Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
THINGS ARE LUKING UP
Lukaku finally scored against one of United’s big rivals and showed why Jose was so keen to beat Chelsea in race to sign £75M striker
IT was billed as the grudge match between bickering rivals Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte.
But it was Romelu Lukaku who stole the show, the striker showing just why Manchester United made sure they snatched him from under Chelsea noses last summer.
Lukaku, 24, had not scored against any of the Premier League’s top-eight sides this term, but equalised and set up the winner in an outstanding display from the £75million striker.
If one moment summed up his contribution, it came deep into added time, when he surged towards the Chelsea goal with the ball, even though he was unable to score.
The commitment Lukaku showed so late on, allied to his work-rate throughout the game, earned him a standing ovation from United fans and typified his man-of-the match display.
The Reds may have been outplayed by Chelsea in the first-half, but their collective spirit and drive, embodied by Lukaku, Nemanja Matic and Scott Mctominay, saw them come out on top. Victory put United back above Liverpool into second spot and has given them a six-point cushion over fifth-placed Chelsea, a potentially decisive advantage in the battle for a top-four spot.
Yet it could have turned out so differently. The Blues came flying out of the blocks, putting United on the back foot, the hosts forced to sit back and absorb the sustained pressure.
The visitors came close to taking the lead after just four minutes. Eden Hazard sprayed the ball out wide on the left to Marcos Alonso, who took it first-time and crossed for Alvaro Morata, whose volleyed effort thudded off the bar.
It was a major let-off for United, although Mourinho’s side did not heed the wake-up call, settling back into a role of compliance, allowing Hazard and Willian to run the game.
Just as he did last season in United’s 2-0 win at Old Trafford, Mourinho opted to man-mark Hazard, although with Ander Herrera out injured, that task fell to Mctominay on this occasion.
The youngster stuck to his task diligently, but was unable to track the marauding Hazard’s every move, and was caught out for Chelsea’s superb opener, which came from a United attack. Antonio Valencia slung in a cross, which was headed away by Willian.
And when Paul Pogba failed to win an aerial duel with Victor Moses in the 32nd minute, the visitors seized their chance.
Willian funnelled the ball forward to Hazard, who surged out wide, before turning to deliver a killer pass back to him, which took out three United players.
Although Willian had Morata free to his left, having started the move from his own box, he was determined to finish it, driving a fierce near-post finish beyond David De Gea.
It served to finally jolt United into life, with Lukaku equalising
seven minutes later. Having lost the ball, the striker won it back, Matic and Alexis Sanchez combining to find Anthony Martial, who in turn found Lukaku.
He still had work to do when the ball arrived at his feet, but showed great physical strength and balance to hold off two opponents, before steering the ball into the far corner.
The goal lifted United and changed the dynamic of the game, with Mourinho’s side going into the break with their heads up, in contrast to Chelsea.
The Blues still posed a goal threat, with De Gea saving a long-range effort from Danny Drinkwater just before the hour.
Visiting keeper Thibaut Courtois produced an even more impressive save to keep out a spectacular volley from Lukaku in the 57th minute.
There was a scare for United two minutes later, when De Gea fumbled a Willian cross, almost letting it slip over the line.
But United had the last laugh, Mctominay chipping the ball forward to Lukaku, who crossed for sub Jesse Lingard, whose glancing header sailed beyond Courtois.
Yet the hero of the day was Lukaku, who could have been lining up for Chelsea, had United not gazumped them last summer, a move that could ultimately end up denying the Blues a top-four spot.