IT’S CASE IN POINT Brazilian rescues Ten Hag
CASEMIRO saved Scott McTominay’s blushes with a late, late leveller.
The Scot had not been on the field five minutes for Manchester United when he manhandled fellow substitute Armando Broja to the ground in the penalty area.
And Chelsea ace Jorginho held his nerve, as referee Stuart Attwell restored calm, to send David De Gea the wrong way from the spot.
It looked as if the Blues had somehow nicked a win, despite United, on the back of a very good win against Tottenham in midweek, dominating again against one of the Premier League’s biggest sides. But with three minutes of six added on at the end of the game already gone, up rose the Brazilian midfielder.
And even though Kepa Arrizabalaga – a strong contender for the man-of-thematch award with Casemiro – got a good hand to it, the ball hit a post and just cleared the line sufficiently for the Attwell’s watch to buzz in the visitors’ favour.
What a finish it was at the end of a game that had plenty of hustle and bustle but was not always as high on quality as we had all hoped for. United were certainly the better side of the two for most of the game.
But credit to Chelsea as they fought hard to stay in the match and, eight games into new boss Graham Potter’s reign, are still unbeaten.
This was easily their toughest league test yet and Potter, who hooked Marc Cucurella just after the half-hour and changed tactics given his side were being overrun, will have learned his lesson.
The change, with Mateo Kovacic introduced and the Blues changing to four at the back, allowed Potter’s side to establish a foothold in the game. But, even so, they ought really to have gone in at least one goal down and perhaps two.
United, for all their possession, had not had too many sights of goal in that opening third of the game.
However, shortly before Kovacic’s introduction, they did have a good one when Bruno Fernandes threaded a pass through to Marcus Rashford.
And the opening needed Kepa to come out quickly and deny the England ace.
Rashford soon saw the whites of Kepa’s eyes again – but some good defending from Thiago Silva forced him further wider than he
would have liked – and the Spaniard saved well.
That simple moment was a reminder of the Brazilian’s class.
He knew he did not have the legs to compete with Rashford – but his positioning was so spot on.
That was enough to give the United star problems without even needing to get that close.
The visitors’ best chance of the half at Stamford Bridge came on the break but Antony, well placed, drilled wide.
Chelsea’s best opportunity fell to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang but the former Arsenal man’s decision making let him down when he opted to try to acrobatically bring the ball down instead of going with his head.
Auba was not alone on that front, with Raheem Sterling’s early attempt to lay the ball back across to Chelsea pal Mason Mount lacking in conviction.
Mount, for his part, was excellent again and looks to be timing his run of form perfectly as far as England and the World Cup are concerned.
One player who might not now be going to Qatar is Frenchman Raphael Varane, who broke down in tears as he limped off the field with what appeared to be a hamstring injury.
Not that the Chelsea supporters in the Matthew Harding Stand showed him any sympathy.
Those same fans were almost back on their feet for much more positive reasons when Trevoh Chalobah rose well to meet Mount’s corner but his header hit the bar and went over.
At the other end Fernandes, always busy, forced a decent save from Kepa with an effort which dipped and bounced dangerously in front of him.
Kepa’s fine work looked to have given his side the perfect platform for victory when Jorginho sent De Gea the wrong way.
But Casemiro had other ideas than a United defeat.