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England Premier League

Chelsea 3-3 United: Reflections on the Match

Samrin Hasib, February 6 2012,
London clubs seemingly enjoy squandering leads- Arsenal has done it quite a few times in the past and Chelsea repeated the feat on Sunday.
United's goal scorers: Rooney and Hernandez
United's goal scorers: Rooney and Hernandez
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Newcastle 0-4 Arsenal- this is a score-line that will give quite a few jitters to an Arsenal fan. This was the score at half-time of the match last season. The final score was 4-4. Chelsea produced a good performance against United for the most part. 57 minutes had gone by at Stamford Bridge- Chelsea led 3-0.

Yet, Howard Webb offered United a life-line. Two soft spot-kicks later, Chelsea was staring at a point from a game where they surely had three points secured before the hour mark. There was almost a sense of cliché to the United comeback when Javier Hernandez equalized in the 84th minute.

This game could ideally have allowed Chelsea to launch a late title challenge. Andre Villas Boas’ side seemed ready to score more even after the third. Daniel Sturridge seemed prepared to knock in a few goals. Refereeing controversies exist in every league, none more so than in the English Premier League. Indeed, it was those controversies that allowed United to start a comeback considering how soft the two penalties were.

How much of the comeback can be blamed on Villas Boas’ team is really difficult to estimate considering the first two of United’s goals were penalties. The third goal however can be absolutely blamed on Chelsea’s defence. The defending was poor for a team looking to challenge for the title.

The game overall was highly entertaining and another advert for the Premier League. The drama at the end was marvelous as David de Gea had to deny a superb effort from Juan Mata to secure the draw for his side. De Gea looked to be out of the United side due to some of his gaffes but he certainly showed that he can cut it in the top flight in England on Sunday.

De Gea’s fellow Spaniard Fernando Torres had another torrid afternoon. He did record an assist but failed to find the back of the net once again. Torres’ confidence levels are lower than they seemingly have ever been. He had a golden chance to add to his side’s tally but took too many touches allowing the United defence to clear the danger.

The Spaniard has been given plenty of chances by all his coaches at Stamford Bridge to recover his form but it just hasn’t happened for him. Torres’ opportunities will run out at one stage if he cannot take the chances that fall to him.

As for United, that one point increased the distance between them and City by two points. United can count themselves lucky to have secured a point- the comeback looked improbable but United has done this many times over. United’s biggest shot at a trophy this season is the Premier League. They kept themselves in what is increasingly becoming a two-horse title race.

I would like to hear your views on the match. Feel free to leave your comments below.

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