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Chelsea win but Rooney spoils the party

(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-04-18 09:29

Chelsea made a fine start with Drogba tackling back and winning possession near the halfway line before feeding the ball for Lampard to unleash an unstoppable low drive on 28 minutes.

Drogba headed the second from a Lampard corner and Ghana midfielder Essien hammered a superb third into the roof of the net from a tight angle.

Chelsea's champagne had already been put away after a United win that also damaged Spurs' hopes of reaching the Champions League qualifiers ahead of north London rivals Arsenal.

Rooney slid home United's opener after an eighth minute breakaway and steered home their second from close range in the 36th after a blunder by Spurs' South Korean defender Lee Young-pyo.

Midfielder Jermaine Jenas scrambled the ball home for Spurs in a 53rd minute melee but their second-half pressure failed to pay off and Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy hit the post for United in the closing stages at White Hart Lane.

Asked about the title race, United manager Alex Ferguson told MUTV: "If we can win at Stamford Bridge you never know. It keeps our fans interested and everyone at the club motivated.

"Sometimes complacency and relaxation can creep in at this stage of the season, but the result against Spurs will keep us going."

Fifth-placed Arsenal, who have a game in hand and trail Spurs with 57 points to 61, will host Tottenham at Highbury on Saturday in what should be a thrilling derby.

Spurs manager Martin Jol told Sky Sports: "It's a big disappointment, because we scored an early goal in the second half so maybe a draw would have been deserved. But we couldn't do that, so it's a big blow to us.

"We have to go to Arsenal now and get a result."

The battle to avoid relegation is equally tight after Portsmouth suffered their first defeat in seven games, having taken the lead at Charlton through Andres D'Alessandro.

Late goals from Bryan Hughes and Darren Bent gave Charlton a victory that keeps Portsmouth 17th, one place above the drop, with 32 points from 35 games.

Birmingham City, on 29 points, West Brom (28) and Sunderland (12) have all played 34 games.

"If we had won today we could have almost put it to bed because it would have shattered the other teams," said Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp. "We've got to pick ourselves up again."