Chelsea 0 Man Utd 2 /United wild about Harry at Stamford Bridge
Manchester United captain Harry Maguire was in the thick of things at Stamford Bridge last night as his side recorded their third win over Chelsea this season.
The England centre-half was lucky to escape a red card after a first-half clash with Michy Batshuayi and then popped up with a terrific header in the second to secure the victory.
United thumped Chelsea 4-0 on the first day of the season and also knocked them out of the Carabao Cup in October. Here again last night they took all three points to move up to seventh in the Premier League.
It was Chelsea who started the match on the front foot and had the better of the chances, certainly in the first half.
Full-back Reece James cut in from the right flank and flashed a shot inches wide of David De Gea’s right-hand post after five minutes, then Willian did almost exactly the same – firing just wide from the edge of the penalty area.
The hosts were forced into an early change – N’golo Kante replaced by Mason Mount after the France midfielder limped off with a suspected groin injury – but it didn’t alter the pattern of play. Chelsea continued to press forward and Batshuayi was guilty of dragging a decent chance wide after an inch-perfect cross from Mount.
Maguire should really have seen red on 21 minutes. The big defender appeared to kick his studs into Batshuayi’s groin area as the pair rolled out of play near the dugouts. The Chelsea bench protested but Maguire escaped punishment.
In another Chelsea attack on 35 minutes, Willian was booked for simulation, referee Anthony Taylor ruling the Brazilian had gone over too easily after United’s January recruit Bruno Fernandes stuck out a leg on the edge of the area.
United took the lead against the run of play shortly before the interval. Aaron Wan-bissaka teased Willian on the right wing, twisting and turning before sending a delightful cross on to the head of Anthony Martial, pictured, who steered the ball into the far corner of the net. It was the French striker’s 13th club goal of the season and his first in the league since 11 January.
Chelsea appeared to have levelled early in the second half when substitute centreback Kurt Zouma turned the ball into the back of the net. But after a VAR review the goal was ruled out because captain Cesar Azpilicueta was ruled to have pushed Brandon Williams as the ball was delivered into the penalty area.
United still looked dangerous on the break. Fernandes thumped Willy Caballero’s near post with a free-kick from 20 yards, before they doubled their lead when Maguire headed in a delightful corner from the Portuguese.
Chelsea found themselves on the wrong side of another VAR decision on 76 minutes when sub Olivier Giroud nodded home from an offside position.
United even had the luxury in the closing minutes of bringing on January recruit Odion Ighalo for a debut following his move from China.
CHELSEA: Caballero, R James, Christensen (Zouma 46), Rudiger, Azpilicueta, Kante (Mount 12), Jorginho, Kovacic, Pedro, Batshuayi (Giroud 68), Willian. Subs not used: Arrizabalaga, Alonso, Barkley, Tomori. MANCHESTER UNITED: de Gea, Bailly, Maguire, Shaw, Wan Bissaka, Fred, Matic, Williams, Bruno Fernandes (Dalot 90), D James (Andreas Pereira 80), Martial (Ighalo 90). Subs not used: Jones, Mata, Romero, Greenwood.