Showing posts with label Manchester United. Show all posts
Sunday 2 November 2014
Man City 1 - 0 Man United
Aguero was twice denied in the first half by David De Gea, before United defender Chris Smalling was sent off.
City then took the lead just after the hour as Aguero fired into the roof of the net from Gael Clichy's pass.
Robin van Persie and Angel di Maria were both denied by Joe Hart as City held firm for the win.
Manuel Pellegrini's side are third, six points behind leaders Chelsea.
bbc sport
Sunday 26 October 2014
Manchester United 1 - 1 Chelsea
Didier Drogba's header, glanced in off Van Persie early in the second half, looked to have extended Chelsea's lead at the top of the table to six points until a thunderous conclusion in front of the Stretford End.
In scenes reminiscent of days gone by at the Theatre of Dreams, Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic was shown a second yellow card for a foul on Angel Di Maria as United applied late pressure.
Di Maria's resulting free-kick saw Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois save brilliantly from Marouane Fellaini but Van Persie was on hand to thrash home the rebound and spark wild celebrations around Old Trafford.
Blues manager Jose Mourinho turned away in disgust as Van Persie scored, frustrated that the victory his side deserved for controlling long periods had slipped away in a chaotic conclusion.
The Portuguese's side remain four points clear of second-placed Southampton - and, perhaps more significantly, six points ahead of last season's champions Manchester City - but this is a result that will almost have the after-taste of defeat, even though Chelsea's unbeaten run continues.
Without injured top scorer Diego Costa, the old warrior Drogba stepped into the breach and, when United did threaten Chelsea's defence, keeper Courtois was faultless. The Belgian was powerless to prevent Van Persie's leveller.
Despite the late concession, Chelsea looked ominously powerful and carry all the hallmarks of the team to beat this season.
For United manager Louis van Gaal, there will be pleasure in showing the resilience and fighting spirit of old to earn a point - but also the reality that Chelsea showed him how much ground they still have to make up, despite that £150m outlay this summer.
Blues striker Diego Costa's "little chance" of playing turned out to be no chance as his lingering hamstring strain ruled him out while United, without suspended captain Wayne Rooney, were also missing the injured Radamel Falcao.
The old friends, and on this day foes, Van Gaal and Mourinho were in no mood to hold back and it was only the finishing touches that were missing in an enthralling first half that saw chances for both sides.
Courtois saved superbly from Van Persie after the Dutchman was played through, and home keeper David de Gea also excelled to save with his legs after Oscar's pass found Drogba only 12 yards out.
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Jose Mourinho avoids ref controversy
There was one highly contentious moment when Ivanovic was dragged to the floor by Chris Smalling as they chased Cesc Fabregas's delivery into the box but referee Phil Dowd gave nothing.
Chelsea increased the tempo and power at the start of the second half and it was only another fine save from De Gea that stopped Eden Hazard as he ran clean through and looked certain to score.
There was no let-off, though, as Drogba escaped his marker - who mystifyingly was the diminutive Rafael - and headed in off Van Persie at the near post. The striker's attempted headed clearance was flimsy at best.
Drogba will hope the goal is not taken off him after Van Persie's unwitting intervention as it will otherwise go down as his first Premier League goal for Chelsea since he scored against Stoke in March 2012.
Scenting the chance to kill their hosts off, Willian forced De Gea into an athletic save and Ivanovic's bustling run into the area ended with a shot flashed across the face of goal.
United were looking to Van Persie to create a spark but he found Courtois in his way once more after creating space inside the area.
Then came that Ivanovic red card, the scramble in front of the Stretford End and United had their point courtesy of Van Persie.
bbc sport
Sunday 5 October 2014
Chelsea beat Arsenal to go five points clear
(Reuters) - Chelsea stretched their lead at the top of the Premier League to five points on Sunday when they beat London rivals Arsenal 2-0 as surprise package Southampton went down 1-0 at Tottenham Hotspur.
Unfancied Southampton's first defeat since the opening day of the season allowed champions Manchester City to stay second, while neighbours Manchester United returned to the top four for the first time in more than a year by beating Everton 2-1.
Diego Costa scored his ninth goal in seven league games to tie up the points for Chelsea after Eden Hazard had converted a first-half penalty.
Costa's strike was set up by a perfect pass from Cesc Fabregas, the former Arsenal midfielder who joined from Barcelona in the close-season.
The victory extended Jose Mourinho's unbeaten record against Arsenal's Arsene Wenger to 12 meetings, the two managers being briefly involved in a spat on the touchline when Wenger pushed his opposite number in the chest.
"He was coming to my space," Mourinho said. "If it was to give an instruction to a player I say OK, but to press the referee to give a red card to an opponent is not fair.
"I don't think that is the image of Arsene Wenger as an advocate of fair play.
"It was an important match for both teams and these conditions make for a game of emotions."
Wenger said he was responding to a bad tackle, adding: "I went out of my technical area because I wasn't happy with the challenge and I wanted to see what happened.
"Someone stood in front of me and that was it. I say absolutely nothing else on that."
Christian Eriksen scored the only goal after 40 minutes as Tottenham won in the league for the first time since Aug. 24, giving manager Mauricio Pochettino a triumph over his former club and successor Ronald Koeman.
Eriksen's goal enabled Spurs to move up to sixth place.
They are level on points with fourth-placed Manchester United, who shot up six positions with an eventful success against Everton.
Goalkeeper David De Gea saved a penalty from Leighton Baines and earned the gratitude of manager Louis van Gaal with three more fine saves as Everton pressed hard at the end of a feisty affair.
Steven Naismith had equalised for Everton between goals by Argentina's Angel Di Maria and Colombia's Radamel Falcao -- his first for United.
Everton remained in the bottom four but stayed out of the relegation places when bottom club Queens Park Rangers were beaten 2-0 in the other London derby at West Ham United.
An early own goal by Nedum Onuoha was followed by a second half header from prolific Senegalese striker Diafra Sakho, sending the home side up nine places to seventh.
Monday 29 September 2014
Rooney apologises for red card incident
(Reuters) - Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney has apologised to his team mates after being sent off against West Ham United during Saturday's Premier League match following a rash challenge on Stewart Downing.
"It was probably the right decision," Rooney was quoted as saying on the BBC website. "Of course I did (apologise)."
Rooney, who said he would not appeal the decision, will be unavailable for his club until the derby against Manchester City on Nov. 2 as he received an automatic three-match ban for the dismissal.
Rooney's challenge was described as "crazy and irresponsible" by West Ham manager Sam Allardyce while Manchester United's Louis van Gaal backed referee Lee Mason's decision.
"I saw the West Ham player making a counter-attack and I tried to break-up the play, but I just misjudged it," Rooney said.
"I am just grateful that the lads were able to hold on."
Rooney's team sealed a 2-1 win despite playing the last 30 minutes with 10 men.
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