Champions League - United end Chelsea quest

 

 

Manchester United continued their hunt for the treble after a 2-1 victory over 10-man Chelsea at Old Trafford gave them a 3-1 Champions League quarter-final aggregate win.

Goals from Javier Hernandez and Ji-sung Park sandwiched a Didier Drogba strike as Sir Alex Ferguson’s side kept their trophy hunt on track, seven points clear at the top of the Premier League and with an FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City at the weekend.

The result also means that billionaire Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has to wait at least another year in his quest to win the one major title that has eluded him since he bought the West London club in 2003.

With United leading 1-0 from Wayne Rooney’s first-leg goal, they took control of the tie just before half-time as Mexico striker Hernandez bagged his 18th goal of what is proving to be a dream debut season in England.

Chelsea went down to 10 men when Ramires received a second booking but Drogba, a half-time substitute for the again ineffectual Fernando Torres, scored a trademark goal on the turn to give his side hope.

But within seconds United restored their advantage as Chelsea went to sleep from the kick-off, the evergreen Ryan Giggs - who set up the opener - picking out Park who controlled and finished past Petr Cech to put the comeback to bed.

United will face either Schalke or Internazionale in their fourth European semi-final in five years, with the German side the more likely opponent after a 5-2 win in Milan put them in the driving seat ahead of Wednesday’s second leg.