Manchester United left it late to rescue a point in a tense 1-1 draw against Chelsea on Saturday evening. The Red Devils looked to have lost the match when Jorginho converted a penalty in the dying stages of the contest, only for Casemiro to head home a stoppage-time equaliser for Erik ten Hag’s men.
United dominated possession in the early exchanges, with a midfield trio of Bruno Fernandes, Christian Eriksen, and the aforementioned Casemiro proving too much for their hosts to contain. Nonetheless, clear-cut chances remained largely at a premium, although Antony and Marcus Rashford both forced Kepa Arrizabalaga into smart saves to keep the score level.
In response to the visitors’ early supremacy, Graham Potter introduced Mateo Kovacic off the bench to redress the glaring imbalance in the centre of the park, before Antony squandered a gret opportunity on the stroke of half-time to send the sides in all square at the interval.
Potter’s alteration continued to pay dividends for Chelsea after the break, with the Blues seeing much more of the ball and largely preventing United from rediscovering the rhythm that had served them so well in the opening stages. The Red Devils’ frustrations were compounded further by the forced withdrawal of centre-back Raphael Varane, who was taken off injured shortly before the hour mark.
From that point on, United struggled to regain any kind of steady foothold in an attritional contest, and saw David de Gea’s crossbar rattled by a Trevor Chalobah header from a corner with a quarter of an hour to go.
It was another Chelsea set-piece that ultimately looked to have cost the Red Devils in the end, however, with substitute Scott McTominay conceding a penalty after holding Armando Broja back as an in-swinging corner was delivered. Jorginho subsequently stepped up to convert with five minutes left on the clock.
But it would be United who would eventually have the final say, with Casemiro’s sublime looping header just squirming over the line, despite the best efforts of Kepa. The Red Devils remain fifth in the table, just one point behind the Blues, with both having played 11 matches. Next up for Ten Hag’s side is a Europa League clash against Sheriff Tirspola in midweek, before a top-flight meeting with West Ham United on Sunday.
Check out our matchday gallery from this evening’s 1-1 draw, as well as our full player ratings, below...
5. Luke Shaw - 7
Battled well throughout, to his credit. It was his delivery that led to Casemiro’s late equaliser.
6. Casemiro - 8
Found space well in the centre of the park, especially in the first half. As tidy as you would expect a player of his pedigree to be. His late equaliser, a stunning looped header, just squirmed over the line, and rescued a point for his team.
7. Christian Eriksen - 7 (off 80)
The Dane was reintroduced to the starting XI ahead of Fred, and put in a real game of two halves. In the first half, he repaid his manager’s faith with a composed and classy performance, dominating proceedings for the first 35 minutes until Kovacic was brought on. He was sloppier and more anonymous after the break.
8. Antony - 6 (off 52)
A willing outlet as always, but disappointingly lacking in end product. Squandered a golden opportunity just before the interval.