Chelsea defeated Manchester United 1-0 at Stamford Bridge on Friday evening in the Premier League to keep their Champions League hopes alive.
In the 16th minute, the visitors had the ball in the back of the net to take a 1-0 lead. Bruno Fernandes put an excellent cross into the box, and Harry Maguire ran into the box and finished it well past Robert Sanchez, but upon replay of the goal, the big centre-back appeared to be just offside. After an almost two-minute-long VAR check, Maguire's goal was ruled out and the match resumed at 0-0.
Despite having a very strong start to the match and having the ball in the back of the net in the 16th minute, United didn't really build on their strong start, and Chelsea started dictating the play and threatening in the final third. Enzo Maresca's men had the United defence shaky thanks to the pace and trickery from the likes of Cole Palmer and Noni Madueke, and in the 24th minute, Reece James came inches away from scoring one of the best goals in the Premier League this season where he produced an exquisite half volley from outside of the box which smashed off the post.
The first half came to a close with the sides level at 0-0. Although the Red Devils had a bright start to the match, after their disallowed goal, Chelsea took full control of the match and limited the away side to just one shot while going close on several occasions themselves to take the lead.
Just after the hour mark, VAR intervened in the match yet again, this time after the referee awarded Chelsea a penalty when Andre Onana came rushing out of his goal to bring down Tyrique George. The reply of Onana's challenge on the youngster showed that George may have went to ground before he even felt contact, and the referee overturned his decision and the match restarted.
In the 71st minute, the deadlock was finally broken and Chelsea took the lead. The home side's full backs combined for the goal as Reece James excellently swivveledd and put an excellent cross into the box which was met by Marc Cucurella who was virtually unchallenged in the box and he guided an perfect header into the back of the net. Stamford Bridge erupted when the Spaniard's header hit the back of the net as it was a huge goal in Chelsea's hunt for Champions League football for next season.
Both sides had a few decent attempts at goal late in the match, but Chelsea managed to see the match out and secure a 1-0 victory, which is huge for their hunt for Champions League football.
Chelsea 1-0 Manchester United - Match Statistics
Chelsea
47
11
3
7
1
1
Match Highlights
To follow soon...
Chelsea Player Ratings
Moises Caicedo-1
GK: Robert Sanchez - 7/10
Hardly had a thing to do all evening but came up with a good save late into the match when it mattered.
RB: Reece James - 8/10
Went close to scoring an unbelievable goal in the first half when he powerfully volleyed his strike off the post. James didn't have much one-on-one defending to do, but he saw a lot of the ball and was good in possession. He also managed to get an assist to his name with an excellent cross to Cucurella.
CB: Tosin Adarabioyo - 8/10
Defensively dominant and didn't give Hojlund a sniff at goal. The big centre back physically dominated Hojlund and had a somewhat comfortable evening.
CB: Levi Colwill - 7.5/10
Just like his centre-back partner, Colwill dealt with Hojlund and kept him fairly quiet, not giving him a single chance at goal.
LB: Marc Cucurella - 8.5/10 (Man of the Match)
Defended really well up against the tough task of Diallo. Cucurella defended aggressively in one-on-one situations against Diallo and managed to keep him quiet throughout the match.
CM: Moises Caicedo - 8/10
One of the best players on the pitch. The Ecuadorian not only worked his socks off in the midfield and pressed really well, he was also efficient and very composed on the ball, especially when he was being swarmed on by the United midfield, he managed to get out of those situations well.
CM: Enzo Fernandez - 6/10
Sloppy in possession of the ball and looked off the pace of the match at times. Fernandez had nowhere near as much influence on the match as he typically does as it was Caicedo who saw most of the ball in Chelsea's midfield areas.
AM: Cole Palmer - 7/10
Caused lots of problems for United when he broke through the midfield and looked to create. Although he didn't get a goal or assist, Palmer was a good creative threat for his side.
RW: Pedro Neto - 5.5/10
Had a difficult evening up against Dorgu. Neto saw quite a bit of the ball down the left wing but couldn't really do much with it.
ST: Tyrique George - 5/10
Hardly had any involvement in the match and was very isolated up front on his own.
LW: Noni Madueke - 7/10
Linked up well with Palmer and Cucurella at times to threaten down the left flank. Madueke went close to scoring early on and he probably should've done.
SUB: Romeo Lavia - N/A
Didn't do much after coming on.
SUB: Malo Gusto - N/A
Didn't do much after coming on.
Manchester United Player Ratings
Patrick Dorgu in action for Manchester United
GK: Andre Onana - 6/10
Made a couple of routine saves, but other than that, didn't have too much to do. Onana couldn't have done anything about Chelsea's goal, as it was a fantastic header from Cucurella.
RWB: Noussair Mazraoui - 6/10
Didn't really threaten down the right flank despite operating as a wing back. The Moroccan also didn't look very comfortable when defending against the pace of the Chelsea forward line either.
CB: Victor Lindelof - 5.5/10
Saw more of the ball than any other United player but he didn't really do anything significant with it. Lindelof looked very shaky at times and struggled to deal with the pace of Chelsea's attackers.
CB: Harry Maguire - 7/10
Unlucky to have his early goal disallowed as he took it very well. The big centre back didn't really put a foot wrong defensively and made quite a few good tackles and recoveries.
CB: Luke Shaw - 6/10
Decent when playing the ball out from the back and didn't have that much to do defensively.
LWB: Patrick Dorgu - 7/10
Managed to keep Neto quiet as he performed well defensively, but going forward, Dorgu wasn't great and his final delivery into the box was mainly poor.
CM: Casemiro - 6.5/10
Worked hard and pressed well as he typically always does, but was quite sloppy in possession.
CM: Bruno Fernandes - 6/10
Tried to make things happen from a creative perspective, but it just wasn't his night. Fernandes would've had an assist to his name if Maguire wasn't offside for United's disallowed goal.
RW: Amad Diallo - 7/10
The only United player who really made things happen offensively. Although he had a tough evening up against Cucurella, Diallo persevered and managed to create a few decent chances and even tested Sanchez late into the match with a decent effort.
ST: Rasmus Hojlund - 4.5/10
Completely bullied by Adarabioyo and Colwill, and never had a sniff at goal. Hojlund was physically dominated and isolated up front on his own.
LW: Mason Mount - 6/10
Didn't have much involvement on the match but he worked hard and was a pressing threat when Chelsea were playing the ball out from the back.
SUB: Manuel Ugarte - N/A
Didn't do much after coming on.
SUB: Alejandro Garnacho - N/A
Didn't do much after coming on.
SUB: Kobbie Mainoo - N/A
Didn't do much after coming on.
SUB: Ayden Heaven - N/A
Didn't do much after coming on.