Old Trafford, Sun 26 Nov 2006

United fans didn't know whether to laugh or cry after seeing their team maintain a three-point lead over Chelsea but miss a big chance to double it. Manchested United 1 Saha (29) Chelsea 1 Carvalho (69)

The Reds led at half-time through Louis Saha's exquisite strike but were pegged back when Ricardo Carvalho's header from a Frank Lampard corner went in off Saha with 20 minutes remaining. At the final whistle, it seemed a better result for the Blues as they celebrated in front of their travelling fans. Sir Alex Ferguson kept faith with the eleven who dictated but lost the Celtic game in Glasgow - his strongest eleven in many people’s eyes. Chelsea’s team, however, showed two changes from Wednesday’s defeat to Werder Bremen - Lampard and Carvalho returning at the expense of Joe Cole and Khalid Boulahrouz. Chelsea kicked off attacking the Stretford End, to a cacophony of boos as they negatively worked the ball back from Didier Drogba and Andriy Shevchenko on the halfway line to skipper John Terry at the heart of their defence. Cudicini was well beaten by Louis Saha’s wonderful finish in the 29th minute. Chelsea’s midfield seemed to open up as Rooney played a pass from the centre circle into his strike partner’s path and although both Terry and Carvalho were back behind the ball, Saha kept his head and picked his spot, caressing a left-foot shot inside the left-hand post. This moment of beauty was followed by an ugly episode, Drogba planting his elbow into Vidic’s face as the two players competed in the air. Without the benefit of TV replays, Webb waved only a yellow when really a red was warranted. Carvalho the goal-saver turned goalscorer in the 69th minute when he leapt to meet Lampard’s corner from the right and powered in a header which hit Saha on the line and came down off the crossbar. TV replays later showed Saha had himself headed the ball - he could yet be credited with an unwanted owngoal by the dubious goals committee. Joe's namesake Ashley had his name taken for a foul on Ronaldo - and then chanted in disdain by the fans. Cristiano played no further part - he was replaced by Darren Fletcher, while John O'Shea came on for Saha. With United's two most potent threats on the day withdrawn, there was to be no dramatic, air-punching finale for the home faithful. Instead of euphoria there were feelings of relief that Chelsea's second-half improvement didn't produce a second goal and concern that the substituted players could miss the next Premiership assignment in just three days' time.

Source: Manchested United
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