UEFA: United top Chelsea 2-1 to reach semis

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The second episode of the All-English quarterfinal kicked off at the Old Trafford. United, who had an away goal grabbing at Stamford Bridge, entertained Chelsea, who looked to overturn the deficit. However, Korea striker Park Ji-Sung' winner rattled their hopes.

-Chelsea, the last team to win at Old Trafford a year ago, looked hungry for a repeat with Nicolas Anelka shooting just wide.

-Momentarily, Frank Lampard was clear on target with a nice feed, but his weak low drive was just a light practice for Edwin Van der Sar.

Manchester United's Antonio Valencia (left) and Chelsea's John Terry battle for the
ball.

-It was, however, United who got the ball in the net first with Mexican striker Javier Hernandez's diving header from a Wayne Rooney cross only for the linesman to flag for offside.

-Two minutes before the break, John O'Shea sent a reverse pass to Ryan Giggs and the evergreen Welshman slid a pinpoint ball across the area where the lurking Hernandez crashed it into the roof of the net. It was Hernandez's 18th goal of the season for United.

Manchester United's Antonio Valencia (left) and Chelsea's John Terry battle for! the bal l.

-When Ramires was sent off for fouling after 70 minutes Chelsea's hopes looked shot but a fired-up Didier Drogba unleashed a right-footed shot under Van der Sar in the 77th, re-igniting their hopes.

-But those hopes were snffed out soon as Park Ji-Sung netted 21 seconds later to calm the home side's nerves and give the Londoners another entry to their catalogue of wretched Champions League moments. The victory put United into their fourth semi in five years and left big question marks hanging over Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti's future.

Manchester United's John O'Shea (right) and Chelsea's Fernando Torres
battle for the ball

Carlo Ancelotti, Chelsea Manager said "I think we started well. Very good control the first thirty minutes, we are good, good possession, good attacking play, and the last ten minutes of the first half was more difficult, they had more opportunity, they scored a goal and in the second half, with this result, it was more difficult to come back. We tried obviously."

Alex Ferguson, Manchester United Manager said "I think the whole team have played with great credit. It was a very very tough game. Chelsea played very well for a lot of the game, but I think that we played well for most of the game too."



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