Sir Alex Ferguson has written the script on UEFA Champions League advancement. His Manchester United teams go away in the first leg and play to a 0-0 draw before returning to Old Trafford and getting the win they need to move on. The Red Devils went off script in Wednesday's Champions League match though, going ahead of Chelsea 1-0 at Stamford Bridge through a Wayne Rooney goal.
Chelsea FC Vs. Manchester United, 2011 UEFA Champions League: Rooney Goal Has Red Devils Ahead At Halftime
The move for United's goal started with Michael Carrick's ball that freed Ryan Giggs on the left. Jose Bosingwa was nowhere to be found so Giggs took the ball to the end line before crossing for Rooney, who sidefooted the ball just inside the post for the goal. Rooney scoring in the Champions League quarterfinals shouldn't surprise anyone though. The goal marks the fifth consecutive year that Rooney has scored in this stage of the competition.
Although down a goal, Chelsea has been the better side in the first 45, albeit slightly. Where they weren't slightly better was the final seconds of the first half when Chelsea was peppering the goal to no avail. Fernando Torres, who has been poor, wasted an easy chance by putting the ball off the post. Frank Lampard had a ball cleared off the line and then Lampard had another great chance blocked.
Chelsea will have to consider making a halftime substitution for Torres. The Spaniard has done absolutely nothing and the Blues cannot afford to go to the second leg chasing a goal. They’re going to need a tally at some point in the second half and Torres has shown nothing to hint that he can contribute to that goal.
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