United Lets Lead Slip....Again

Chelsea 1 - Manchester United 1
Scorers
Chelsea: Kalou (80)
Manchester United: Park (19)

Team: Van der Sar (Kuszczak 33), Rio, Evans, Neville, Evra, Fletcher, Scholes (Ronaldo 55), Park (O'Shea 75), Hargreaves, Rooney, Berbatov

We are a frustrating team to watch. This game was almost a carbon copy of the one at Anfield a week ago. The only saving grace was that the team put out today had alot more fight in them and we came away with something.

We started the game well and shackled a poor Chelsea team. It helped tremendously that Deco was pulled out of the starting lineup and replaced by Michael 'always the bridesmaid but never the bride' Ballack. We deservedly went into the lead after some strong running by Evra. His cut back found Babertov and his weak shot was spilled by Cech, only for Park to put us in the lead with a tap in. It was a lead we thoroughly deserved.

Yet instead of building on it, we allowed Chelsea to come into the game. It didn't help when Van der Sar was a bundle of nerves again, spilling the ball whenever it came to him. The entire team, fed on the frailties from the back, started to play tentative football. It was only by a stroke of luck that Van der Sar was replaced on the half hour by an injury. Kuszczak, though not the best keeper around, was a world and a half better than Van der Sar. At least we kept Chelsea at bay till half time, better than we fared a week earlier.

The second half was all Chelsea, as we tried to hold on to the lead. We looked half the team that was in the first half. Berbatov completely disappeared from the game and Scholes was giving the ball away in midfield. In short, we were baring our butts for the rentboys.

On the 80th minute, the inevitable happened. Rooney gave away a needless freekick in midfield and the resultant kick allowed Chelsea to equalize. Our defence was caught napping and Kalou was left totally unmarked to head the ball home.

It was a disappointing result, but nonetheless expected given how we played after taking the lead. We were probably even lucky to escape with a point.

On Tuesday, we should be fielding our kids against Boro in the Mickey Mouse Cup. Maybe the kids would perform better than their more senior counterparts.