Manchester United 1, Chelsea 1
Moises Caicedo’s volley cancelled out Bruno Fernandes’ penalty as Chelsea earned a point from their game at Manchester United.
The draw, combined with other results yesterday, meant that United moved up to 13th place as a highly contested game improved in the second half as United avoided defeat in a Premier League match against a ‘top six’ side for the first time since April.
But a return of 12 points from 10 games represents the worst start for the Reds after 10 games of a league campaign since the 1986/87 season.
There will be work to do as sloppiness remained inherent in United’s play this afternoon, from defensive lack of concentration to carelessness in front of goal from the likes of Alejandro Garnacho and Bruno Fernandes.
Noni Madueke’s header from a corner came back off the upright as Chelsea started the brighter and had a penalty claim turned down as Levi Colwill appeared to be fouled by Lisandro Martinez.
Cole Palmer had earlier been denied by a last ditch block by Mathijs de Ligt as Chelsea almost capitalised on poor build up by United to catch them on the break.
Alejandro Garnacho had a great chance saved by Robert Sanchez after an intelligent dummy by Marcus Rashford from a cross by Rasmus Hojlund after 24 minutes.
Rasmus Hojlund wasn’t getting much change out of the Chelsea defence while visitors were surging.
Hojlund later had a shot saved but the whistle had already gone for a foul on Manuel Ugarte by Malo Gusto – saving Robert Jones from having to rule out a goal had it gone it.
And Rashford saw his volleyed shot come off the crossbar from 7 yards out after a great cross field ball by Fernandes in added time.
Pedro Neto shot wide of the back post after Palmer found him free on the left early in the second half.
United found themselves falling foul of the offside flag at key moments in the second half as they struggled to create chances against Chelsea’s back line.
There was finally that release after 68 minutes when Robert Sanchez brought Rasmus Hojlund down trying to get to the ball after Casmiro’s cross into the area went over Wesley Fofana’s head.
Bruno Fernandes stepped up and sent Sanchez the wrong way – tucking the ball into the bottom left side.
But 4 minutes later the Blues were level after Cole Palmer’s corner was headed out by Casemiro only as far as Moises Caicedo at the edge of the area and the midfielder’s volley stayed low and arrowed in through Mykhailo Mudryk’s legs.
And United had to defend carefully as Chelsea continued to threaten while their own shooting was poor.
The drama continued into added time where Lisandro Martinez escaped a red card VAR check for serious foul play against Cole Palmer before Robert Jones brought proceedings to a close.
Embed from Getty ImagesPLAYER RATINGS – Manchester United 1, Chelsea 1
Andre Onana: 6. Had to be alert for Chelsea incursions and spilled a looping cross into the area but recovered it before Nicholas Jackson could pounce.
Diogo Dalot: 6. Did not get forward too much because of the threat from Reece James and Pedro Neto. Booked and blocked a Marc Cucurella shot in the second half.
Mathijs de Ligt: 7. Two good blocks to deny Cole Palmer including one to bail out Casemiro.
Lisandro Martinez: 6. Did well to stem the flow of attacks from the left side alongside Noussair Mazraoui but got away with a foul against Levi Colwill which might have been a penalty. Escaped a red card VAR check for serious foul play – a high boot against Cole Palmer’s knee in added time.
Noussair Mazraoui: 7. Aggressive play at left back to stop Chelsea down his side early on.
Manuel Ugarte: 6. Didn’t get much help from Casemiro trying to stop Chelsea from going through the midfield but did well going forward and won a free kick a good position. Booked for taking out Cole Palmer as he looked to get in shooting range.
Casemiro: 6. Sloppy in possession – casual pass out from midfield intercepted by Moises Caicedo and could have ended in a Chelsea goal. Bawled out Alejandro Garnacho for not tracking Pedro Neto late in the game – he had to take a booking for him.
Marcus Rashford: 6. Battled with Malo Gusto but couldn’t outrun him on one breakaway down the left. Volleyed effort at the end of the first half came back off the crossbar. One clear shot in the second half saved when he had to try to get past Reece James.
Bruno Fernandes: 7. Well taken spot kick. Blazed over the loose ball when Robert Sanchez blocked a pass. Free kick from 20 yards hit the wall, his cut back to Alejandro Garnacho deserved a better finish. Poor finishing late in the game.
Alejandro Garnacho: 6. Did not bring his shooting boots today. Shot straight at Robert Sanchez when sent clear by an intelligent cross by Rasmus Hojlund which Marcus Rashford left. Flagged offside in a second half breakaway and produced a tame shot with his right foot which went straight to Robert Sanchez. Did not track Pedro Neto very effectively leading to some harsh words from Casemiro when the Brazilian had to take a yellow card for him. Sent a late shot sailing over the bar.
Rasmus Hojlund: 6. Tussled with Levi Colwill and didn’t get much change out of the Chelsea defence to the point where he was berating the assistant referee. Had a shot saved but the whistle had already gone for a foul on Manuel Ugarte – would have been controversial had it gone in.
Amad Diallo (on for Marcus Rashford, 73): 6. No impact.
Joshua Zirkzee (on for Rasmus Hojlund, 84): No time to mark
Victor Lindelof (on for Manuel Ugarte, 84): No time to mark
TEAM NEWS – Manchester United 1, Chelsea 1
Caretaker manager Ruud Van Nistelrooy made three changes from the team that beat Leicester City in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday. Andre Onana, Noussair Mazraoui and Rasmus Hojlund came into the side for Altay Bayindir, Victor Lindelof and Joshua Zirkzee who joined a bench full of youngsters.
And the United legend’s first Premier League game was greeted by a boisterous Old Trafford who gave the Dutchman full backing from the start.
GOALS – Manchester United 1, Chelsea 1
Man Utd 1, Chelsea 0: 70. Bruno Fernandes sent Robert Sanchez the wrong way from the penalty spot after Rasmus Hojlund was brought down by Robert Sanchez while both were going for Casemiro’s ball into the area.
Man Utd 1, Chelsea 1: 74. Moises Caicedo volleyed a superb equaliser from the edge of the area after Cole Palmer’s corner was headed away by Casemiro but only as far as the Chelsea midfielder.
MATCH STATS – Manchester United 1, Chelsea 1
Man Utd: Onana, Dalot, de Ligt, Lisandro Martinez, Mazraoui, Ugarte (Lindelof 84), Casemiro, Rashford (Amad 74), Fernandes (C), Garnacho, Hojlund (Zirkzee 84)
Man Utd Subs not used: Bayindir,, Evans, Wheatley, Amass, Fletcher, Fitzgerald
Bookings: Ugarte 42 (foul on Cole Palmer); Dalot 45+1 (foul on Pedro Neto); Rashford 68 (foul on Pedro Neto); Casemiro 85 (foul on Pedro Neto); Lisandro Martinez 90+3 (foul on Cole Palmer)
Goal: Fernandes 70 pen
Chelsea: Sanchez, Gusto (Cucurella 46), Fofana, Colwill, James, Caicedo, Lavia (Fernandez, 71), Madueke (Mudryk, 71), Palmer, Neto, Jackson
Chelsea Subs not used: Jorgensen, Adarabioyo, Badiashile, Felix, Nkunku, Veiga
Bookings: Gusto 36 (foul on Manuel Ugarte)
Goal: Caicedo 74
Referee: Robert Jones
Attendance: 73,813