Chelsea vs. Manchester United: Torres, Mata and Player Grades for the Blues

The highlight match of the weekend lived up to the billing as Manchester United came from three goals down to claim a point at Stamford Bridge.

Two penalties by Rooney capped off the revival that started off some fortune for the hosts.

Chelsea were gifted a goal in the 36^th minute against the run of play. Daniel Sturridge was lucky to find the ball fall to his feet on the right side of the box. After beating Patrice Evra to the goal line, his cross took a double deflection of David De Gea then Johnny Evans to give Chelsea the lead.

United would go into the locker room feeling that they were the better side and unfortunate to be down 1-0.

However, Chelsea immediately proved that they belonged on top as less than a minute into the second Juan Mata would give the hosts a two goal cushion. Fernando Torres found space on the right flank and delivered a superb cross that was only bettered by Mata’s finish off the volley.

Luck would again favor Chelsea minutes later as Mata’s free kick found David Luiz unmarked in the United box. Luiz’s gracing header did just enough to direct it into the path of Rio Ferdinand who incidentally nodded it into his own net for what should have counted as the second United own goal of the match. Instead Luiz was fortunate enough to get the tally.

Just as things began to sway in Chelsea’s favor, Evra would make up for his error on Sturridge by arranging a penalty kick off the youngster. Wayne Rooney remained calm and put it away to make the score 3-1.

United would edge closer in the 68^th minute as Ivanovic brought down Danny Welbeck for United’s second penalty. Rooney again stepped up to put it away to make the score 3-2 and a nervous remaining 20 minutes for the hosts.

The comeback was completed in the 84^th minute as substitute a Javier Hernandez headed in a Welbeck cross unchallenged. It was the final goal in an exciting 3-3 draw.

Villas-Boas discussed how luck had been against them all season. Well, today it was not, and still his team failed to live up to expectations.

Here are the grades for a disappointing day for Chelsea.

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Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1054219-chelsea-vs-manchester-united-torres-mata-and-player-grades-for-the-blues

A.J. Burnett Steve Garrison Phil Hughes Damaso Marte Mariano Rivera Kerry Wood