Soccer

Manchester United concede twice in last two minutes to lose to Chelsea

Cole Palmer’s two late penalties shock Red Devils in topsy-turvy game

Chelsea's Cole Palmer celebrates scoring their fourth goal. Photograph: Bradley Collyer/PA Wire

David Hytner
Thu Apr 4 2024 - 22:46

Premier League: Chelsea 4 Manchester United 3

From joy to despair and now this, Manchester United have certainly showcased their addiction to drama in recent weeks; theirs the story that keeps on giving. If the FA Cup victory over Liverpool had given their supporters a rosy glow for what felt like weeks, the nature of Saturday’s draw at Brentford was the definition of a reality check. In a crowded field, was it the worst performance of their chaotic season?

The latest instalment was scarcely believable. Despair to joy and back again – hard – within one game; it felt like the death of their Premier League season, Chelsea’s delight running wild at the very end.

Cole Palmer apart, the home team were fragile for much of the evening, unconvincing and yet they not only took a 2-0 lead, it might have been three. United did not panic. It was all a part of the show. And it was Antony, so often the villain, who helped to turn things around.

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After Alejandro Garnacho had punished woeful Chelsea defending for 2-1, Antony played a part in the build-up to Bruno Fernandes’s equaliser. And it was Antony who would produce the wonderful cross after a quick United counter for 3-2, Garnacho nodding home on the bounce. Garnacho was also impressive.

Game over? Not at all. This is United. This was Palmer, too. After the Chelsea substitute, Noni Madueke, had won a penalty in the seventh minute of stoppage-time, Diogo Dalot having fallen into the back of him, there was no doubt that Palmer would score from the spot, as he had done earlier for 2-0.

A winner in the 101st minute? It was ludicrous but Palmer made it a reality when nobody in red tracked him on a quick corner and he blasted home with the aid of a deflection off the United substitute, Scott McTominay.

The teams had kicked off in 12th and sixth respectively, a far cry from when this was one of the fixtures of the season, the principal prematch teaser taking in which Chelsea and which United would turn up. Nobody knew. They have been drainingly unpredictable.

At least, Ten Hag had been able to name a recognisable central defence at the outset, Raphaël Varane passing a fitness test to step in alongside Harry Maguire, with Lisandro Martínez and Victor Lindelöf out and Jonny Evans having barely trained. It still featured square pegs in round holes. Then again, when a club does not have a fit, specialist left-back, it will do.

Mindful of the threat of Palmer off the Chelsea right, Ten Hag asked Diogo Dalot to fill the problem position. But when he was sucked inside and Kobbie Mainoo lost possession in the early running, Chelsea could see a huge space to exploit. How they did so. Enzo Fernández worked the ball up there for Malo Gusto and, when he crossed low, the ball came off Varane’s heel and there was Conor Gallagher to sweep past André Onana. Casemiro was slow to get out to close Gallagher.

Manchester United's Alejandro Garnacho celebrates with team-mate Antony. Photograph: Bradley Collyer/PA Wire

It was impossible to ignore the big selection decision, that of Ten Hag to exclude Marcus Rashford from his starting XI. “Rotation,” the manager had called it, with Sunday’s Old Trafford clash against Liverpool in mind. It was easy to look more deeply into the reasons, beginning with Rashford’s no-show at Brentford. On the other hand, he was hardly the only United player to have gone missing in action.

Antony started in his place and he looked purposeful. He flickered in the opening 15 minutes. And then he made an error inside his own area, trying a tackle on Marc Cucurella when he was on the wrong side and never likely to get the ball. Cucurella, who had swapped passes with Mykhailo Mudryk, was too cute for Antony. The contact was minimal but when he went down, it looked like a penalty. Palmer, who had heard the chants of “City reject” from the United fans, was never going to miss from the spot and he enjoyed his celebrations.

Palmer was a menace. There were times when he tormented Dalot with his twinkle toes and gliding moves. Casemiro’s lack of mobility at the base of the United midfield was a major problem and Chelsea advertised a goal for 3-0, namely when Axel Disasi got in unmarked at the far post to meet a Gallagher free-kick. He headed wastefully off target.

Defensive fragility was not the sole preserve of United and it was a horror moment from Moisés Caicedo that ushered the visitors back into it. After Antony, who did not let his head drop after the penalty, had done well to keep a Fernandes slice in play, Caicedo tried to go square to Benoît Badiashile and found only Garnacho. He raced away to finish.

After Fernandez had drawn a fine save out of Onana at the other end, United got back to 2-2. The Chelsea marking at the back post was non-existent and, when Dalot crossed, Fernandes guided his header home. It was wild, heavy on thrills and spills, and there was time before the interval for Gallagher to crash a shot against the near post after Casemiro had lost the ball and Palmer surged forward yet again.

What was that about United’s central defensive pair? Varane had felt something before the Gallagher chance at the end of the first half, unable to give chase, and he did not re-emerge for the second half, Evans replacing him. Incredibly (or perhaps not), Evans would last only until the 66th minute. On came Willy Kambwala in his place.

The action fizzed from end to end. Chelsea pushed through Palmer, who was close to unplayable. United were dangerous on the counter; there were times when they ran through Chelsea with almost embarrassing ease. Maguire blasted one shot high, Fernandes another when gloriously placed. Rasmus Højlund was denied by a Disasi challenge after more loose Chelsea passing. Casemiro headed high from a corner.

Palmer had extended Onana with a curler but it was United who looked the more likely scorers. When they got themselves in front, shortly after Ten Hag had introduced Rashford for Højlund, it was all about the desire and ingenuity of Antony. He had won the ball to spark the break and it was his glorious outside-of-the-boot cross that teed up Garnacho to head past Djordje Petrovic. – Guardian

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