Match Report | Teams | Highlights | Post-Match Reactions
Manchester United 4 Chelsea 1
Casemiro 6′, Martial 45’+5, Fernandes 73′ pen, Rashford 78′ – Felix 89′
Goals from Casemiro, Martial, Fernandes and Rashford sent Manchester United into third in the Premier League and guarantees them Champions League football next season. A poor Chelsea side managed a late consolation goal with a sublime finish from Felix, but although they had chances and plenty of possession, they lacked any real quality or cohesion.
United started the night in all-out attack mode and, despite gifting Chelsea a handful of great chances in the first half, opened the scoring when Casemiro rose to head an Eriksen freekick past Kepa. The second came after more Chelsea chances and an injury to Antony that saw him stretched off for Rashford. Late into added-on time, Casemiro’s wonderful floated pass found Sancho’s perfectly timed run into the box, and the Englishman passed to the far post for Martial to finish making it two-nil to United at the interval.
Shaw was replaced with Malacia at halftime. Reports are it is a back problem. Perhaps the same issue that threatened to keep him out of the Bournemouth game. He struggled on then, but with the Cup Final looming and United two up, Ten Hag decided against risking him. It was a good call as United went on to comfortably win despite continuing to give up chances.
Fernandes had a penalty claim denied in the first half. Replays had shown contact, but the kick from Fofana on the United player’s Achilles wasn’t deemed enough by the officials. In the second half, Fernandes nutmegged Fofana before the defender took him down, and the referee had no choice but to give the penalty. Fernandes converted it easily, sending the keeper the wrong way.
Fofana’s night got worse when he inexcusably passed the ball across his own box, only for it to be intercepted by Fernandes, who played in Rashford. Rashford’s initial attempt was stopped, but he was able to follow up from close range to make it four nil.
Felix scored a late consolation goal for the visitors with a great finish from the edge of the United box after running from his own half with the ball almost uncontested. United had little interest in defending all night, but by that stage, even the pretence of defending was gone.
Though a great result, United will know they cannot gift some many chances and expect to win in future.
Teams:
Manchester United:
De Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Lindelof, Shaw, Casemiro, Eriksen, Antony, Fernandes, Sancho, Martial.
Subs: Butland, Dalot, Maguire, Malacia, Fred, McTominay, Garnacho, Rashford, Weghorst.
Chelsea:
Kepa, W Fofana, Chalobah, Azpilicueta, Fernandez, Chukwuemeka, Madueke, Hall, Gallagher, Havertz, Mudryk.
Subs: Mendy, Silva, Pulisic, Felix, Loftus-Cheek, Ziyech, Koulibaly, D Fofana, Gilchrist.