By: James K. Attaglo Wilson
Dutch captain Robin van Persie’s late goal secured Manchester United? a 1-1 drawn game with leaders Chelsea at Old Trafford on Super Sunday.
Ivorian hit man Didier Drogba had put the Blues ahead in the 53rd minute only for the United captain to steal one back in the 94th minute to deny Jose Mourinho a win over his master Louis van Gaal.
Jose Mourinho’s last trip to Old Trafford saw the Portuguese parking the blue bus to wrestle a drawn from the theatre of dreams, but with Manchester United’s defensive frailties this time around the ‘Special One’ decided to go on the home side with Oscar and Hazard making series of incursions early in the game.
Brazilian right fullback Rafael went into the books for pulling Eden Hazard after the attacker had clearly outwitted him on the touchline.
Manchester United responded quickly thereafter with former Real Madrid winger Angel Di Maria in the thick of affairs.
But it was the Belgian teenager Adnan Januzaj who sliced open the Chelsea defence with a cool pass to onrushing van Persie but Thibaut Courtois came off his line to deny the Dutch man.
Argentine winger Angel Di Maria failed to put United ahead on two occasions when he was put through in the box, but he tried to play it spectacular instead of keeping it simple.
Soon after Marcos Rojo gave possession to Ivorian talisman Didier Drogba but David De Gea was on hand to deny him.
In the 53rd minute however, De Gea put up a brilliant save to deny Eden Hazard from scoring after the Belgian football orchestrator had slalomed his way through the Manchester United defence.
Didier Drogba broke the deadlock in the 53rd minute when he lost Rafael in the box to connect from Cesc Fabregas’ corner which hit van Persie’s head on its way to goal.
Branislav Ivanovic nearly scored the second goal for the league leaders when he brushed a shot across the face of United’s goal.
The Serbian defender was sent off by referee P. Dowd for a second bookable offence in the 94th minute when he brought down Angel Di Maria at the corner end.
Di Maria’s free kick into the box found Felliani’s head, but the midfielder’s header was parried into play by Courtois only to fall in front of van Persie who blasted it into the net to set the theatre of dreams alive.
Jose Mourinho and his men may leave the Old Trafford disappointed but they managed to keep their unbeaten run alive all the same.
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