Lukaku silences his critics
United star scores, assists in Chelsea win, improves record against top sides
Manchester United’s Romelu Lukaku shrugged off criticism of his scoring record against the biggest teams after an outstanding performance yesterday sent his former club Chelsea home with a 2-1 Premier League defeat from Old Trafford.
The Belgian striker’s goal to cancel out Willian’s opener for the visitors was the first time Lukaku had scored in seven games against top six sides this season. United’s man-ofthe-match also made the winning goal for substitute Jesse Lingard with a perfect cross.
“It’s a good day for me and we won so that’s the most important thing,” he told the BBC. “To get the goal before halftime was really important for us. We showed our qualities and desire in the second half.”
The win moved secondplaced United to 59 points with 10 games left, six clear of Chelsea who have slipped to fifth in the battle for the top four and Champions League qualification.
“It was a good, intense game to play in, with a bit of skill here and there, I think the neutral fan would have enjoyed it today,” added Lukaku, who now has 13 league goals this season. “At the end of the day I just want to work hard for the team, and if I improve I’m really satisfied.”
There was widespread praise for 21-year-old United midfielder Scott McTominay, who did not suffer in comparison with the club’s record signing Paul Pogba.
“I’m fearless, I just want to get on the pitch as much as I can now,” said McTominay.
“When we went behind, we TODAY Rugby FNB Varsity Cup, Wits v Maties, 4.30pm, SS1/SS8/CSN; UFS Shimlas v UJ , 6.45pm, SS1/SS8/CSN Soccer Bundesliga, Borussia Dortmund v FC Augsburg, 9.30pm, StarSat245 Serie A, Cagliari v Napoli9.45pm StarSat246 LaLiga Santander, Levante v Real Betis, 9.55pm, SS7/MaXimo1 Tennis ATP World Tour, Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, day 1, day session, 12noo, SS8; Night session, 5pm, SS6 TUESDAY Soccer ABSA Premiership, Baroka FC v Cape Town City, 7.25pm, SS4 Emirates FA Cup, round 5 replay, Swansea City v Sheffield Wednesday, 9.55pm, SS3/MaXimo1 LaLiga Santander, Espanyol v Real Madrid, 8.55pm, SS7; Girona v Celta Vigo, 10.25pm, SS5 Tennis ATP World Tour, Abierto Mexicano Telcel, day 1, 2am, SS8 ATP World Tour, Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, day 2, day session, 12noon, SS8; Night session, 5pm, SS8 WEDNESDAY Cricket Second ODI, New Zealand v England, 2.55am, SS2 Soccer ABSA Premiership, Ajax Cape Town v SuperSport United, 7.25pm, SS4 Emirates FA Cup, round 5 replay, Tottenham Hotspur v Rochdale, 9.35pm, SS3/MaXimo1 Italian Cup, semi-final 1, first leg; Juventus v Atalanta, 6.50pm, StarSat245; Semi-final 2, first leg, Lazio v Milan, 9.35pm, StarSat245 LaLiga Santander, Malaga v Sevilla, 8.25pm, SS5; Athletic Bilbao v Valencia, 8.25pm, SS7; Eibar v Villarreal, 10.25pm, SS5; Atletico Madrid v had to chase the game a bit. But in the second half we were completely in control.
“I’m really enjoying my football at the moment, it’s great to be playing in the Premier League and the Champions League regularly, but at the end of the day it’s a really good three points for the team.
Chelsea midfielder Danny Drinkwater felt a 2-1 defeat was an unfair result.
“We definitely deserved more, first half we were dominant,” he said. “Second half was more even, but we didn’t deserve to lose, no way.
“Obviously there are bits we can improve on, first of all we can improve on not conceding, and scoring more goals, but football can sometimes go against you and today’s one of those days. It’s down to us now, we have to get our results in order and hopefully the other teams’ results will look after themselves.”
Elsewhere, Harry Kane headed a late winner to give Tottenham Hotspur a 1-0 victory at Crystal Palace that lifted them into fourth place in the Premier League.
Kane headed home from Christian Eriksen’s corner in the 88th minute to make up for two glaring misses earlier in the match at Selhurst Park.
It was Kane’s 35th goal of the season and made him the Premier League’s leading scorer this season with 24, one ahead of Liverpool’s Mo Salah.
Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino felt his team deserved the victory after having more than 75 percent of possession: “It was difficult today but we always knew we could score,” he said.
“We had great players on the pitch; when you have them it’s always possible to score.” Leganes, 10.25pm, SS7 Tennis ATP World Tour, Abierto Mexicano Telcel, day 2, 2am, SS8 ATP World Tou, Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, day 3, day session, 12noon, SS8; Night session 5pm, SS8
THURSDAY First Test, day 1, South Africa v Australia, 9.55am, SS2/CSN Golf LPGA HSBC Women’s World Championship, day 1, 5.30am, SS7/ CSN Sunshine Tour, Tshwane Open, day 1, AM, 10.30am, SS1; PM, 2.30pm, SS1 World Golf Championships Mexico Championship, day 1, 9pm, SS5/CSN Soccer English Premier League, Arsenal v Manchester City, 9pm, SS3/MaXimo1 LaLiga Santander, Las Palmas v Barcelona, 9.55pm, SS7 Tennis ATP World Tour, Abierto Mexicano Telcel, day 3, 2am, SS8 ATP World Tour, Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, quarter-final 1, 1pm, SS8; Quarter-final 2, 3pm, SS8; Quarter-final 3, 5pm, SS8; Quarter-final 4, 7pm, SS8
FRIDAY Athletics Varsity Athletics, meeting 1, 5.15pm, SS5/SS10 Cricket First Test, day 2, South Africa v Australia, 9.30am, SS2/CSN Golf LPGA HSBC Women’s World Championship Day 2, 5.30am SS7/CSN Sunshine Tour, Tshwane Open, day 2, AM 10.30am, SS5; PM, 2.30pm, SS1 World Golf Championships Mexico Championship Day 2, 9pm, SS5/CSN Rugby Vodacom Super Rugby, rouund 3, Blues v Chiefs, 8.30am SS1; Reds vs Brumbies , 10.30am, SS1 GUINNESS PRO14, round 17, Southern Kings v Dragons, 7.30pm, SS1/ CSN; Edinburgh Rugby v Munster Rugby, 9.30pm, SS1 Soccer ABSA Premiership, AmaZulu v Mamelodi Sundowns, 5.55pm, SS4; Cape Town City v Chippa United, 7.55pm, SS4 Bundesliga, Borussia Mönchengladbach v SV Werder Bremen, 9.30pm, StarSat245 LaLiga Santander, Alaves v Levante, 10.25pm, SS11 Tennis ATP World Tour, Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, semi-final 1, 3pm, SS8; Semi-final 2, 5pm SS8
SATURDAY Boxing Golden Gloves IBO Cruiserweight World Title: Dmytro Kucher v Kevin Lerena (12 Rounds), 7.30pm, SS6/SS9 Cricket Third ODI, New Zealand v England, 3am, SS5 First Test, day 3, South Africa v Australia, 9.30am, SS2/CSN Golf LPGA HSBC Women’s World Championship, day 3, 5.30am, SS7 Sunshine Tour, Tshwane Open, day 3, 12noon, SS5 World Golf Championships Mexico Championship, day 3, 7pm, SS5 Rugby Vodacom Super Rugby, round 3, Sunwolves v Rebels, 6.10am, SS1 /CSN; Crusaders v DHL Stormers, 8.30am, SS1/M-Net; Cell C Sharks v Waratahs, 3pm, SS1/M-Net; Vodacom Bulls v Emirates Lions, 5.05pm, SS1/M-Net; Jaguares v Hurricane, 11.35pm, SS1/CSN GUINNESS PRO14, round 17, Toyota Cheetahs v Connacht Rugby, 7.30pm, SS1/CSN Soccer ABSA Premiership Orlando Pirates v Kaizer Chiefs, 3.25pm, SS4; SuperSport United v Maritzburg United, 5.55pm, SS4/SS10 English Premier League, Burnley v Everton, 2pm, SS3/MaXimo1; Tottenham Hotspur v Huddersfield Town, 4.30pm, SS3/MaXimo1; Leicester City v AFC Bournemouth, 4.50pm, SS5; Liverpool v Newcastle United, 7pm, SS3/MaXimo1 Bundesliga, FC Schalke 04 v Hertha Berlin, 4.30pm, StarSat245; Eintracht Frankfurt v Hannover 96, 4.30pm, StarSat241; FC Augsburg v Hoffenheim, 4.30pm, StarSat246; Hamburger SV v 1.FSV Mainz 05, 4.30pm, StarSat243; Vfl Wolfsburg v Bayer 04 Leverkusen, 4.30pm, StarSat240; RB Leipzig v Borussia Dortmund, 7.30pm, StarSat245 Serie A, Lazio v Juventus, 7pm, StarSat246; Napoli v Roma, 9.45pm StarSat245 LaLiga Santander, Villarreal v Girona, 1.55pm, SS7; Sevilla v Athletic Bilbao, 5.10pm, SS7; Leganes v Malaga, 7.25pm, SS7; Real Madrid v Getafe, 9.40pm, SS7?MaXimo1 Tennis ATP World Tour, Abierto Mexicano Telcel, semi-final 1, 2am, SS8; Semifinal 2, 6am, SS8 ATP World Tour, Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, final, 4.45pm, SS8 SUNDAY Cricket First Test, day 4, South Africa v Australia, 9.30am, SS2/CSN Golf LPGA HSBC Women’s World Championship Day 4, 5.30am, SS7/CSN Sunshine Tour, Tshwane Open, day 4, 12noon, SS5 World Golf Championships Mexico Championship, day 4, 7pm, SS5/CSN Soccer ABSA Premiership, Polokwane City v Golden Arrows, 3.25pm, SS4 English Premier League, Brighton and Hove Albion v Arsenal, 2.30pm, SS3/MaXimo1; Manchester City v Chelsea, 5.30pm, SS3/MaXimo1 Bundesliga, 1. FC Köln v VfB Stuttgart, 4.30pm, StarSat245; Sport-Club Freiburg v FC Bayern München, 7pm, StarSat245 Ligue 1, Montpellier v Lyon, 5.45pm StarSat248; Marseille v Nantes, 9.45pm, StarSat249 Serie A, Genoa v Cagliari, 1.30pm, StarSat245, Atalanta v Sampdoria, 4pm StarSat246, Chievo Verona v Sassuolo, 4pm StarSat243, Torino v Crotone, 4pm StarSat241, Udinese v Fiorentina, 4pm StarSat240, Milan v Inter, 9.45pm, StarSat245 LaLiga Santande, Levante v Espanyol, 12.55pm, SS7; Barcelona v Atletico Madrid, 5.10pm, SS7; Real Sociedad v Alaves, 7.25pm, SS7; Valencia v Real Betis, 9.40pm, SS7/ MaXimo1 Tennis ATP World Tour, Abierto Mexicano Telcel, final, 4.45am, SS8