Premier League - United third after Chelsea rout

Eurosport - Mon, 12 Jan 08:56:00 2009

Manchester United gave their Premier League title defence a major boost by beating rivals Chelsea 3-0 at Old Trafford.

FOOTBALL 2008-09 Premier League Manchester United players congratulate Dimitar Berbatov for scoring the third goal in 3-0 win over Chelsea. - 0

Goals from Nemanja Vidic, Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov moved United up to third - above Aston Villa on goal difference - and five points behind leaders Liverpool with two games in hand. They will move above second-placed Chelsea with a win over Wigan Athletic on Wednesday.

Vidic lost his marker at the far post to head home his fourth of the season from a corner in first-half stoppage time and give United a lead they just about deserved on the balance of play.

That goal was registered at the second attempt after Cristiano Ronaldo had a header of his own disallowed just moments earlier. Rooney had casually knocked the inital corner into play while nobody except Ryan Giggs was looking, and the Welsh veteran jogged over to the ball before quickly crossing in to the far post for Ronaldo to glance a header past goalkeeper Petr Cech. However, the linesman's flag was immediately raised and referee Howard Webb ruled that, as none of the officials were made aware that the ball was in play, the corner must be retaken.

Midway through the second-half, United doubled their lead when Patrice Evra - returning from a four-match ban for his row with a Chelsea groundsman at Stamford Bridge last April - curled in a cross that was too high for Berbatov to head but Rooney was able to prod home from close range.

Berbatov put the gloss on the victory with three minutes of normal time remaining when he steered in Ronaldo's free-kick delivery at the near post.

Considering the inevitably fevered build-up to the match, the first-half was a largely uneventful one.

The referee handed out four yellow cards, the first to Frank Lampard after just four minutes for a cynical trip on Ronaldo.

Ronaldo found himself in the book midway through the half along with fellow Portuguese Ricardo Carvalho after the two tangled with each other while battling at a corner.

The only shot on target preceding the opener came from Berbatov after Rooney had found him in the Chelsea area with a delicate flick. The Bulgarian striker was in front of goal but his left-footed shot under pressure was tame and an easy stop for Cech.

Chelsea boss Luiz Felipe Scolari brought on Nicolas Anelka at half-time to partner Didier Drogba, but the league's top scorer did little to aid his coahces cause.

The Frenchman could not muster any efforts on goal himself, while Drogba blazed one strike over the bar and air-kicked another attempted volley as the Blues chased the game.

Four more booking were handed out before the final whistle, including one for Rooney, whose performance deserved both the goal he scored and the yellow card he received.

Ronaldo fired a shot inches wide from distance and had a free-kick loop up off the wall and tipped over the bar by Cech before he set up the third goal that ended Chelsea's unbeaten run of 20 away matches in the league.

Tony Mabert / Eurosport

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  1. I watched the game and Man United was totaly better than Chelsea. We decerved to win!! All the players(Man United) were brilliant, especially Vidic and Rooney. Come on CHAMPIONS!!! MAN UNITED ARE THE BEST!!!

    From Ina01Masha, on Thu 15 Jan 10:47PM

  2. the way that portugal capitulated to a poor german team in the european nations cup suggested scolari has kost his touch. bring back jose best manager sine the gretest-clough.

    From paleondrome, on Wed 14 Jan 9:33AM

  3. MAN U deserved to win the day, especially owing to oxysen tank...

    From ??????, on Tue 13 Jan 3:17PM

  4. Let's all support Southend

    From optimus prime, on Tue 13 Jan 3:02PM

  5. we are "GOD'S CHOSEN BLUES" yet we are playing big pants,we lose at home to burnley & even worse the scousers.then to cap it all,we then lose to some northern whippet sniffers from mill town manchester.....bring on the mighty southend...

    From iain, on Mon 12 Jan 11:05PM

  6. has to be said, chelsea's defending from set pieces must have been shocking, all 3 goals and 1 disallowed came from corners and a free-kick

    From Darragh, on Mon 12 Jan 3:50PM

  7. go ahead BALKAN HEART (BERBA and VIDIC)

    From tzennera, on Mon 12 Jan 3:23PM

  8. I AM FOR ARSENAL BUT I LOVE MANU DISTROYED THE CHELSEA'S PRIDE. OBI MIKEL AND ASHLEY COLE ARE LOOSERS. 3-0 HA HA HA HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!

    From ayomoshe2, on Mon 12 Jan 3:09PM

  9. CONGRATES// ALL MAN U FANS, MAN U YOU ARE THE BEST GLOBALLY, YOU ARE WINNING ALL THE TNMENTS

    From BASIRKA, on Mon 12 Jan 1:56PM

  10. chelsea has lost dat bite which they r known for.At the rate they r moving,am not sure if they still want to win the premiership talk less of playing the next championship. Maybe a change of some of the players n new players introduced will boost their morale once more.

    From Geelo, on Mon 12 Jan 1:43PM

  11. CONGRATES// ALL MAN U FANS, MAN U YOU THE BEST, YOU WINNING ALL THE TNMENTS

    From BASIRKA, on Mon 12 Jan 1:34PM

  12. thanks to benitez for gee-ing up the players......to all you simpletons how can it be just "lucky" get off the sofa and get a job and get a life

    From bobby1.penman, on Mon 12 Jan 1:28PM

  13. Wot United won without six minutes extra time added at end of both halves, I'm gobsmacked.

    From joan.bridge10, on Mon 12 Jan 1:23PM

  14. Another lucky win!

    From joan.bridge10, on Mon 12 Jan 1:22PM

  15. THIS IS THE WORSE HUMILIATION IVE GOTTEN AS A CHELSEA FAN.COMMON FELLOW FANS WE HAVE A LOT TO DO WITH OUR E.MAILS TO THE CHELSEA MANAGEMENT.

    From Spiff Emi., on Mon 12 Jan 11:49AM

  16. I honestly have no doubt at all, that Manure will win this season for the Premier league,FA and Carling Cup or even the Champions League if they consistently play like yesterday...no doubt at all!

    From Hamimah, on Mon 12 Jan 11:45AM

  17. edward wheeler 3,,,,,,,, you said that as a true fan , at least you can admit things our not good at chelsea ??? deco was a bad buy , he puts the team all wrong ,as a manu fan its good to see us win well ,as most true fans would of thought a tight game as it normally is ,, chelsea has not really been the same since mourinho left as he is a bit like fergie in total charge of the picking the team and running it ,you have that idiot mr money taker kenyon , who is a bad apple at chelsea , i wish you luck at liverpool , and koolay you sound like a scoucer going on about a game 4years ago ,, is it that bad a chelsea , were in 2008-9 season not the past ,,,,,well done park you made ronaldo look so poor ,,,

    From Chris, on Mon 12 Jan 11:45AM

  18. *watch out * Scolari...

    From Hamimah, on Mon 12 Jan 11:40AM

  19. Chelsea will play the EUFA cup next season if they continuously playing like yesterday! Watch our Scolari, if you're still at Stamford Bridge. Too bad...

    From Hamimah, on Mon 12 Jan 11:39AM

  20. WELL DONE MAN UTD, BETTER TEAM WON ON THE DAY, BUT IT AINT OVER YET. CHELSEA IN THE BLOOD FOREVER

    From chelsea trueblue, on Mon 12 Jan 11:12AM
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