Chelsea vs Manchester United
Match pulse
Who won: Chelsea 1-0
Chelsea beat Manchester United 1-0 on Sunday, August 15, 2004 at Stamford Bridge. Goals for Chelsea: Eidur Gudjohnsen (15').
Play by play
- 90'
Winning ugly - that's the only way to descibe it. A promising, lively first half was followed by an attritional defensive showing from the home side in the second as they sought to protect what they had. Missing a number of key men, United lacked the guile to break down a nine man defence and Mourihno will be pleased with his day's work.
- 90'
Whistle goes and a frustrating match is over. First blood to Mourinho and Chelsea asthey win 1-0 but it really wasn't much fun to watch
- 90'
Two breaks in a minute for Chelsea!! Smertin runs across the United back line and gets to the line in the box. He cuts back and nutmegs Keane to find himself accompanied by a couple of team-mates. Squares to Lampard who, despite having as long as he wanted to line up a shot, is blocked by O'Shea
- 90'
Rare Chelsea break with the dangerous looking Kezman. Full of running he goes at the United back line and, at the second attempt, makes Howard work - saving well to his left.
- 89'
Three minutes of added time announced
- 88'
It is just like an attack v defence training session with United (attack) throwing balls into Chelsea's (defence) box to no effect at all
- 87'
Another substitution from Mourinho and, yeas, you've guessed it, it's a defensive one. Off goes Geremi to be replaced by Carvalho
- 86'
Not pretty from the home side at all but their new boss will not care about that. Chelsea are simply sitting deep in numbers, packing the box and punting clearances towards the game Kezman. Winning ugly, perhaps?
- 84'
Same route towards goal and same result, except this time Gallas gives away a corner in stopping Richardson
- 83'
Richardson shows good movement and a desire to get forward to receive a pass round the back of the chelsea defence but he lets it run away from him
- 82'
United counter with some changes of their own. Off go the impressive Miller and less impressive Fortune. On come Richardson and Bellion
- 81'
This might open up the play a bit. Off goes Gudjohnsen and on comes Parker. Mourinho quite fancies a 1-0 then, eh?
- 79'
Great chance for Giggs. Smith, still running his socks off, peels to the righ corner of the box and sends over a wondeful cross to the back post. Giggs, 8 yards out, wins it cleanly but heads too straight and it goes wide. A real chance
- 78'
This is a very strange match as Chelsea are simply conceding possession and packing the box. Normailty resumed as Forlan gets into a good position and then messes the move up under no pressure at all
- 77'
Chelsea are defending so deep that Neville is camped about 15 yards into Chelsea's half
- 76'
Chelsea finding it hard to get out of their own half - or are they even trying? - and United are having all the possession. Crowd are a bit frustrated but their side are still winning
- 75'
Good run into space from Forlan and a decent take down from a long forward pass gives no indication of what is to come. With space and time the big striker tries to burst the net but hits row z instead
- 74'
United are picking up a bit of momentum without really troubling the Chelsea defence, mainly due to the numbers they have back
- 72'
Raking ball from Scholes aimed at Fortune causes problems for Ferreira to the benefit of Forlan. He picks up the loose ball and skips past Gallas before Ferreira picks his pocket just as Forlan was about to shoot
- 71'
Substitution for United. Off goes Djemba-Djemba and, with United needing goals, who other than Forlan to enter the fray
- 70'
Kezman shows his intent early. A wonderful track back and tackle robs Millaer and a give and go with Makelele sets the Serb away. Tackled by Keane whilst tryiong to burst through a pair of United men. Very positive
- 68'
Substitution for Chelsea sees one new arrival replaced by another. Drogba, who has worked hard but offered little, makes way for Kezman
- 67'
Neville fires in a shot on the half-volley that doesn't trouble Cech but very nearly lands in the path of Scholes who surely would have scored. Dangerous for Chelsea
- 66'
I get the feeling that Chelsea are under instructions to sit deep and stifle United's attacks and only attack when opportunities present themselves. Doesn't make for exciting football
- 65'
Loose ball from Lampard on the half way line allows Scholes to break. Giggs forced wide by an intelligent pass from his team mate before the initiative is lost by a soft pass from Giggs to the overlapping Fortune who is tackled

