Matheus Cunha is the match-winner vs Chelsea, and Bruno Fernandes is a step closer to history books, but neither would have happened without a third Man Utd star.
Manchester United took a giant leap towards Champions League football next season with a 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea.
First-half goal from Matheus Cunha, assisted by Bruno Fernandes, was enough to earn Michael Carrick all three points.
The scorer and the assister will get all the plaudits, but this wouldn’t have been a goal were it not for a third player’s efforts, which flew under the radar.
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Benjamin Sesko’s underrated role in Man Utd opener
Benjamin Sesko didn’t have the best of games against Chelsea, starting the game and being largely anonymous in attack.
He struggled to connect the play, and United sitting back and repelling Chelsea’s attacks was hardly the best scenario for him as a striker.
However, he showed his perfect intangibles again in limited opportunities by playing an underrated role in United’s opener.
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When United scored, Chelsea had ten men on the pitch, as Wesley Fofana was off after getting a knock.
Moises Caicedo dropped back into the defence, leaving the space open at the edge of the box, which would normally be covered by the defensive midfielder.
Cunha ran into precisely that space and unleashed a first-time shot with purpose, but that could happen only because Sesko had dragged Caicedo into a pointless duel.
Sesko wrestled with Caicedo in the six-yard box, leaving the space open for Cunha on the edge of the box to run onto the ball.
He didn’t get on Cunha’s toes, and he didn’t sulk around in the box either. He was proactive and helped the team in the only way he could in that situation.
Ultimately, that goal doesn’t get scored without his role.
Sesko’s contribution noted by pundits
The role he played in the goal didn’t go unnoticed by pundits, with Glenn Hoddle bringing it to notice at half-time itself.
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Sesko Carrick
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He said Sesko shouldn’t be ignored for the way he handles Caicedo during the final phase of attack, and Ally McCoist echoed similar sentiments.
The Slovenian has developed the brilliant knack of having an impact on the game even when he isn’t at his best.
That is what separates the good players from the world-class ones, so Carrick will be delighted that Sesko is going more into the latter bracket rather than the former one.
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