third wasn't given when a cross from Mata struck Keane's hand.
 "There was a clear handball in the box and I am not sure why it wasn't given," he said. "Nobody's talking about that."
 Still, you don't have to be a genius to work out who will be fresher on Saturday as United take on Arsenal at home and Chelsea travel to Swansea.
 And things won't get any easier in this competition as the Blues drew Leeds in the quarter-finals. "There is a little bit of history," said Di Matteo.
 After Leeds boss Neil Warnock's claim the Blues were trying to "kill" ref Clattenburg with their allegations, that history could have an exciting new chapter.