Manchester United 2-1 Chelsea: Scott McTominay scores in both halves to ease Erik Ten Hag’s burden.
Report and free match highlights as Manchester United beat Chelsea 2-1 at Old Trafford; Cole Palmer equalizes for Mauricio Pochettino's side before halftime, while Bruno Fernandes had an early penalty saved by Robert Sanchez.
Scott McTominay’s double gave Manchester United a much-needed 2-1 win over Chelsea, relieving some of the strain on Erik Ten Hag.
Manchester United 2-1 Chelsea: Scott McTominay scores in both halves to ease Erik Ten Hag’s burden.
Ten Hag’s risk in benching both Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial amid claims of dressing-room strife paid off for the under-fire manager, with the hosts’ skill with and without the ball a world away from Saturday’s humiliating setback at Newcastle.
McTominay scored on the rebound of Harry Maguire’s shot (19), but Unitwd might have been ahead before the eighth minute if Bruno Fernandes’ penalty had not been saved.
United dominated the first half but failed to extend their lead, and were punished on the stroke of half-time when Cole Palmer hammered home a well-placed drive from just inside the box.
The hosts were less efficient after the break, but McTominay (69) regained their lead with a close-range header from Alejandro Garnacho’s cross, before the Argentine squandered a golden opportunity to seal victory on the break.
It didn’t matter in the end, as United’s performance pierced through the cacophony around the club to record their first point – and win – of the season against a team in the top half of the Premier League, putting them just three points off the top four.
How Manchester United came back to defeat the Blues
Manchester United desperately needed a win after losing to Newcastle on Saturday, and they were unrecognizable from the start.
They took the game to their visitors from the outset, and when Kavanagh was sent to the VAR monitor, they were given a fantastic opportunity to cement that start.
He pointed to the spot after noticing Fernandez’s late challenge on Antony, but Fernandez’s weak penalty was blocked by two powerful Sanchez hands.
McTominay saved his blushes after Garnacho and Mudryk squandered chances at either end in an increasingly frantic first half, smashing home the rebound after Harry Maguire’s attempt was blocked.
He should have doubled his tally before the break but planted a free header straight at the Chelsea goalkeeper, while Andre Onana earned himself some personal redemption with a brave stop at the feet of Jackson in one of several dangerous breaks from the visitors.
Their equaliser, when it came, owed more to the individual brilliance of Palmer. Taking Mudryk’s pass in his stride, several faints to shoot bought him the half-yard he needed to sweep a low finish past Onana’s despairing dive.
Both sides made changes at the break but it was Chelsea’s tactical tweak to a 4-4-2 without the ball which denied Manchester United the freedom they had enjoyed before half-time.
In a game lacking much in the way of logic it was when United looked at their least dangerous that they restored their advantage, when Garnacho’s curling cross to the back post was guided home by McTominay once more.
What comes next?
Manchester United return to Premier League action on Saturday against Bournemouth, kick-off 3pm. They then host Harry Kane’s Bayern Munich in their final Champions League group game on Tuesday, December 12 at 8 p.m.
Chelsea return to Premier League action on Sunday, when they travel to Everton, kick-off 2pm. On Saturday, December 16, they will play Sheffield United at 3 p.m.
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