United remain in driving seat after draw
Ricardo Cavalho celebrates after scoring the equaliser
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Sunday, 26, Nov 2006 07:11
Manchester United remain three points clear of Chelsea at the top of the Premiership after an entertaining 1-1 draw at Old Trafford.
Louis Saha's exquisite first-half strike was cancelled out by Ricardo Carvalho's header after the break to give both sides a share of the points.
Both teams were unchanged from their mid-week Champions League matches with Michael Ballack and Didier Drogba shaking off their injuries for the Blues.
Manchester United dominated the early exchanges with Wayne Rooney failing to direct his header goalwards after Ryan Giggs' free-kick on four minutes.
Carlo Cudicini was forced into a smart save on 20 minutes after Cristiano Ronaldo's rasping free-kick from 25 yards.
Eleven minutes later, United went ahead after Saha controlled Rooney's pass and took his time before curling his shot from the edge of the area past Cudicini into the bottom corner.
Tempers flared in the closing stages of the half with Drogba appearing to elbow Nemanja Vidic and was shown a yellow card by referee Howard Webb.
Chelsea's best chance of the half was a long range pile-driver from Geremi which was parried by Edwin Van Der Sar on 40 minutes.
Manager Jose Mourinho brought on winger Arjen Robben in place of Geremi at half-time to inject some flair into his midfield.
The change sparked Chelsea into life with Shevchenko coming close to equalising on 59 minutes but the striker put his effort over the bar from the edge of the area.
Six minutes later, Frank Lampard lashed a trademark long-range effort wide of Van Der Sar's goal.
Cudicini produced a fine save to deny Ryan Giggs' low shot after the Welsh wizard was sent through on 67 minutes.
Lampard struck another pinpoint strike a minute later which Van Der Sar saved as the game began to open up.
Chelsea's dominance was rewarded on 70 minutes when Carvalho powered home a header from Lampard's corner with Saha unable to head off the line.
Van Der Sar required treatment after clattering into the post in his attempt to save the Portuguese defender's header.
Ashley Cole was booked for a crunching tackle on Ronaldo with the Portuguese winger limping off and being replaced by Darren Fletcher.
Mourinho signalled Chelsea's intent on 70 minutes by hauling off Shevchenko and bringing on Joe Cole while Ferguson brought on John O'Shea for Saha.
But few chances were created in the closing stages as United held off the onslaught from the visitors.