Chelsea win at Old Trafford, take control of EPL

It was a match of highest drama and pressure as Chelsea travelled to Old Trafford to face rivals Manchester United.  The winner would go clear at the top of the EPL and with only a handful of matches left in the season they would control the title race.

Both superstar strikers were on the bench with injuries as Wayne Rooney sat in the luxury box and Didier Drogba started on the bench.  Chelsea came out intent on putting their stamp on the match and bossed the game early on.  They were finally rewarded for their pressure and possession in the 20th minute when Malouda got deep into the Manchester United box before cutting the ball square into the six where Joe Cole rolled it home with a clever flick.

Manchester United just never could get going in the opening half as Wayne Rooney was so dearly missed and the game went to halftime with Chelsea leading 1-0.  They finally got going in the second half and Manchester United were buzzing around the Chelsea goal with the question of when not if they would strike.

Then Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti made the decisive substitution as he introduced Didier Drogba to the match and it would be Drogba who would score shortly thereafter.  Kalou slipped a perfect pass in behind the United defense finding Drogba, who was clearly offside.  Drogba drove home the strike as the flag stayed down.  Chelsea led 2-0 on a controversial goal.

One would have expected United to fold at that point, but they didn't.  Nani weaved his way into the Chelsea box and drove a ball into the six where Petr Cech dove low to parry the ball away.   Substitute striker Macheda was lurking in front and the ball bounced off his chest and arm and into the goal.  Another controversial goal, but at least they canceled each other out.

The fight was on once again as it was now 2-1.  Manchester United would get one last chance but a Berbatov volley went straight to Cech and Chelsea jump United in the EPL standings and now control the title race.