And there will be plenty of categories to choose from — comedy penalty starring Wayne Rooney, miss of the season by Fernando Torres, sensational goal featuring Nani and X-rated tackle from Ashley Cole.
The scoreline does not begin to tell the story of one of the most amazing games ever in Premier League history. Honestly, you could replay it again and again and never get bored.
It could have been 6-6, 7-7, 8-5 — anything.
Yet, at the end of it all, United made it five wins out of five to register their best start to a season in the top flight for 26 years — before Alex Ferguson was manager.
Even better the noisy neighbours, Manchester City, dropped points at Fulham giving Fergie's men a two-point lead at the top. United have scored a staggering 21 goals so far in their league campaign, averaging more than four a match.
This was also their 18th straight home league win equalling a record that has stood since 1904-05.
But it was difficult to understand how Chelsea were 3-0 down by half-time having played some great stuff.
And had Torres hit the target after pulling the visitors back to 3-1, the Blues might have gone on to rescue a point.
The Spaniard was much more like a £50million striker than the 50p one he has looked like since his switch from Liverpool. However, his blunder here is one which will haunt him for many a year.
Torres was so often the thorn in United's side as a Red and, when he went through with seven minutes left latching on to Ramires' pass, he got most of the job right.
He cleverly switched the ball from his right foot as he skipped round David De Gea but, with the goal gaping, he somehow shot wide from six yards.
Robert Earnshaw can rest easy. His howler for Wales against England has been relegated to second place in the miss of the season contest. Torres has it in the bag.
Manager Andre Villas-Boas, who lost his first league game as a boss since the season before last — stretching back 37 matches — felt Chelsea should have had a point.
The visitors could have been ahead inside two minutes when De Gea saved with his foot from a Ramires shot. But in the eighth minute Ashley Young's free-kick sailed over to the far post where Chris Smalling got in front of Frank Lampard to head in.
Torres then scuffed a good chance wide after Anderson gave the ball away.
Ramires could not do any better, either, when the Brazilian's mis-hit from Cole's cross allowed De Gea to save.
By 37 minutes United were 2-0 up as Nani collected out wide, went past Juan Mata and unleashed an absolute screamer which gave the diving Petr Cech no chance. Chelsea could not believe they were two behind and it got worse on the stroke of half-time.
Phil Jones exchanged passes with Rooney and battled his way into the box.
John Terry came across with a sliding clearance which hit Nani and, as luck would have it, fell into the path of Rooney who made no mistake for his ninth goal of the season.
Villas-Boas replaced Lampard with Nicolas Anelka at the break and moved Mata in-field — and the benefit was instant.
Anelka played a defence-splitting pass for Torres, who coolly flicked past the helpless De Gea.
It was only Torres' second goal in 24 games as a Blue but it was one which had been coming.
United then won the penalty which seemed certain to set the seal on the afternoon after Nani hit another rasper which was deflected on to the bar and, when it bounced down, he was fouled by Jose Bosingwa before he could get to the follow-up.
Up stepped the normally reliable Rooney whose left foot slid from under him as he set himself for the strike with the result that, as he connected, he hit the ball off his sliding foot and it skewed wide.
Memories of David Beckham's misses from the spot in the Euro qualifier in Turkey eight years ago and in the shootout against Portugal at Euro 2004 came to mind.
Terry could relate to it, too, seeing as he missed against United in the Champions League in Moscow when, had he not slipped over, Chelsea would have won the trophy. United had another chance to put the game to bed only for Rooney to turn Patrice Evra's cross against the foot of the post.
As the ball bounced away, Javier Hernandez came in to finish it off and Cole caught him with a horrible challenge which left the Mexican writhing in a heap.
Cole was lucky to escape with a booking but no penalty was given as the ball was out of play. Hernandez could take no further part, limping down the tunnel and Fergie was understandably angry.
But he was a relieved man when Torres produced his miss of misses and there was still time for Cole to clear off the line from sub Dimitar Berbatov.
As the final whistle blew Rooney went over to Torres, put an arm round his shoulder and whispered in his ear.
Wonder what he said — thanks for sharing the embarrassment perhaps?
DREAM TEAM
STAR MAN - NANI (Man Utd)
MAN UTD: De Gea 8, Smalling 8 (Valencia 6), Jones 7, Evans 6, Evra 6, Nani 9, Fletcher 6, Anderson 5 (Carrick 6), Young 7, Rooney 7, Hernandez 7 (Berbatov 6). Subs not used: Lindegaard, Giggs, Park, Fabio. Booked: Valencia, Fletcher.
CHELSEA: Cech 6, Bosingwa 5, Ivanovic 5, Terry 5, Cole 5, Ramires 8, Meireles 7 (Mikel 6), Lampard 5 (Anelka 8), Sturridge 6 (Lukaku 6), Torres 7, Mata 8. Subs not used: Turnbull, Luiz, Romeu, Malouda. Booked: Ramires, Terry, Cole.
No comments:
Post a Comment