It was Chelsea versus Manchester United at the Bridge and it was a match that though has lost little significance due to the league standings of both teams, yet it still lived up to expectation .
Chelsea is the only EPL team
to have beaten Manchester United more than United have beaten them. Chelsea before the game had drawn all their last three league games at home and were on the verge of drawing the fourth consecutive match at Stamford Bridge in the EPL era which would make it a record for them in the EPL era.
Both teams named a strong side and Guus Hiddink had a good record against his United counterpart who had only beaten him once in their seven meetings before the game.
United started on the front foot and Anthony Martial drew a strong save from Thaibut Courtois in the 17th minute . United pressured Chelsea to no end as in the first 23 minutes, United had already played 9 corners to Chelsea's none. Hiddink started the game cautiously as he named the same line-up that played the last game against Watford. Eden Hazard was left out on the bench with Cesc Fabregas moved to central attacking midfield position and John Obi Mikel partnering Nemanja Matic in defensive midfield position. This was captain John Terry's first game since he announced the club informed him this would be his last season at the club and as a result all banners at the stadium removed and only that of Terry remained.
For United young Jackson was played at left back with Darmian moved to right back and Jessy Lingaard playing in the right side of the United attack.
Young Michael Oliver was the referee of the game as he returned to Stamford Bridge for the first time this season after the first league game of the season which he sent off Thaibut Courtois in a 2-2 draw against Swansea.
It took Chelsea 28 minutes to get their first corner as they settled into the game slowly and Diego Costa testing David De Gea on goal with a close shot. Costa subsequently missed another clear cut chance in the 34th minute after a Willian cross.
As the game progressed, United had the possession but rarely threatened while Chelsea had more clear cut chances. It seemed the record of United winning only once in 13 attempts/visits which was in 2012 in a game Branislav Ivanovic and Fernando Torres were sent off was not going to change after the game. Willian was the brightest in the Chelsea team as his trickery and pace was a constant threat for the United defenders.
In the second half, Courtois was called into action early on as he saved a Lingaard shot. And Eden Hazard came on for Matic early in the second half. Kurt Zouma who had been fantastic jumped for a header in the middle of the field and landed awkwardly on his right knee in the 58th minute. This eventually ended his game and could end his season as the injury looked serious . In his place Gary Cahill came on and it was took just 90 seconds after Zouma's injury before United drew first blood through Lingaard's beautiful goal, which could contend for the goal of the season.
After the goal, United never threatened and De Gea continued making save after save from Ivanovic , Costa and then Fabregas. It was like the 9 clean sheets in 20 games this season of the Spanish keeper was going to continue as United hadn't conceded.
From the last 93 minutes to the last second of the game United had a 7% possession while Chelsea controlled 93%. Chelsea continued to press forward and John Terry was playing centre forward at a time. Chris Smalling was at his best and he defended like it was a final while Fabregas continued his fine form since the sacking of Jose Mourinho as he created chance after chance for his team mates. From the play it seemed a matter of when the goal will come then how as Chelsea took the game to United .
Eventually Chelsea found the goal they so dearly needed as Fabregas found Costa after Danny Blind slipped and Costa finished off though his first shot was blocked by Jackson in the 91st minute.
Costa after the goal has scored seven goals in his last 8 games for Guus Hiddink making it 9 goals this season. Chelsea had dropped 12 points this season from winning positions and United after the draw were stuck in 5th , 12 points behind the league leaders Leicester and 6 behind 4th placed and noisy neighbours Manchester City. Chelsea moved to 13th, 2 points behind 12th placed Crystal Palace.
United were at their best but Chelsea deserved a draw. It ended as a game that lived up to it's billing with the likes of Sir Alex Ferguson, Roy Hodgson and Roman Abramovich in the stands.
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