Formation: 4-3-3
Average rating: 6.8

Petr Cech 8
Kept Chelsea in the match with an amazing double save from Tévez and Carrick in the 35th minute as United threatened to race to a 3-0 lead and saved Ronaldo’s penalty in the shoot-out.

Michael Essien 6
Appeared an accident waiting to happen at the back, repeatedly beaten by Ronaldo and Evra and at fault for the first goal, but gave Chelsea energy and momentum going forward.

Ricardo Carvalho 7
Booked for a late challenge on Ronaldo but otherwise faultless, frequently called upon to cover as the positioning of Essien and occasionally Terry, his captain, was exposed.

John Terry 7
May never recover from missing the penalty that would have given Chelsea their first European Cup, but deserves every sympathy after another wholehearted performance.

Ashley Cole 6
Not 100 per cent fit after his prematch collision with Makelele and was kept busy in his defensive role by the rampaging Hargreaves, although he was fortunate to escape trial by Ronaldo.

Michael Ballack 7
Started slowly but gradually began to dominate as Chelsea exerted a stranglehold at the start of the second half, going close with a free kick and blasting over the bar from distance.

Claude Makelele 7
Rarely caught the eye, other than Scholes’s in a nasty collision, although that is not his role and he was as busy as ever, making more passes than any other Chelsea player.

Frank Lampard 8
Appeared engaged in a one-man battle to keep Chelsea in the match, playing several good balls to Drogba and grabbing the equaliser before hitting the bar with an exquisite chip in extra time.

Joe Cole 6
Chelsea’s player of the season has tired as the campaign has reached its climax and disappointed last night, flickering on occasions without ever really looking threatening.

Didier Drogba 7
Well marshalled by Ferdinand and Vidic but still a considerable handful, hitting the post with a curling shot in the second half before sullying his reputation with a needless sending-off.

Florent Malouda 6
Preferred to Kalou for his experience and superior ball retention and determined to make the most of his opportunity, running at Brown from the outset without ever really troubling the right back.

Substitutions: Salomon Kalou (for Malouda, 92min) 5; Nicolas Anelka (for J Cole, 99) 5, Juliano Belletti (for Makelele, 120). Not used: Carlo Cudicini, Andriy Shevchenko, John Obi Mikel, Alex.

Booked: Makelele, Carvalho, Ballack, Essien.
Sent off: Drogba.