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AS IT HAPPENED

As it happened: Chelsea v Manchester United, Premier League

Stamford Bridge. Chelsea v Manchester United. It lived up to the hype.

After the drama of Goodison Park we moved our attention to London, to Stamford Bridge, and to Chelsea v Manchester United.

As always, we’d love you to get in contact, so send us your thoughts by emailing tony@thescore.ie, via Twitter @thescore_ie, find us on Facebook, or leave a comment below.

Full-time: Chelsea 2-3 Manchester United

Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson goes back to using wingers, as Ashley Young and Antonio Valencia flank Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie.

Chelsea, without suspended captain John Terry, line out exactly as expected and will hope to put their abject Champions League performance against Shakhtar Donetsk behind them.

Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Luiz, Cahill, Cole, Mikel, Ramires, Hazard, Oscar, Mata, Torres
Subs: Turnbull, Romeu, Moses, Marin, Sturridge, Azpilicueta, Bertrand

Man Utd: De Gea, Da Silva, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra, Valencia, Carrick, Cleverley, Young, Rooney, van Persie
Subs: Lindegaard, Anderson, Giggs, Hernandez, Nani, Welbeck, Scholes

Referee: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear)

The ghost of an early chance for Chelsea, as Mata flicks the ball through to Oscar but Rio Ferdinand stands strong.

Manchester United take the lead!

Ashley Young’s fine run distracts the Chelsea defence as Tom Cleverley pulls the ball back to Robin van Persie. The ball smacks off the upright, then smacks off the backside of David Luiz, then rests in the Chelsea goal. Nothing the defender could have done about that.

We have a GIF of the Manchester United goal…

Fergie is incensed after Patrice Evra is torn a new one by Branislav Ivanovic. No booking for the Chelsea defender.

It’s 2-0 to Manchester United!

Rio Ferdinand finds Rafael, who takes Ashley Cole out of the game before finding Valencia. The winger fires in a low cross and Robin van Persie does not miss chances like those. Emphatic from the Dutchman, while Chelsea’s defending has been abysmal.

A Chelsea striker has scored, but not at Stamford Bridge.

Romelu Lukaku, on loan at West Brom, has equalised Demba Ba’s opener for Newcastle.

The Chelsea fans are booing the brother of the man that was racially abused by their club captain.

Who says people are idiots?

Jay Rodriguez has pulled a goal back for Southampton against Tottenham – it’s not 2-1 to the London side.

Back at Stamford Bridge, Michael Carrick is penalised for a foul on Ramires. Luiz shoots from distance and David de Gea seems to keep the ball out with his feet.

United have every player behind the ball, not allowing Chelsea any space to get Oscar, Hazard or Mata into the game, let alone the isolated Torres.

Torres attempts a volley but he’s offside and zzzzz…. The Spaniard isn’t in the game at all, that was sloppy. United are completely dominant.

Out of nowhere, there’s a spell of Chelsea pressure. Jonny Evans is lucky not to put the ball through his own net. He concedes the corner, and from Mata’s centre Gary Cahill’s header is narrowly saved by the hesitant de Gea and Rooney.

Luiz tries a Cristiano Ronaldo-style free-kick. It hits Torres – Manchester United’s best defender by far – and goes out of danger.

Chelsea look like they have United rattled but the ball is with John Obi Mikel, hardly the game of football’s greatest creative force, and the move slows down to a crawl.

Mata crosses and Torres draws a spectacular save from de Gea. Much better from the striker.

In the next wave, Rooney is booked for a foul on Hazard and gives away a dangerous free-kick.

A VERY dangerous free-kick, as Chelsea have scored!

A wonderful strike from Juan Mata, who curls it beyond the United goalkeeper. In the next attack Mata nearly stabs Chelsea level, but de Gea stays big.

And that’s half-time. A fine first half, made better by Chelsea’s partial fightback in the last ten minutes. Mata, once again, has been at the centre of all of Chelsea’s best moves, while United lost their defensive shape having been so disciplined in the first 35 minutes.

We’re back and Chelsea go on the attack – Mata attempts a volley from the edge of the area but Carrick gets a block in. Chelsea look like they’re in the form now.

Valencia appeals for a penalty as the ball hits off the hand of Luiz in the box, but it was never going to be given. The Brazilian had his hands down by his side.

Chelsea have equalised!

Mata does brilliantly to keep the ball in and crosses. Torres misses the ball but it falls to Oscar, who flicks back for Ramires to head home. No more than the Blues deserve.

Hazard goes on to have a couple of half opportunities as Chelsea press on and press on…

Branislav Ivanovic is sent off for a professional foul!

Mark Clattenburg sent James Milner off for the same thing last week and there was never any doubt he’d have to go. Rooney takes the free-kick but it doesn’t trouble Cech.

Fernando Torres has been sent off for Chelsea!

The hosts are down to nine men after the striker, who was about to be taken off, is adjudged to have taken a fall under a challenge from Jonny Evans. Poor decision, as it looked like Evans caught a piece of Torres, but it’s his second bookable offence and he’s gone.

Wayne Rooney is taken off by Alex Ferguson and replaced by Ryan Giggs. Rooney had been booked and was looking a bit spiky, sensible move by the United boss.

Manchester United have taken the lead!

A shot from van Persie is saved by Cech and cleared, but only as far as Rafael. The full-back lashes the ball towards the goal and substitute Javier Hernandez adjusts his body superbly to slot in.

Hernandez now has five goals in eight appearances against Chelsea for Manchester United. A great week for Chicharito (who looked offside, it must be said).

Daniel Sturridge finally gets on to the pitch, as he replaces Hazard. The Belgian, Oscar, Mata, Torres and Ivanovic are all off the pitch now.

Young plays Hernandez in again but the Mexican lashes the volley over. It should be easy enough for United to see this out now, though they almost let Sturridge in after a defensive mix-up.

Five minutes of stoppage time here, and Valencia gets in on goal but his shot is so appalling it almost kisses the corner flag.

That’s it, and Manchester United have a victory at Stamford Bridge. There is now just one point between the two teams.

Referee Mark Clattenburg is front and centre. The decision to send off Ivanovic was justified, but not the sending off of Torres. Javier Hernandez’ winner was off-side, while Chelsea did not have the personnel to try and fight back.

Now for the fallout! Thanks for keeping up…

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