Chelsea battle back to force a replay

Manchester United 2 Chelsea 2

Ramires netted a second-half equaliser as Chelsea battled back from 2-0 down to secure an FA Cup quarter-final replay.

They trailed at Old Trafford after early goals from Javier Hernandez and Wayne Rooney but recovered following a double change by Rafael Benitez.

Substitute Eden Hazard’s brilliant strike reduced the deficit before Ramires finished off a fine counter-attack.

It eased the heat on under-fire interim boss Benitez, who further riled Chelsea fans by again leaving out John Terry.

Many will argue the Blues skipper might have prevented at least one of two Manchester United goals in the opening 11 minutes.

First, Gary Cahill allowed Hernandez to sneak away from him and head Michael Carrick’s lofted pass over a poorly positioned Petr Cech.

Then Rooney’s left-wing free-kick drifted in at the far post after Demba Ba and David Luiz both failed to head clear.

Some of Chelsea’s first-half play was bright, but it took a double save from keeper Cech to prevent them falling further behind before the break.

Cech produced an instinctive stop from Rooney and then to keep out Luiz’s misdirected header.

Benitez irritated the travelling supporters even more when he replaced Frank Lampard and Victor Moses with John Mikel Obi and Hazard seven minutes after the restart.

But the substitution paid off just before the hour mark, Hazard curling in a glorious effort from the edge of the penalty area.

And in the 67th minute the visitors drew level.

A slick move involving Luiz, Ba and Oscar culminated in Ramires tricking Jonny Evans and then sending a left-footed shot into the far corner.

Chelsea continued to press and keeper David De Gea rescued United in the final minute, saving with his feet to deny Juan Mata.

Chelsea: Cech, Azpilicueta, Luiz, Cahill, Cole, Ramires, Lampard (Mikel 52), Moses (Hazard 52), Mata, Oscar, Ba (Torres 77).
Subs not used: Turnbull, Ivanovic, Terry, Bertrand.

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