Chris Maduewesi
Member
A Samuel Eto'o masterclass helped Chelsea dismantle Manchester United 3-1 in their Premier League game at the Stamford Bridge.
The Cameroonian netted a hat-trick which secured all three points for his club as they closed up the gap with Arsenal and Manchester City.
Manchester United started brightly and troubled Chelsea with their movements that initially troubled Jose Mourinho's defence.
Ashley Young came close to finishing off a good move in the opening ten minutes but Petr Cech made a timely save,diving to his left to block the shot.
However Chelsea got their acts together and went in front through Samuel Eto'o who had to cut inside from the right wing and released a shot that deflected off Michael Carrick for the opening goal.
Despite the goal United showed glimpses of promises with Adnan Januzaj threatening each time he was on the ball.
Danny Welbeck had a penalty shout not given after Cesar Azipilicueta knocked him off balance in the box.
But Chelsea got a second insurance goal going into the break,Eto'o again latching on to a square pass from Gary Cahill to slot past David De Gea for the goal.
Eto'o started the second half where he left off in the first 45 minutes,poking in the third goal from a Cahill's flick on from a corner kick.
It was the first hat-trick for Samuel Eto'o in the last five years and the 25th scored by an African player in the Premier League.
The goal deflated Manchester United and Chelsea were on a roll,with David Moyes' team lacking inspiration to mount a challenge.
However hopes for a comeback was reignited when Javier Hernadez pulled one back for United,guiding Phil Jones' shot into the net.
But it was too late and Nemanja Vidic got a straight red card for a lunge on Eden Hazard,capping off a miserable evening for United.
The win was Mourinho's 100th win in the Premier League in 142 games,compounding United's woes.
United now seems a long way off if they are to even make the final top four spot for the Champions League places next season.