United throw open race for CL spots
Chelsea beaten at home EPL Standings
LONDON, Feb 18, (AP): Manchester United threw open the race for the final Champions League qualification spots in the Premier League by beating fourthplace Chelsea 2-0 thanks to headers by Anthony Martial and Harry Maguire.
With 12 games remaining, seven points separate Chelsea and 11th-place Burnley, with the team
Chelsea’s Michy Batshuayi leaps to head the ball away from Manchester United’s Luke Shaw during the English Premier League soccer match between Chelsea and Manchester United at Stamford Bridge in London, England on Feb 17. (AP)
finishing fifth also set to earn a place in next season’s Champions League following UEFA’s decision to punish Man City for serious breaches of financial regulations by handing the English champions a two-year European ban.
Martial glanced in a header off a right-wing cross by Aaron Wan-Bissaka to give United the lead in the 45th minute at Stamford Bridge, before Maguire planted home a corner from January signing Bruno Fernandes in the 66th. them down.”
Injury problems are starting to bite at Chelsea, too. Top scorer Tammy Abraham and winger Callum HudsonOdoi missed the game because of injury, while central midfielder N’Golo Kante lasted 11 minutes before hobbling off. Center back Andreas Christensen didn’t come out for the second half after sustaining a knock to the head late in the first period, just before Martial beat the Denmark defender to a header for the first goal.
Lampard’s main gripe, though, was his team’s failure to finish off chances once again. Batshuayi was the biggest culprit, spurning two great chances in the first half in his first start in the league this season.
“We are fourth because of some of the good stuff we’ve done and because of the nature of the league, everyone taking points off each other,” Lampard said.
“But there’s a lot of work to do because you can see the problem - that’s putting the ball in the back of the net.
“I feel like a broken record. We have to put things to bed by scoring goals.”
Chelsea host Tottenham on Saturday and would finally get overtaken with another loss. “The season starts here,” Lampard said.
Nigeria striker Odion Ighalo, who signed for United on deadline day in the January transfer window, came on in second-half stoppage time for his debut and had a late chance saved by Willy Caballero, who again started in goal ahead of Kepa Arrizabalaga.
midfielder has an injury to his right ACL that he says “will take months to recover from.”
The 25-year-old midfielder was hurt during Saturday night’s preseason exhibition against Orlando.
“As of now it is still unclear on a timeline of events as we consult with doctors and physicians to figure out what the next best step is for myself, my career, and my knee,” he wrote Monday on Twitter. Arriola has been a regular starter for the US national team under coach
Arriola has five goals in 33 international appearances.
midfielder injury is not as serious as first thought and he could be ready to play again next week.
Pjanić limped off with an apparent muscular problem during Sunday’s 2-0 win over eight minutes after coming on as a substitute.
“Diagnostic tests performed at J Medical this morning excluded any muscle injuries for Miralem Pjanić,” Juventus said in a statement on Monday. “Only a slight strain to the right adductor was observed.