By David Hobbs
May 10 2005

Chelsea showed exactly why they were Champions by claiming a 3-1 win courtesy of goals from Tiago, Eidur Gudjohnsen and Joe Cole despite fielding an under-strength team.

Chelsea Triumph at Old Trafford

Manchester United 1
Van Nistelrooy 7

Chelsea 3
Tiago 17
Gudjohnsen 60
Cole 80

Chelsea stepped out onto the pitch sandwiched by the Manchester United squad, who made a guard to congratulate them on their Premiership success.

Sir Alex Ferguson opted to rest Ryan Giggs ahead of the FA Cup Final with Arsenal and play Darren Fletcher in the unpopular five-man midfield.

Chelsea confirmed earlier today that John Terry's season has come to an early end due to a minor toe operation he must undergo, so the skipper was not included in the Blues' squad. Glen Johnson pushed into right-midfield ahead of Jiri Jarosik while Carlo Cudicini kept his place in-between the sticks.

Cristiano Ronaldo got the game off to an early bang but didn't bother Cudicini, trying his luck from long-range.

However, United broke the deadlock from a corner after seven minutes. A deflected corner found its way to Paul Scholes and then to Wayne Rooney, who drove a shot into the box that clattered off Ruud van Nistelrooy and past a hapless Cudicini.

The goal proved a wake-up call for Chelsea, who penetrated through the United defence. Tiago equalised for his side as he unleashed a brilliant drive from long-range that clearly beat a stranded Roy Carroll.

Red Devils captain Roy Keane was cautioned just after the half-hour mark for a late foul on Joe Cole as Chelsea pushed forward.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney had shots blocked moment later as possession-pendulum swung to see out the first-half.

Claude Makelele, Jose Mourinho's Player of the Season, was booked shortly into the second-half following a tussle with Wayne Rooney. The England international stuck the subsequent free-kick just over the bar.

United suffered an underserved blow on the hour mark as Eidur Gudjohnsen ploughed home Tiago's cross from the right wing.

United grew frustrated and Ruud van Nistelrooy picked up a yellow card from referee Graham Poll for dissent before Frank Lampard tackled Ronaldo to receive the same punishment. Both side made changes soon after, bringing on Jiri Jarosik and Louis Saha for Glen Johnson and Darren Fletcher respectively.

Joe Cole added another on the eightieth minute by firing home from just six yards out. Chelsea enjoyed slightly more possession throughout the second-half as opposed to the first.

Chelsea ran down the clock by knocking the ball around defence and midfield to seal their victory.

Final Score: Manchester United 1 - 3 Chelsea
Att: 67,832

Manchester United: R Carroll, G Neville, W Brown, R Ferdinand, M Silvestre, D Fletcher (72 L Saha) , R Keane, P Scholes, C Ronaldo, W Rooney, R van Nistelrooy
Substitutes: T Howard, L Saha, A Smith, J O'Shea, Q Fortune

Chelsea: C Cudicini, G Johnson (72 J Jarosik) , A Ricardo Carvalho, R Huth, W Gallas, N Geremi, C Tiago, C Makelele, F Lampard, J Cole (90 A Grant) , E Gudjohnsen (86 M Nuno Morais)
Substitutes: P Cech, M Forssell, J Jarosik, M Nuno Morais, A Grant

Refereed By: G Poll