Manchester United picked up their second win of the season with a 2-1 victory over Chelsea on Saturday.
The visitors were reduced to 10 men early on when Robert Sanchez wiped out Bryan Mbeumo and was shown a red card. United made the most of their one-man advantage just nine minutes later as Bruno Fernandes prodded the ball home. Casemiro doubled United’s lead but was sent off before half time after being shown a second yellow card. Trevoh Chalobah scored with 10 minutes to play but United held on for the win.
KEY EVENTS
United player ratings from important Chelsea win
19:40
FULL-TIME! United 2-1 Chelsea
19:35
79′ – MUN 2-1 CHE – GOAL! CHELSEA 2-1! (Chalobah)
19:18
45+6′ – MUN 2-0 CHE – Casemiro sent off
18:20
36′ – MUN 2-0 CHE – GOAL! 2-0 UNITED! (Casemiro)
What happened to Mbeumo highlights his impact
The ball was so seldom in the Manchester United third in the first half that Altay Bayindir exercised to stay warm to ensure he would not be caught cold.
A comedown of a second half should not overshadow the near-perfection United served up in the first. All but five minutes of it were played against ten men yet United had Chelsea on the back foot from the first whistle.
The real United has turned up across their three home matches, each one more progressive than the previous. With this triumph they have laid down a marker against one of the Premier League’s Champions League participants.
United were eventually caught cold by Trevoh Chalobah’s header from a corner. Substituting Harry Maguire a day after Amorim referenced Chelsea’s threat from crosses felt remiss with a quarter of the match remaining.
“Seven!” shrieked the United supporters at the number of added minutes in the second half. They celebrated the additional nine in the first half, back when victory seemed a formality. Yet this is a club that feels like it is obliged to quicken the heart rate of its supporters.
“Oh United, we love you,” roared their supporters as the clock ticked towards the 97th minute. Amorim paced nervously around the technical area, glanced at his staff and issued the odd instruction. United held on.
United player ratings from important Chelsea win
Matthijs de Ligt
Made the most of Sanchez’s expulsion by breaking into the final third to supplement the attack and he was defensively dominant. 7
Harry Maguire
Recalled for his first league start of the season and United were better off with Maguire. Relished the duels with Joao Pedro. Should not have come off. 7
Luke Shaw
A contentious starter yet Shaw threw his body at the ball to make the second goal possible and his physicality restricted Chelsea. Great recovery tackle. 7
Noussair Mazraoui
A big improvement on the derby. Mazraoui is usually a reluctant attacker but was ever-present in the final third and key to build-ups. 7
Casemiro
His goal was bookended by two yellow cards. Needlessly fouled Enzo Fernandez and brainlessly pulled back Andrey Santos to get sent off. 5
FULL-TIME! United 2-1 Chelsea
That’s the final whistle at Old Trafford.
A much-needed victory for United.
90′ – MUN 2-1 CHE – Seven minutes added
United need to see this out for a really important win.
86′ – MUN 2-1 CHE – Mainoo comes on
Mainoo comes on for Fernandes.
81′ – MUN 2-1 CHE – Chance for Fernandes
Fernandes drove toward the Chelsea box with an excellent run and almost scored.
79′ – MUN 2-1 CHE – GOAL! CHELSEA 2-1! (Chalobah)
Amorim did not need this with 10 minutes remaining.
Maguire would have cleared that ball into the box.
70′ – MUN 2-0 CHE – Double change
Mount and Yoro ON.
Mbeumo and Maguire OFF.
67′ – MUN 2-0 CHE – United cannot concede
The game could change drastically if United concede in the closing stages. Chelsea would sense an opportunity and Old Trafford would get nervous. Thankfully, United are still firmly in control of the game.
63′ – MUN 2-0 CHE – Cunha comes on
Amorim decides to keep Mbeumo on.
Cunha has replaced Mazraoui after some confusion.
61′ – MUN 2-0 CHE – Chelsea chance
Chelsea have the ball in the net but it’s offside… That was really poor from a Chelsea perspective.
53′ – MUN 2-0 CHE – Garnacho preparing to come on
Garnacho is preparing to come on. He’s just emerged on the touchline and has been booed again by each corner of the ground.
50′ – MUN 2-0 CHE – Water splashing on the pitch
The rain has been hammering down all afternoon and the pitch is a tad waterlogged.
47′ – MUN 2-0 CHE – Sesko was replaced
Sesko made way for Ugarte for the second half.
45′ – MUN 2-0 CHE – Back under way
We’re back under way for the second half at Old Trafford.
Half-time ratings
And here are your half-time ratings…
Bayindir
A spectator. 6
Maguire
Dominated Joao Pedro. 7
De Ligt
Supplemented attacks. 8
Shaw
Key contribution for second goal. 7
Mazraoui
Vital to United’s build-ups. 8
Fernandes
Well-taken goal. 8
Casemiro
Booked before he scored. Then he was sent off. 5
Dorgu
Good header to assist Fernandes. 7
Mbeumo
Scintillating. 9
Amad
Big improvement on last week. 7
Sesko
Key header for Mbeumo that led to the red card. 8
