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Ballack double gives Chelsea victory over United

26/04/2008

Two goals from Michael Ballack kept Chelsea's title hopes alive as they beat rivals Manchester United 2-1 at Stamford Bridge.

Avram Grant's side went into the lunchtime game knowing that anything but a win would all but guarantee the visitors a second successive title and they immediately went on the offensive, with Michael Essien twice nearly taking advantage of some shoddy defending by Wes Brown.

The league leaders were then dealt a real blow as centre-half Nemanja Vidic was taken off after being accidentally kneed in the face by Didier Drogba, to be replaced by Owen Hargreaves.

After Joe Cole almost opened the scoring, managing only to clip a shot onto the post, Chelsea finally made their dominance count as Drogba turned provider and crossed in for the German Ballack, to head home just before the break.

Sir Alex Ferguson chose to go for broke in the second half and, though he was struggling with a hip injury, Wayne Rooney took advantage of a slack attempt of a back pass by the otherwise dependable Ricardo Carvalho, sliding the ball low past Petr Cech.

A handball by Michael Carrick then gifted Chelsea a penalty, which Ballack confidently converted, and the hosts withstood late United pressure well into injury time, with Andriy Shevchenko of all players turning up to clear a shot off the line.

The result leaves the two sides level at the top of the league, though Manchester United have a significant goal difference advantage.