Manchester United were beaten by a Chelsea side chasing a top-four spot as the champions conceded a late winner to Juan Mata.
It
was the first time the Reds failed to score in a home league game since
December 2009, against Aston Villa, and the hosts ended a clash that
often lacked any real intensity with 10 men after Howard Webb decided to
flash a red card at Rafael in the closing stages.
Sir Alex
Ferguson handed a chance in midfield to Tom Cleverley and Anderson and
the Brazilian made an early impact inside the opening couple of minutes
by imposing himself on the proceedings. However, the Blues created the
first chances with Demba Ba backpedalling to head a Juan Mata cross off
target under no pressure and Rafael making an important block when Ba
looked to profit from another Mata centre, which Anders Lindegaard could
only paw at.
Rafael was soon up at the other end, beating Ashley
Cole and seeing his cross squirt out of Petr Cech's grasp before being
cleared to safety. Cleverley then swept well wide after an intelligent
chested lay-off by Robin van Persie but Chelsea had the best effort of
the half in the 14th minute. A mistake by Patrice Evra high up the pitch
granted Oscar the freedom of the flank to latch onto Frank Lampard pass
and accelerate forward. As he continued unchecked, it needed Lindegaard
to push the Brazilian's shot onto an upright.
There were plenty of shots on goal but most of them lacked any real
threat. Ryan Giggs rolled an effort at Cech following snappy passes by
Rafael and Anderson while Victor Moses blasted over when a Phil Jones
slip presented the ball to Ramires and he, in turn, fed Mata. Lampard
and Ba also had attempts and United almost carved out a rare clear sight
of goal when Cleverley's pass released van Persie but his drive was
blocked by Cesar Azpilicueta.
Cleverley chanced his arm himself
but sent a wasteful shot rising into the East Stand after Cech punched
out a Giggs cross following some impressive industry by Anderson, who
was performing well in patches. Giggs was again involved when placing a
through ball beyond Branislav Ivanovic for van Persie but the lone
striker's first-time shot bounced a foot wide.
After Oscar's
ambitious drive fizzed past Lindegaard but also beyond the far post,
United finished the first half strongly. Giggs stabbed an awkward
left-footed volley off target from an Antonio Valencia centre and van
Persie had a header saved after Nemanja Vidic popped up in the left-wing
position, galloping onto a fancy flick by Evra.
Chelsea felt
there was controversy at the start of the second period when referee
Webb felt Giggs had not fouled David Luiz with replays proving any
offence took place outside of the area, in any case. The Reds were
reduced to largely playing on the break but should have done much better
from one such raid when Jones misplaced a cross after Anderson put
Mata escaped Giggs to nudge the ball into Lampard's path but the
veteran skied over the bar and Vidic had to stylishly cover for Jones
after the midfielder was caught napping by Ba as the greater threat was
posed by Rafa Benitez's men.
In the 67th minute, Mata threw
himself to the ground to win a cheap free-kick out of Evra which
ultimately led to Vidic making a vital headed clearance and Sir Alex
decided it was time to introduce Wayne Rooney into the fray, with
Alexander Büttner also appearing in a double change for Anderson and
Cleverley.
Büttner moved into an attacking left-sided position
with Rooney offering more support to the isolated van Persie. Rooney was
soon into the thick of things and misdirected a header, off balance,
following a cross by Valencia as the Reds tried to build some momentum.
However,
Chelsea kept pressing and Mata was close to meeting Lampard's ball into
the box and three corners in succession were defended capably. As the
game entered the final 10 minutes, Rafael's run led to Ivanovic going
close to putting through his own net but any thoughts that the Londoners
would tire after their recent fixture congestion were looking
unfounded.
Evra's shove on Mata produced another free-kick in a similar position
to earlier in the half and Luiz clubbed the dead-ball into the crowd
but the winner was just around the corner. Referee Webb failed to
whistle when Rooney was toppled over by Ramires and the Brazilian was
heavily involved in the move that led to Mata finding himself in space
inside the area. The Spaniard's shot took a touch off Jones and crept in
at the far post.
Rafael was dismissed with two minutes left after
kicking Luiz - becoming the first Red to be sent off in the Barclays
Premier League this season. It looked a harsh decision by Webb but it
left the Reds a man light and forced into accepting a rare home reverse.
