SummaryDespite a three-goal lead Chelsea could not hang on to three points as Manchester United fought back to earn a draw at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea had been coasting to a quickfire two goals at the start of the second half. An own goal by Jonny Evans had given us a slender advantage at half-time but
Juan Mata had quickly doubled the lead with an explosive volley and then
David Luiz headed in to give us what looked like an unassailable lead.
United have long been kings of the comeback though, and Wayne Rooney brought his side back into the game with two penalties before Javier Hernandez headed an 84th minute equaliser.
The visitors had been pressing for much of the game against an unfamiliar looking Chelsea side missing several key figures, but few would have given them a chance after 50 minutes.
Even in injury time both sides could have won it with Mata being denied by a wonderful David De Gea save and United piling yet more pressure on the Chelsea goal.
There will be no doubting which manager will be more satisfied with the point, and Villas-Boas must now pick his side up for next weekend's trip to Everton.
The visitors made six changes from the side that beat Stoke in midweek. In came Rafael, Ryan Giggs, Ashley Young, Rooney, Danny Welbeck and goalkeeper De Gea. Paul Scholes, Dimitar Berbatov and Hernandez were on the bench.
First halfThe opening exchanges barely gave anyone time for breath. Rooney had flashed a free-kick past Cech's post before Chelsea had strung a passing move together, and then Meireles struck hard into the side netting after De Gea had flapped at a corner.
The frenetic start made for a lively atmosphere, the noise inside Stamford Bridge raised yet further when first Torres and then Welbeck were denied free-kicks after heavy challenges from defenders, referee Howard Webb deeming that first Rafael and then Cahill had made sufficient contact with the ball -to the visible frustration of Villas-Boas and Sir Alex Ferguson.
That tempo could of course not continue, and by the 20-minute mark things had settled down somewhat. Torres found space outside the area but miscued his shot and then at the other end a swift United break needed Ivanovic to divert the ball behind after Rooney had unselfishly squared into Young's path.
Chelsea have been criticised for not creating enough goalscoring opportunities recently, and had done little to quieten the critics inside the first half-hour, Torres's frustration demonstrated when he bumped into the back of Evans, a minor infringement that earned the game's first caution.
Of course you do not need to take shots if the opposition do it for you, and that is how the Blues took the lead 10 minutes before the break. Sturridge did superbly coming in from the right and beating United captain Patrice Evra before pulling back into the danger area, where Evans could only send the ball past his goalkeeper with an awkward pelvic thrust.
Sturridge was clearly galvanised by his assist, and almost produced a goal of his own immediately afterwards, forcing a sprawling save from De Gea with a biting shot from distance. Young showed slightly more guile with his bending effort moments later but Cech was equal to it and palmed the ball away to safety to preserve the narrow lead.
The Czech then had to beat Welbeck's shot away to his left after the ball had fallen loose and evaded Cahill and
David Luiz, who up until that point had been coping pretty well with United's attacking threat.
United were enforcing some sustained pressure on the Chelsea goal, yet the unfamiliar defence stood firm and the home side even looked capable of doing further damage on the counter as the first half drew to a close.
Before it did Cech was called into action one more time to tip away a fizzing Rooney drive. The captain for the day was keeping Chelsea in front.
Second halfThe second period could not have started better for Chelsea. Within 30 seconds we had doubled the lead, with an unstoppable finish from Mata.
Ivanovic had fed an unmarked Torres wide on the right, and the striker whipped a powerfully-hit cross to the far post where the diminutive former Valencia man was waiting to unleash a rocket volley into the roof of the net. His compatriot De Gea will barely have seen it before it whistled past his head.
It was just what was needed to calm any nerves but as people will tell you, 2-0 is a dangerous scoreline. One slip and the momentum can quickly shift to the other side.
Just as well then that
David Luiz was on hand to head home a third after 50 minutes, the Brazilian first to meet Mata's inswinging free-kick, and although the header was heavily deflected off Rio Ferdinand's shoulder, it seems nobody will be taking the goal away from the defender, who had surely put his side out of reach with his second home goal against United in consecutive seasons.
United were handed a lifeline three minutes before the hour mark though, Sturridge's trip on Evra adjudged enough for a penalty, and Rooney slamming the ball into the top corner with the ferocity of a man clearly unhappy with his afternoon's work.
The game was certainly opening up, for all the bodies United would now commit forward there would be gaps at the back waiting for Chelsea to exploit them. Sturridge spent too long dallying in possession to get a decent shot away before Essien, impressive on his return, saw a shot blocked by the quiet Antonio Valencia and Mata brought a low save from De Gea.
Eleven minutes after the first, United were awarded a second penalty. This one looked more controversial, Welbeck going over a seemingly stationary Ivanovic's leg inside the box. Rooney went for placement for his second strike, and duly found the bottom corner as Cech went the wrong way once more.
Villas-Boas had been planning to introduce
Oriol Romeu for some time, but now the midfielder's grit and discipline looked especially necessary. His first contribution however was to surrender possession and allow Hernandez the opportunity to equalise. He will have been relieved to see the Mexican uncharacteristically shoot wde.
Inside what looked likely to be a nervy final 15 minutes Torres touched off for Essien and the Ghanaian's powerful shot was tipped over by De Gea. It was Chelsea's first foray forward for some time.
From the resulting corner United struggled to clear ad then Torres might have scored a fourth had he not hesitated and been crowded out by visiting defenders. This game could still go either way.
The contest was now mostly been played in Chelsea's half with 10 blue shirts behind the ball. Could they hold out against a United attack with a potent front five?
The answer was no. Cech produced a moment of quality to keep out Rooney's hat-trick attempt, but when Giggs sent the ball back into the area nobody had picked up Hernandez who glanced his header into the far corner to bring the scores level. Seven minutes still remained, but it was United firmly in the ascendancy.
Chelsea still looked capable of scoring though, Meireles headed over when well placed and in the first of four added minutes Mata forced a tremendous save from De Gea with a curling free-kick. In the last, Cahill brought another, his dipping drive fingertipped over the bar.
And so both sides had to settle for a point that before the game, they probably would have taken. But to lose a three-goal lead will hurt. Now Chelsea must bounce back.
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Cech; Ivanovic,
David Luiz, Cahill, Bosingwa; Essien, Meireles; Sturridge (Romeu 70), Mata, Malouda; Torres.
Unused subs Turnbull, Ferreira, Hutchinson, Bertrand, Piazon, Lukaku.
Goals Evans o.g. 35, Mata 45,
David Luiz 50
Booked Torres 30, Ivanovic 45
Manchester United (4-4-2): De Gea; Rafael (Scholes 63), Evans, Ferdinand, Evra (c); Valencia, Carrick, Giggs, Young (Hernandez 52); Welbeck (Park 84), Rooney.
Unused subs Amos, Fabio, Pogba, Berbatov.
Goals Rooney (pen) 57, (pen) 68, Hernandez 83
Booked Evra 49
Referee Howard Webb
Attendance 41,668
