NFL Tickets
On February 5th, 1958 Manchester United drew 3-3 with Red Star Belgrade. The next day the infamous Munich air disaster happened, tragically killing 23 members of United’s players, coaches and staff. On the 54th anniversary of their final game, Manchester United matched the scoreline and may have exceeded the drama in a spectacular 3-3 draw with Chelsea.
Neither team was at full strength. Though United got Wayne Rooney and Ashley Young back from injury they were still minus Darren Fletcher, Chris Smalling, Nemanja Vidic, Nani, and Tom Cleverley. Chelsea recently lost captain John Terry to injury and left back Ashley Cole to suspension. And the early quality of the game, especially the defending from Chelsea and creativity from United, showed as such.
The most excitement of the first 25 minutes came with a referee’s decision, or lack thereof. Danny Welbeck burst into the area and was hacked down by Gary Cahill, but referee Howard Webb shockingly waved play on. Not only should it have been a penalty, but Cahill should have been sent off for a professional foul. The match turned on that moment, at least for a while. Chelsea was able to bottle up play and frustrated United’s usually free-flowing passing game. And then the Blues got a lucky breakthrough in the 36th minute.
It began with some spectacular footwork by Daniel Sturridge, wrong-footing the usually sound Patrice Evra. Sturridge carried to the touch line and played a ball across goal that deflected off of goalie David de Gea’s leg, off Jonny Evans’ chest and into the back of the net. It was a brutal own goal for the young United defender, who is often and rightly criticized for some poor performances. United had been the better team, but found themselves down 1-0 heading into halftime, albeit not before both Welbeck and Wayne Rooney forced good saves out of Petr Cech.
Whatever was said by Sir Alex Ferguson to his squad in the locker room had to be thrown out immediately. From the opening kickoff Chelsea barged down the right wing. Fernando Torres played and excellent cross to the back post where Juan Mata volleyed spectacularly and all of a sudden it was 2-0 Chelsea.
Mata turned creator when he played a free kick into the box that was headed in by David Luiz (with a hearty deflection off a United defender). 3-0 Chelsea and it still felt like United was the better team, but the match seemed all but over. Hardly.
In the 56th minute Evra was hauled down inside the box by Sturridge and United had their long-awaited penalty on the third try. It seemed much too late and there was little celebration when Wayne Rooney buried it to make it 3-1 Chelsea.
But the goal prompted Sir Alex to make a change for the positive, introducing Paul Scholes into the game while withdrawing Rafael and moving Antonio Valencia into an advanced role at right back. The move prompted more creativity and chances for United, but Cech saved well on Rooney effort from the edge of the box and it seemed impossible United could get two past the spectacular Czech Republic goalkeeper. Then came another penalty.
This one had the Chelsea fans groaning at the abysmal Howard Webb; Welbeck went down again, but it seemed he was the one who instigated the contact with Branislav Ivanovic. Still, all is fair if you are a United supporter, the Red Devils had already had two clear penalties denied. And again it was Rooney scoring, sending Cech the wrong way. 3-2 Chelsea and now United had real belief.
The game went from closed down to wide open after the second penalty. Javier Hernandez, on for Ashley Young, was set free in the box, but shot wide. Michael Essien ripped a shot that De Gea tipped over the bar. Then Chelsea went into a defensive shell and United took advantage. After seemingly endless pressure Rooney ripped another shot, forcing another terrific save from Cech. Then Ryan Giggs, he the man with so many crucial goals and moments in 20 seasons with United.
Giggs ran down the loose ball after the save from Rooney and played a sublime cross to Hernandez who hit the back of the net with a powerful header. 3-3. Unbelievable.
Even more unbelievable, Chelsea fans could be seen streaming towards the exit, despite there being 5 minutes of regulation and stoppage time to play. And the United fans songs rang out loud and best. But this one wasn’t over, oh not yet. Raul Meireles headed wide from inside 10 yards. And United had another penalty shout when David Luiz pushed Jonny Evans to the ground on a corner. Then came some spectacular saves from United’s goalie.
David de Gea has been much maligned in his first season at Old Trafford. The 21-year old Spaniard has had his fair share of mistakes that cost United, both in the Premier League and Champions League. But my, oh, my did he attest for them in this one. After a foul near the edge of the area Chelsea lined up Juan Mata, he the scorer of the best of the six goals in this one. And he thought he one-upped himself and had given Chelsea the win. A spectacular free kick was rocketing and curling toward the top corner, destined to eek just inside the upper 90.
That is until De Gea flew across goal and at full stretch tipped it wide. It has to be, at this point, the save of the season in soccer. A goal there would have broken United’s hearts, and perhaps season, after such a comeback. But the young keeper kept his team in it. And again when he tipped over a rocket from 30 yards from Gary Cahill.
And then the whistle blew, bringing an end to what can only be described as a spectacle to behold. What controversy, what goals, what a fightback by Manchester United. What a match.
Share 
