A match anticipated with such keen excitement became an encounter full of hustle and bustle, and no goals.

The BBC's Bernie Rose: "Chelsea dominated the first half"

But if anyone looked like breaking the deadlock it was Chelsea's Tore Andre Flo.

Despite having the best opportunities, he failed to administer a lethal final touch.

Chelsea's pace and movement up front caused Manchester United's much-criticised defence huge problems in the first half.

But however much Gianfranco Zola and Flo tormented the visitors' back four, with 12 efforts on goal in the opening 45 minutes, they failed to score.

Young turks

Gianluca Vialli's decision to keep faith with young Chelsea talent in the shape of Jody Morris and Michael Duberry ahead of Marcel Desailly was vindicated with incisive performances from the duo.

Roberto Di Matteo and Graeme Le Saux were back though, while United recalled Jaap Stam, who was under constant pressure throughout the half.

Beckham tumbles as Leboeuf challenges

Chelsea's first opening came after just 35 seconds, with Di Matteo setting up Zola but the Italian fired well over the bar.

Chelsea remained the more adventurous side and on one foray forward down the left, Le Saux's shot was deflected for a corner, which Flo narrowly headed wide.

The Norwegian striker did his utmost to twist himself into another goalscoring position shortly afterwards to meet Dan Petrescu's low cross but the attentions of Roy Keane were enough to put him off.

The game was opening up midway through the half and almost immediately Andy Cole was through at the other end, rounding keeper Ed De Goey only for Duberry to recover to clear the shot almost off the line.

Schmeichel managed to claw a Zola freekick out of the air but was left in no man's land when Stam allowed Flo to beat the offside trap only to poke his shot narrowly wide at full stretch.

United's expensive Dutch signing was found wanting again just after the half hour as Flo gained a yard on him and half-volleyed Le Saux's cross wide.

Despite Paul Scholes' header straight at De Goey from a freekick, Chelsea's domination grew and Zola should have capitalised on a suicidal square ball at the back by Keane which let the former Italian international clear on goal with only Schmeichel to beat.

Fortunately for the visitors, the Dane rushed out to smother the danger and United survived until the half-time whistle.

Flo fluff

Flo's run of misfortune in front of goal continued after the break when he sent an effort wide after using his strength to hold off the attentions of Gary Neville.

Then Duberry added to the growing collection of near misses with a header from a freekick which had seen Cole booked for a foul on the Chelsea defender.

United mounted concerted pressure on the Chelsea goal only to find Frank Leboeuf in flawless form in the air.

With Teddy Sheringham on for Scholes with 30 minutes left, it was United who were pressing forward in numbers and requiring keeper De Goey to cut out a series of dangerous crosses into the penalty area.