World Of Sports

A minute before half-time and Sir Alex Ferguson must have been rubbing his hands together with glee.

His masterplan had worked almost to perfection: Cristiano Ronaldo's position on the left wing meant he was up against Michael Essien, isolated at right-back as Joe Cole's defensive contribution was close to zero.

Ronaldo had already skipped past the Ghanaian once - this was the game when it must have been hammered home finally that he is at best a makeshift full-back - before losing him at the far post to deliver a powerful header beyond Petr Cech.

That was not the end of the punishment for Essien, as on the break Ronaldo outsprinted him to deliver a perfect cross for Carlos Tevez, but Cech's renowned brilliance came to the rescue.

It was back to basics by Ferguson, a 4-4-2 starting formation that looked more akin to the 1999 Champions League final than to 2008.

Nevertheless, suspicions that this might play into the waiting hands of Chelsea's familiar five-man midfield were soon dispelled.

Ferguson's surprising decision to start Owen Hargreaves on the right of midfield gave added freedom to Ronaldo.

United also prevented themselves from being outnumbered in midfield by Wayne Rooney dropping deep, and in the opening 45 minutes he rivalled Ronaldo for the player of the half.

It must have been especially galling for Ferguson, therefore, when after Chelsea had survived several close shaves, Frank Lampard seized on a double deflection - and a slip by Edwin van der Sar - to grab an undeserved equaliser.

Avram Grant's tactic for the second half was simple but remarkably effective.

He ordered Chelsea to push much further up the pitch - a slight risk in that they were potentially vulnerable to United hitting them on the break but it also meant that their superior numbers in midfield finally started to pay off.

Didier Drogba had been a lone figure in the first half, and Joe Cole virtually anonymous.

Suddenly - and it was maybe as much down to rediscovered self-belief as the tactical change - Cole was darting here and there, Drogba had support from every quarter and even Essien started to bomb forward - when he is much more impressive than defending.

Ferguson's men did not manage a shot on target in the second half.

By contrast, Essien fired over after this time he beat Ronaldo for skill; Drogba curled a terrific shot against the post; Nemanja Vidic made a vital interception to keep the score at 1-1.

With Claude Makelele the gate-keeper, Cole, Michael Ballack and Lampard were able to take turns to exploit United's weakness.

But just as Chelsea were threatening to overwhelm their opponents, Ferguson realised the way the wind was blowing, sent Hargreaves into the centre and pushed Rooney out on to the right.

That enabled United to stem the flow and the final 15 minutes of normal time drifted into stalemate.

Balance restored, both sides matched each other in extra time - Lampard hitting the underside of the bar, Ryan Giggs denied by John Terry - before red-carded Drogba stalked off in disgrace.

A fascinating tactical battle that swung first one way and then the other, in the end there was nothing to choose between the sides.