Chelsea vs. Manchester United: Score, Reaction from 2016 Premier League Game
Chelsea saved themselves in injury time against Manchester United in the Premier League on Sunday, drawing 1-1 with the Red Devils at Stamford Bridge.
Jesse Lingard gave United the lead with a world-class finish in the second half, but Diego Costa stole a late equaliser at the end of a frantic contest.
Interim coach Guus Hiddink wanted to steal a match over Dutch coaching adversary Louis van Gaal, but United dominated the match for long periods.
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Hiddink could not find a place in his starting XI for Eden Hazard, despite the player recently showing the green shoots of recovery.
Van Gaal retained his team selection from the victory against Stoke City in their previous outing, with Wayne Rooney and Anthony Martial leading the attack in a now familiar 4-2-3-1.
The Red Devils were the quicker out of the traps, constantly bearing down on Chelsea's penalty box and neatly moving the ball.
The reigning champions were content to sit deep and play on the counter-attack as Van Gaal pushed his full-backs high up the pitch.
Squawka highlighted United's width in the opening 15 minutes:
The United away fans began to roar and fill the Bridge with a striking vocal performance as their team flooded forward at every opportunity.
The Manchester Evening News' Samuel Luckhurst took note of the noise:
The Blues slowly worked their way into the match as the half wore on, and the pendulum began to swing in the direction of the hosts, Willian leading the drive from midfield.
However, Michael Carrick was often equal to the Chelsea charge. Costa had Chelsea's best chance on the half-hour mark, fed through by Oscar, but he blasted his effort wide of 'keeper David De Gea's goal.
Stuart Mathieson of the Manchester Evening News recognised the threat.
The hosts held a stranglehold of the match as United retreated in the final moments of the half, as Willian and Oscar stamped their mark on the game. Costa always looked dangerous, running off Daley Blind, but the Blues struggled to fully work De Gea.
United played keep-ball for the final moments of the half and almost fashioned a chance to take the lead shortly before the whistle. Matteo Darmian flashed a cross behind the Chelsea defence, but Rooney could not get to the ball and was inches away from a tap-in at the far post.
Chelsea had a huge shot for a penalty deep into injury time of the first period. A John Terry shot appeared to hit Blind's arm as it travelled goalward, but the referee refused the captain's appeal.
WhoScored.com shared the vital stats and player ratings during the interval, highlighting United's superior possession:
United began the second half in a similar fashion to the first, and Rooney tested Chelsea stopper Thibaut Courtois with a stinging shot. Martial also went close in the opening moments, as the Red Devils looked motivated to dominate.
Juan Mata had a strong influence on proceedings on his return to his former club, and his contribution allowed United's attack to purr. Lingard followed Rooney's example, forcing Courtois to save his team as United searched for an opener.
Hiddink made a tactical change nine minutes into the second half, replacing Oscar with Hazard, but the game was then brought to a halt after an injury to Kurt Zouma, with the defender landing awkwardly on his leg and screaming in agony.
Sports presenter Jacqui Oatley showed sympathy for the young talent:
United's pressure finally paid off soon after the restart. Cameron Borthwick-Jackson put a sumptuous ball into the Chelsea box, allowing Rooney to deflect the ball into the path of Lingard, who turned on a sixpence and rifled his effort into the top corner.
The expansive play was typical of United's movement during the match, but James Robson of the Manchester Evening News posed an interesting question:
Chelsea upped the tempo as they looked for an equaliser, with Hazard looking keen to get on the ball.
Branislav Ivanovic almost levelled for the Blues, but his powerful volley was spectacularly saved by De Gea, palming the ball away from a certain goal. De Gea saved United for a second time as Cesc Fabregas hit the top corner, but the Spain stopper was once again equal to the stunning effort.
The visitors came close to sealing the win from a Rooney overhead kick soon after.
The Blues applied incredible pressure in the final 15 minutes as United attempted to close out the match, bringing on Morgan Schneiderlin for Marouane Fellaini. The visitors gave away a succession of free-kicks in dangerous positions in the final moments, but Willian's delivery was lacking.
However, in the first of six minutes of injury time, Chelsea snatched a late goal when Costa rounded De Gea. The Bridge exploded in joy and relief as the striker finished with aplomb.
United will be hugely disappointed not to earn all three points, but Chelsea turned the screw late in the day, and De Gea consistently needed to save his team.
A draw was probably a fair result despite United's dominance, as Chelsea arguably had the game's best chances.
Post-Match Reaction
Van Gaal was bitterly disappointed after the game and could not hide his frustration. However, he spoke about his team's strong performance but took a swipe at United's failures, per the club's official Twitter feed:
United are back in action in the league on Saturday, Feb. 13, when they travel to Sunderland. Chelsea play on the same day, as they host Newcastle United.
