Kalou saves Chelsea

12 April 2012

Substitute Salomon Kalou headed home 10 minutes from the end of a pulsating clash to preserve Chelsea's long unbeaten home league record and earn a 1-1 draw against Manchester United at Stamford Bridge.

Park Ji-sung had put the visitors in front during an impressive spell for United before half-time.

But Chelsea dominated after the interval and after Nicolas Anelka had wasted a glorious chance, Kalou earned a share of the spoils for Luiz Felipe Scolari's men.

United went ahead after Patrice Evra galloped past Jose Bosingwa to reach Wayne Rooney's inspired through ball. Evra's pinpoint cross found Dimitar Berbatov and while Petr Cech was once again equal to the shot, Park had the easiest of tasks to bundle home the rebound.

There would have been nothing Tomas Kuszczak could do to keep out Anelka's effort 18 minutes from time as, from four yards out and with the goal at his mercy, the Frenchman inexplicably failed to make contact with Joe Cole's cross, the ball bouncing to safety off the Frenchman's standing leg.

But just as a wobbling Chelsea had eventually tumbled in the first-half, so United did the same 10 minutes from time.

In chopping down Ashley Cole, Rooney not only picked up his side's fifth booking. He also provided John Mikel Obi with the opportunity to float over a free-kick to the edge of the United six-yard box where the visitors, getting their marking and offside trap hopelessly wrong, left Kalou on his own to nod home the equaliser.

The game ended in bad tempered fashion as United, who had seven players booked, complained bitterly at referee Mike Riley for his handling of the game as Didier Drogba was receiving treatment after being clattered by Rio Ferdinand.

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