Man Utd 1-1 Chelsea

Premiership photos

Chelsea secured automatic qualification for the Champions League with a draw against Manchester United.

The Blues earned the point that earned second place, and left United in the competition's qualifying stage.

Jesper Gronkjaer's powerful finish put Chelsea ahead after 18 minutes, before Ruud van Nistelrooy saw a penalty saved by Chelsea goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini.

But after Robert Huth was sent off for two bookable offences, Cudicini fumbled to gift Van Nistelrooy an equaliser.

The Dutchman had been restored to the starting line-up, and Paul Scholes was also back for United after suspension.

But Chelsea, showing no traces of a hangover from their Champions League exit against Monaco, had the edge in the first 45 minutes with a hugely impressive display.

KEY MOMENTS 18 mins: Jesper Gronkjaer fires Chelsea in front 41 mins: Carlo Cudicini saves Ruud van Nistelrooy's penalty 76 mins: Van Nistelrooy equalises after Cudicini's error

Eidur Gudjohnsen had a goal ruled out for offside after 15 minutes, but there was no escape for United three minutes later.

Chelsea were wrongly awarded a corner when United goalkeeper Tim Howard kept the ball in play.

And when the corner was only half-cleared, Joe Cole's header found Gronkjaer, who arrowed a brilliant finish into the top corner from the edge of the area.

United responded, and after Cudicini saved brilliantly from Ryan Giggs, Scholes was booked for diving under challenge from Claude Makalele.

Scholes was then fortunate not to be sent off for a late challenge on Frank Lampard just minutes after being booked.

United boss Ferguson had seen enough, and with the FA Cup final against Millwall in mind, he removed Scholes before he was sent off and sent on Louis Saha.

I'm quite satisfied, shame about the result From He gave Giggs the ball Have your say on 606

Chelsea's good work was in danger of being squandered four minutes before the interval when United were awarded a penalty after Huth fouled Saha.

Van Nistelrooy stepped up, but his spot-kick was brilliantly saved by Cudicini diving to his right.

Chelsea continued to survive in total comfort after the break, and Gudjohnsen almost carved out the goal to settle the contest with 20 minutes left.

He wriggled free from Wes Brown and Gary Neville, but Howard plunged bravely at his feet to save.

Chelsea were reduced to ten men two minutes later when Huth, who had already been booked for fouling Darren Fletcher, was sent off for hauling down Van Nistelrooy as he raced clear.

Their problems increased after 76 minutes when the normally reliable Cudicini gifted United an equaliser.

He totally misjudged Mikael Silvestre's looping ball, and the lurking Van Nistelrooy provided the finish.

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Man Utd: Howard, Gary Neville, Brown, Silvestre, O'Shea, Fletcher, Scholes (Saha 36), Phil Neville (Kleberson 78), Ronaldo (Solskjaer 87), Giggs, van Nistelrooy.
Subs Not Used: Carroll, Butt.

Booked: Scholes, Phil Neville, Kleberson.

Chelsea: Cudicini, Melchiot (Johnson 74), Huth, Terry, Bridge, Gronkjaer (Babayaro 83), Lampard, Makelele, Geremi, Cole (Parker 78), Gudjohnsen.
Subs Not Used: Ambrosio, Stanic.

Sent Off: Huth (73).
Booked: Huth, Terry.

Attendance: 67,609.

Referee: S Bennett (Kent).