Top 3 Chelsea v Manchester United Cup ties

As Chelsea and Manchester prepare to lock horns in the quarter final  of the FA cup, we look back at some of the finest  cup ties across competition between the two heavy weights

31st October 2012, League cup 

CHELSEA 5-4 Manchester United

Having just played a classic and controversial game in the league three days ago the two teams stepped on the field again in the League cup. With emotions still high from the game on the weekend, both teams were high on motivation to get to the quarter final. The game turned out to be one of greatest cup ties of the time as Manchester United thrice led in regulation time through Ryan Giggs, Javier Hernandez and Nani. All the times their leads were cut back by Chelsea through two two penalties by David Luiz and Eden Hazard with a Gary Cahill goal sandwiched between them. The third equaliser by Eden Hazard had crucially come in almost what was the last kick of normal time making it an intense finish heading into extra time. Chelsea at home then turned out to be too much for a young Manchester United side to handle as goals by  Daniel Sturridge and Ramires were enough to take Chelsea into the next round and a late by Penalty by Ryan Giggs turned out to be nothing but consolation.  This game also turned out be Sir Alex’s last in the league cup.

19 May 2007, FA Cup Final 

Chelsea 1-0 Manchester United 

Three years after Jose’s Mourinho arrival at Chelsea and a health rivalry between the sides for the Premier League throne, the two teams met for the first ever FA Cup  final at the new Wembley Stadium. Having become the heavyweights they had and the historic occasion, there was indeed a lot of hanging around on this match.  The game turned out to be an intense with neither team giving an inch to the other. Regulation time finished with the deadlock unbroken. Things did not seem to change in extra time too as penalty shootout loomed closer. With only 4 minutes left Didier Drogba, not for the first time nor for the last time, scored in a final to ensure Chelsea lift the title. With this Chelsea completed the cup double having won the league cup earlier in the season while United the premier league champions missed out on a perfect league and cup double. This was also a uniquemoment of history for Chelsea as 7 years they had also won the last FA cup final at the Wembley.

21st May 2008, Champions league final 

Manchester United 1(winners on penalties)-1 Chelsea 

In Moscow, Manchester United and Chelsea met for what can be called the crowning moment of English football. The two English heavyweights met in the biggest game of the season, the U.E.F.A Champions league final. The rivalry was taken to another level as European football witnessed one of its greatest nights. Manchester got an early lead through a Cristiano Ronaldo goal. Chelsea got back in the game at the brink of half time with Frank Lampard poaching in for the Blues. After that the game remained entertaining and one of close chances with Chelsea hitting the woodwork twice and United being denied by some brillant saves. The game had also gone into extra time like last year’s FA Cup final, but here instead of scoring the goal, Didier Drogba got sent off for slapping Nemanja Vidic in an altercation between the sides. The game then went into the penalty shootouts where it seemed all heading in Chelsea’s direction as Cristiano Ronaldo uncharacteristically missed his spot kick. This left Chelsea captain John Terry to make it the perfect finish as he stepped on to take what would have been the missing penalty. But it wasn’t to be for him as he slipped while taking the kick and in order shooting it into the bar. Then, Nicolas Anelka again missed for the blues as Edwin Van Der Saar’s save made Manchester United the European champions. The club had won both the Premier league and European cup that year and ensured it to be one of the greatest moments in their glorious history.