Who would have bet on this when Avram Grant took over from Jose Mourinho, or when Chelsea were eleven adrift in February, or eight adrift just four weeks ago?
The Blues have drawn level at the top of the table on the back of a quality display, leaving the Premiership title race wide open with two games left to play.
Michael Ballack opened the scoring with a first half header before Ricardo Carvalho handed Wayne Rooney an equaliser much against the run of play.
However, the Blues' dominance would tell, albeit in fortuitous circumstances as Michael Carrick handled in the area. Up stepped the German skipper to convert and delay United's title win, at the very least that is.
United can still win it if they win their final two games, but it is very much game on.
First Half
It had been Alex Ferguson’s turn to moan about fixture scheduling before the start of the match and with that in mind he sprang a few surprises with his line up. After their exploits in Barcelona the United manager chose to leave golden boy and top goalscorer Ronaldo on the bench alongside Patrice Evra and Carlos Tevez.
Whether it was the fact this was a must win game for Chelsea, or simply the extra few days rest, the home side certainly started the game by far the better. Their bright, fast passing had United on the back foot from the start with Michael Essien driving the Blues forwards and carving out a couple of shooting opportunities in the first few minutes.
United, looking uncharacteristically nervy at the back, were further unsettled by an injury to Nemanja Vidic. The centre half was carried off, covered in blood, after only ten minutes after an accidental knee in the face from Drogba.
Ferguson threw Hargreaves into the fray at right back with Brown moving into the centre to partner Ferdinand but the change unnerved the visitors and Chelsea completely dominated the entire first half.
Yet just as in the Nou Camp on Wednesday United just about managed to keep their opponents at bay. Essien and Joe Cole were the main threats but too often Cole was unable to find a finish to match his good approach work, leaving Van der Sar to save easily. The closest he came was in the twentieth minute when after the ball fell to him in the penalty area his well struck shot came flying back off the bar.
United by contrast were offering very little on the break. Nani was proving wasteful in possession and Giggs and Rooney were practically starved of service from their midfield.
It looked as if the visitors might get away with it but just before half time Chelsea finally made their dominance pay. A simple ball played into the box caught United out and Michael Ballack, stealing in at the back post, planted a lovely header past Van der Sar. One nil to Chelsea and they headed into the half time break with a deserved lead.
Second Half
United emerged from the break looking slightly more adventurous as they tried to get a foothold in the match. For the first time all afternoon they managed to gain some decent possession and within ten minutes of the restart they were level. However, the goal when it came was down to an awful error within the Chelsea ranks, and more surprisingly from one of their best players this season, Ricardo Carvalho.
An innocuous free kick near the half way line was taken by Ferreira who knocked it back to Carvalho who in turn fed Wayne Rooney beautifully. The striker ran onto the ball, took it past John Terry on the edge of the box before hitting a great strike low into the corner giving Cech no chance. From absolutely nothing, United were level.
Chelsea, clearly deflated by the goal, continued to press but without quite the effectiveness of the first half. Whereas United, with Ronaldo replacing the hobbling Rooney and O’Shea on for Anderson, seemed to be happy to settle for a point.
Indeed the game seemed to be heading for a draw until the final drama arrived with only five minutes to go. A cross into the box was adjudged by the assistant referee to have come off Michael Carrick’s arm and the referee pointed to the spot.
Up stepped Michael Ballack, and unlike Cristiano Ronaldo on Wednesday night, the German buried his penalty to give Chelsea a vital lead with only minutes left on the clock.
Yet there was still time for more drama, Ashley Cole clearing one off the line from Ronaldo and then Shevchenko clearing another off the line from Fletcher as time ticked away for United.
Yet Chelsea managed to hang on for a vital victory and the result leaves the Blues level on points at the top of the table with only two games to play.
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