STONE-COLE KILLER...
Palmer’s nerveless finishing steals one of the all-time classics from stunned United
THIS was one of the all-time great finishes at Stamford Bridge.
Cole Palmer scored TWICE in injury time to bring back Chelsea from the brink of a disastrous defeat to a glorious victory.
Chelsea hero Palmer scored a 109th-minute penalty, then a winner a minute later to spark incredible celebrations as Manchester United blew it in the dying stages.
What a game. What a finish. And what utter despair for United and what incredible joy for Chelsea with a fightback which might save their season.
Chelsea were 2-0 up, United fought back to go 3-2 ahead and then Chelsea turned the game and the night on its head to leave Erik ten Hag looking crestfallen and the visiting players on their knees.
It was a classic won by the boyhood
United fan Palmer who ended up with a hat-trick
Palmer said: “When the eight minutes got added on it gave us a lift. To win like that, well there’s nothing better. To score two goals so late is just crazy. I was a United fan growing up, too!”
How on earth United manager Ten Hag comes back from this is anyone’s guess. How United come back from this is anybody’s guess. But it will mean a hell of a lot for Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino (left). Chelsea got off to a flier and were ahead after just four minutes. Malo Gusto broke down the left and his cross deflected off Raphael Varane for Conor Gallagher to fire home.
Gallagher celebrated wildly and no wonder. It has been a week of hell after a ridiculous social-media campaign accused him of ignoring a ball boy.
But no one should doubt his passion for Chelsea. It‘s the same Palmer who was taunted by chants of “City reject.” That only succeeded in firing him up.
After 19 minutes Chelsea were 2-0 up.
United winger
Antony made a clumsy challenge on Marc Cucurella and referee Jarred Gillett pointed straight to the spot. Palmer stroked home the spot kick and celebrated by putting his hand to his ear to mock the United fans and their chants.
He then did his more familiar celebration of warming his arms to play up to his ice-cold attitude. United looked in utter disarray. They had been quite lively in attack but looked vulnerable in defence, not least because Brazil midfielder Casemiro offered zero protection. At times he looked like he was running through treacle.
But the story of Chelsea’s season has been them pressing the self-destruct button and it was no surprise when they did just that. Bruno Fernandes sliced the ball into the air, Antony just about kept it in, and then a Moises Caicedo error presented the ball to Alejandro Garnacho who kept his head to slot into the bottom corner.
Chelsea’s confidence is so
fragile that you could see their belief drain away.
United were level after 39 minutes when Diogo Dalot’s deep cross found Fernandes unmarked at the back post and he headed home as Chelsea’s defence went AWOL.
Gallagher hit the post, Palmer was denied by Andre Onana, and then United suffered more injuries as Varane went off at half time.
Antony broke forward, his pass was sensational as he played the ball with the outside of his left foot, and in darted Garnacho to head home his second and put United on course for victory. But deep into injury time, Diogo Dalot brought down Noni Madueke and a penalty was given after a long VAR check.
Palmer struck home the penalty and then hit the winner a minute later from a short corner to send Chelsea fans into a frenzy.
CHELSEA: Petrovic 6, Gusto 6 (Gilchrist 75, 6), Disasi 6
(Chalobah 75, 6), Badiashile 6, Cucurella 6, Fernandez 6, Caicedo 5 (Chukwuemeka 71, 6), Gallagher 7, Mudryk 6 (Sterling 71, 6), MOTM Palmer 8, Jackson 6
MAN UTD: Onana 7, Dalot 7, Maguire 6, Varane 5 (Evans 46, 5 (Kambwala 66, 6)), Wan-bissaka 6, Casemiro 4 (Mctominay 75, 7), Mainoo 7, Fernandes 7, Garnacho 7, Antony 7, Hojlund 6 (Rashford 66, 7)