(CNN) -- Manchester United claimed the early edge in the all-English Champions League quarterfinal against Chelsea as Wayne Rooney continued his eventful week with the only goal in London on Wednesday.
The England striker, who is seeking to have his two-match ban for swearing at television cameras reduced, followed up his hat-trick against West Ham on Saturday with a vital away strike midway through the first half.
United, who beat Chelsea on penalties in the 2008 final of Europe's premier club competition, were lucky not to concede last-gasp penalty when Patrice Evra brought down Ramires in the penalty area.
"I think everybody saw what happened, you can see clearly on the TV," Chelsea goaklkeeper Petr Cech told reporters. "But the most important person did not see it.
--Manchester United's Rio Ferdinand
"We lost the game and we have left ourselves a mountain to climb but we have to do it. I think we created chances and that was the key. They had their first chance and scored and we had some but we didn't score, and that's the difference."
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Evra was the visitors' savior in first-half injury-time when he cleared Frank Lampard's shot off the line after Fernando Torres flicked a cross from strike partner Didier Drogba against the United post.
Coach Carlo Ancelotti, in his 100th game in charge of Chelsea, had opted to start $80 million signing Torres alongside Ivory Coast star Drogba after previously alternating the duo.
United looked more solid at the back with former England captain Rio Ferdinand returning from injury, but Drogba forced a fine save from goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar in the 19th minute before Rooney put United ahead as he finished off a superb move.
Midfielder Michael Carrick found Ryan Giggs wide on the left with a sweeping crossfield pass, and the 37-year-old showed sublime control before reaching the byline and cutting the ball back for Rooney, who slotted a low shot in off the right-hand post in the 24th minute.
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Rooney will find out on Thursday if his appeal is successful -- if not he will miss the FA Cup final against Manchester City in two weekends' time.
Chelsea, whose only chance of silverware this season is to win the European crown that billionaire owner Roman Abramovich so craves, should have equalized on halftime but Evra came to Van der Sar's rescue to deny Lampard -- who scored in the Moscow final three years ago.
With 16 minutes to play, the 40-year-old Van der Sar boosted his hopes of playing another final before retiring when he made a fine save to keep out a header by Torres, who has still not scored since leaving Liverpool at the end of January.
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Chelsea thought they had won a penalty in the second minute of time added on when France fullback Evra brought down Brazil midfielder Ramires without making contact with the ball, and their anger turned to disbelief when Torres was booked for diving in the area soon after.
However, the club's last visit to Old Trafford resulted in a 2-1 victory a year ago, so next Tuesday's second leg is finely poised.
"It's in the balance," Ferdinand told reporters. "It was a good result but we need to go to Old Trafford, defend well, stay on our feet and if we don't concede we go through.
"Maybe it was a penalty, maybe it wasn't. But it evens itself out over the course of a season. I don't think it was a penalty, maybe it should have been but they have ridden their luck here over the years, so it was time we had some."
The winners will earn a semifinal against either titleholders Inter Milan or Schalke, who take a 5-2 lead back to Germany.
COMMENT:
So the team Manchester United won to the Chelsea 1-0, the one that makes the goal was Rooney.
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