April 5, 2024, Friday. 00:20
The confrontation between these two teams has lost its status in recent years, it is no longer a match for the championship or for the top 4, but history cannot be erased, the sign of Chelsea versus Manchester United still captures and attracts attention.
There were no changes in the starting line-up for Mauricio Pochettino’s team compared to the last match against Burnley, which means Mikhail Mudrik started in the starting line-up. As for Erik ten Hag, he decided to do without Marcus Rashford in the starting lineup, but even without the Englishman there are enough players who can lead the Red Devils forward.
The meeting itself began very actively, in particular the home team should be highlighted. After some not-so-blunders and deflections, the ball found its way to Enzo Fernandez, who saw a run in from Gusteau. The Frenchman crossed and after a rebound the ball flew to Gallagher, who struck hard and accurately. Andre Onana missed the round at hand, but it was not easy to react to the shot, it is worth admitting. That’s how the Londoners quickly took the lead. It was felt that this goal gave them good confidence and they could continue in the same spirit.
The guests’ attacks were limited to only shots from a distance, most of which were blocked, so these attempts are not worth remembering particularly. The Blues attacked much more interestingly, by the way, not without the help of Mikhail Mudrik. The Ukrainian shot several times from outside the penalty area, actively supported his team’s attacks and was involved. For example, it was after his pass to Cucurella that the Spaniard was brought down in the penalty area by Anthony. It’s a penalty that Cole Palmer took with confidence. 2:0.
It seemed that Pochettino’s team had enough strength to bring the score to a crushing one before the end of the half, but Moises Caicedo intervened in the game. The Ecuadorian made a rash pass and, after a simple interception, Alejandro Garnacho went on a date with the goalkeeper, confidently putting the round one into the net. It was that goal and that mistake that Caicedo changed everything. The Chelsea players’ knees began to tremble, but the guests, on the contrary, felt self-confident and emerged from the state of whipping boys.
Finally we saw a much sharper United. A few minutes later they evened the score after a counterattack launched by Andre Onana. Before the Chelsea players had time to return to their positions, the left flank was completely free, it was there that Diogo Dalot crossed, and Fernandes easily took advantage of such a convenient serve. Header into the far corner and 2:2.
In the first half, the teams no longer had anything to say. Perhaps Chelsea were more interesting and active in the last minutes, but nothing more. This comeback brought United back into the game within the first half. Kobby Meinu showed an excellent game in the center of the field, constantly neutralizing Enzo Fernandez, Caicedo also showed strong football, but his mistake canceled it all out. That’s how the teams went to break.
At the beginning of the second half of the meeting, the teams simply forgot what the center of the field was, the game went literally from goal to goal. First Palmer, then Mudryk, then Jackson for Chelsea, then Fernandes, then Gowlund, then Garnacho for United, everyone had the opportunity to strike and shot, but the aim was slightly off. In such an intense confrontation, injuries could not help but intervene. Unfortunately, United’s Raphael Varane was unable to finish the match due to injury; Jonny Evans appeared in his place, but 20 minutes later Evans himself was also injured on the field, and Willie Kambwala had to be released in his place.
Since the sights of both teams were a little off, they had to be leveled with gifts and mistakes. After Caicedo, the baton was taken over by Benoit Badiashile, who in a simple situation let the ball go too far and gave Anthony a chance to fly down the flank in a counterattack. The Brazilian had a lot of time and space, he saw the run from Garnacho and passed just the perfect pass to his partner, the Argentine nodded his head into touch at the goal, from which Petrovich had already taken off. This is 2:3. Super comeback from the Mancunians, who were losing 2:0 after 20 minutes!
Pochettino reacted to this turn of events with two substitutions: Mikhail Mudrik and Moises Caicedo left the field, Raheem Sterling and Carney Chukwuemeka came on. However, this did not help at all, since there was a feeling that everything, the chaos that was on the field when the score was 2:2, was already over. The guests controlled it perfectly and as soon as they scored their goal, they perfectly calmed down the game and their own opponent.
But what happened during the time compensated by the referee is beyond my comprehension! It seemed that the passive Chelsea would simply finish out the lost match, but Noni Madueke, who came on as a substitute, earned a rather controversial penalty in the 90+8 minute. After a VAR review, the penalty was confirmed and Cole Palmer saved his team from defeat. 3:3. But it didn’t end there either, because a minute later it was Cole Palmer who found himself in the striking position and, not without the help of a rebound, scored a hat-trick! 4:3!
Such endings are nothing new for Stamford Bridge this season, especially against Manchester clubs. But what was it? How did this happen and how can it be logically explained? We do not know. Chelsea wins this game and moves into 10th place in the standings.
Premier League, 31st round
Stadium: “Stamford Bridge” (London)
Main judge: Jarred Gillett (Australia)
Chelsea – Manchester United 4:3
Goals: Gallagher (4), Palmer (19, 90+10, both penalties, 90+11) — Garnacho (34, 67), Fernandes (39)
Chelsea: Petrovic – Gusteau (Gilchrist, 75), Disasi (Chaloba, 75), Badiashile, Cucurella – Caicedo (Chukwuemeka, 71), Fernandez – Palmer, Gallagher (Madueke, 89), Mudrik (Sterling, 71) – Jackson
“Manchester United”: Onana – Dalot, Varane (Evans 46/Kambwala 66), Maguire, Wan-Bissaka – Casemiro (McTominay 75), Mainu – Anthony, Fernandes, Garnacho (Mount 85) – Hoylund (Rashford 66)
Warnings: Giusto (32), Fernandez (35)
2024-04-04 21:20:00
#nuclear #submarine #Chelsea #Manchester #United
