Chelsea 4 Man Utd 3
Chelsea faced Man Utd at Stamford Bridge with both teams needing victory to boost confidence in what has been a disappointing season so far. Erik ten Hag has not given up on his side being able to secure Champions League football next season, so only victory would do.
The Blues started on the front foot as Gusto got down the right wing and put a dangerous ball into the box. Man Utd failed to clear their lines and the ball dropped to Conor Gallagher who drilled home a shot that asked more questions of Andre Onana.
Gallagher’s shot squirmed under the United keeper but nobody in the home ends of Stamford Bridge cared as the ground erupted. It was the perfect start to the game for Mauricio Pochettino who was coming under increased pressure in his first season in charge.
Mudryk was causing problems for the visitors and slotted a ball into the path of Cucurella, who ended up in a heap on the floor. The challenge from Antony did show slight contact between the players but it did seem a soft penalty.
Credit: @ChelseaFC
This is the modern game now. Whenever a player feels any contact from an opponent, they go to ground looking for a decision. Neither the officials nor VAR factor in any common sense as to whether the contact was enough to send the player to the floor.
Andre Onana has yet to save a penalty in his Man Utd career and Cole Palmer sent the keeper the wrong way as he slotted it into the bottom corner of the goal. With only 19 minutes gone, Erik ten Hag’s side seemed in real trouble in West London.
Man Utd had created very little in the half until an error from record-signing Moises Caicedo. A mis-placed pass in his own half presented the ball to Garnacho, who ran through on goal to slot the ball past Petrovic and give the Red Devils a glimmer of hope.
Brighton must still be laughing about the figure they got for Caicedo, who has looked a shadow of the player who impressed at the Amex Stadium. He has struggled to hit the same levels since his £115m transfer to the capital.
The goal inspired the visitors and a cross from Dalot to the back post was headed home by Fernandes to draw the sides level and silence Stamford Bridge. All bar the away end who were enjoying seeing their side turn this game on its head.
Erik ten Hag’s side completed the comeback in the second half when a sublime pass from the much-maligned Antony picked out Garnacho in the box. He managed to get a head to the ball before the onrushing Petrovic was able to get there to put the visitors ahead for the first time in the game.
Credit: @premierleague
The fourth official held his board up to show an additional eight minutes were to be played. By this stage, Man Utd were looking to hold on to what they had and keep Chelsea at bay. It seemed to be working until the 96th minute of the game.
Madueke ghosted past Dalot as he cut in from the right wing and as he headed towards goal he fell to the floor and the referee immediately pointed to the penalty spot. Despite a VAR review, they did not see anything to overturn the decision.
Depending on your allegiance, it once again seemed somewhat of a soft decision. That said, Dalot should know better than to get tangled up with a player in the box. For the Chelsea fans, it was an opportunity for their side to get something out of this game.
Cole Palmer stepped up and stroked a left-footed shot into the same spot he had in the first half. Andre Onana once again went the wrong way. Stamford Bridge erupted as they had got an equaliser so late on in the game.
The visitors decided to continue to attack and as a move broke down, it gave The Blues the chance to counter. Pochettino’s side forced a corner and with it, a last chance to try and get a winner to turn this into a positive evening in West London.
As the corner was played short to Palmer, he shifted it onto his left foot and only had eyes for goal. His shot took a massive deflection off a Man Utd defender and wrong-footed the keeper. As the ball nestled in the back of the net, the stadium went wild.
Palmer’s goal completed his hat-trick and gave The Blues a winner in the 101st minute of the game. It is the latest goal to be scored in the Premier League. It was a massive win for Chelsea, more so in the manner it unfolded.
The defeat raised more questions about whether Erik ten Hag is the right man for the job at Old Trafford, while fans questioned the commitment of many of the players. With Liverpool the visitors on the weekend, it could be a make or break fixture for the Dutchman.
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