The two teams went blow for blow in a pretty crazy scenario and a very lively offensive encounter (28 shots on goal for Chelsea against 19 for Manchester United), this Thursday (4-3). The Blues and the Red Devils, both far from the European places in the Premier League standings, offered a superb show in the first half, notably with four goals, and in added time of the match which changed the match for the second time, this time in favor of the Blues.
Chelsea had an imperial first half hour with intensity and domination in the game. Mauricio Pochettino’s men knew how to take advantage of it. First, on the first opportunity, captain Conor Gallagher, forgotten in the penalty area, allowed the Blues to take the lead in this meeting (4th). The Brazilian Antony who committed a foul on Marc Cucurella by unbalancing him in the area offered the break goal for the Blues (19th). The penalty was converted by specialist Cole Palmer who has scored twelve out of twelve penalties in his career.
First reversal. Moises Caicedo’s terrible error, which allowed Alejandro Garnacho to reduce the gap (34th), turned the trend in favor of the Red Devils. A few minutes later, Erik Ten Hag’s men equalized with a header from Bruno Fernandes (39th).
Palmer as savior
Returning from the locker room, Antony made up for the mistake he made in the box in the first half. The Brazilian wrapped a perfect cross, arriving in the race of Garnacho who put his head and sent the ball out of reach of the opposing goalkeeper Petrovic (67th).
Manchester United thought they would hold on to their victory but Palmer decided otherwise. The young 21-year-old striker first guided his team to the equalizer, from the penalty spot, after light contact from Diogo Dalot on Madueke (90th +10). Then, on a final corner, Palmer tried his luck by firing a powerful shot into the cages of André Onana, unfortunately deflected off the chest by McTominay (90th + 11). Chelsea regained the upper hand but above all turned everything around.
Despite the defeat, Manchester United remains sixth in the Championship standings but falls behind Tottenham, fifth and placed for Europe. Chelsea, meanwhile, have a sixth match without defeat and are now placed tenth.