Previous Trafford witnessed a dramatic and rain-soaked encounter that had nearly every thing – early controversy, crimson playing cards, momentum swings, and late drama – as Manchester United edged Chelsea 2-1 in one of the chaotic fixtures of the Premier League season to this point.
The match burst into life inside simply 5 minutes. Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, trying to hurry out and take care of Bryan Mbeumo’s run in behind, clattered into the winger exterior the field and was proven a straight crimson card by referee Peter Bankes.
It left Enzo Maresca scrambling, sacrificing Estevao and later Pedro Neto to convey on substitute goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen and defender Tosin Adarabioyo.
Regardless of their numerical drawback, Chelsea initially confirmed resilience, however the breakthrough got here on 14 minutes, as Bruno Fernandes marked his 2 hundredth Manchester United look along with his one hundredth aim for the membership.
Patrick Dorgu rose highest on the again submit to nod a header in the direction of aim, and Fernandes stole in to redirect the ball previous Jorgensen, sparking jubilation round Previous Trafford.
The guests have been rattled and United took full management. Probabilities for Benjamin Sesko and Amad Diallo adopted, earlier than the lead was doubled within the thirty seventh minute.
From a scrappy sequence after a nook, Harry Maguire stored the ball alive with a intelligent header throughout aim, and Casemiro bundled dwelling from shut vary to make it 2-0.
For the Brazilian, nevertheless, the night would take a bitter twist. Already booked, he foolishly hauled down Andrey Santos in first-half stoppage time and was dismissed for a second yellow card.
United’s man benefit was gone, and each side went into the break with ten males apiece.
The second half grew to become a battle of management. Chelsea loved extra possession, with Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez attempting to dictate from midfield, however they struggled to show territory into clear probabilities.
United, in the meantime, reshaped below Ruben Amorim, introducing Manuel Ugarte and later Mason Mount to shore issues up.
Because the rain continued to pour, Chelsea pushed ahead. Joao Pedro spurned an enormous probability on 62 minutes when Matthijs de Ligt produced a heroic last-ditch clearance, earlier than Wesley Fofana’s close-range strike from a nook was dominated out for offside.
The Blues ultimately discovered a lifeline with 10 minutes to play: Reece James, wonderful down the appropriate all through, delivered a pinpoint cross from a brief nook for Trevoh Chalobah, who rose unmarked to move dwelling.
With the rating at 2-1, Previous Trafford grew tense. Chelsea threw every thing ahead in stoppage time, forcing Altay Bayindir right into a nervy punch that fell to Malo Gusto, just for the follow-up to be blocked in a frantic goalmouth scramble.
United, roared on by their supporters, dug deep and clung onto all three factors.
The consequence extends Manchester United’s lengthy unbeaten dwelling run towards Chelsea within the league, stretching again to 2013. For Amorim’s facet, Fernandes’ milestone and Casemiro’s combined night will dominate the headlines, however victory felt important to maintain momentum alive.
