Man United beat Chelsea 2-1 in heated Old Trafford clash
MANCHESTER – Manchester United held off Chelsea in a stormy Premier League match at Old Trafford, winning 2-1 despite both sides finishing the first half with ten men. Goals from Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro put United in control before the break, and though Chelsea pulled one back in the second half, they couldn’t find a equaliser.
The game started under heavy rain and Chelsea were in trouble almost straight away. Just five minutes in, goalkeeper Robert Sánchez rushed out and brought down Bryan Mbeumo after a flick-on from Benjamin Šeško, leaving the referee little choice but to show a red card. Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca was forced into quick changes from the bench, but his team stayed under pressure.
United went ahead on 14 minutes. Patrick Dorgu’s header dropped kindly in the box, and Fernandes, who looked just about onside, turned it past stand-in keeper Filip Jörgensen. That goal was his 100th for United, and Old Trafford roared.
Chelsea tried to settle and Maresca sacrificed Cole Palmer for Andrey Santos early, hoping to get more balance. It looked like the visitors might reach the interval only one down, but United struck again. From a short corner, Luke Shaw swung a ball back into the danger area and Casemiro climbed highest to head home for 2-0.
But the Brazilian midfielder’s night ended badly. Already on a booking for a rash tackle on Enzo Fernández, Casemiro caught Santos late in first-half stoppage time and was shown a second yellow, leaving United also down to ten men.
The second half was less frantic but Chelsea pushed harder with the extra space. Santos tested Vicario and Enzo Fernández tried to dictate play, and eventually they pulled one back to give themselves hope. Still, United defended solidly enough and held on through the final minutes, greeted by cheers at the whistle.
The win means United stretch their unbeaten home run in the league against Chelsea to 13 matches, giving Erik ten Hag some breathing space after a mixed start to the season. Chelsea, meanwhile, still wait for their first away win under Maresca and will be left frustrated at Sánchez’s early dismissal that set the tone.