The visitors dominated the game, but we fell behind three minutes from time when Jorginho converted a penalty after Scott McTominay had hauled Chelsea substitute Armando Broja to the ground inside the box.
It would have been a harsh result for the Reds, but United fought back to earn a deserved point in injury time. Casemiro received a left-wing cross from Luke Shaw, and his superb header crept past Kepa Arrizabalaga – via the post – and just over the line to secure the draw. United quickly established the tempo, dominating possession in the centre of the field and pressing the opposition whenever we lost the ball. And it almost paid off when Shaw picked up a Christian Eriksen pass. The left-back advanced deep inside the Chelsea half and fired a shot that was just wide of the far post.
United’s attacking force would not stop there. Antony forced Kepa to make the game’s first save, cutting in from the right and curling the ball with his left foot, but the Spaniard got down low to make the save.
By the 30-minute mark, the Reds had 62% possession and total control of the game, with Chelsea failing to register a single shot on target. Despite the impressive stats, Erik ten Hag’s men were struggling to have a meaningful shot on goal.
But that nearly changed when Marcus Rashford raced into the box on a counterattack and thundered a shot from a tight angle that Kepa saved. Moments later, Antony played the ball across the field to Jadon Sancho, but his shot was easily saved by the goalkeeper. Chelsea nearly took the lead against the run of play just before the halftime break. Mason Mount found Raheem Sterling in space, but a combination of Casemiro closing in on him and Dalot putting pressure on Aubameyang squandered the Blues’ chance.
Bruno Fernandes beat his man and found a great pass to Antony, but the Brazilian winger missed the opportunity, hitting the ball on his weaker right foot just wide of the near post. Graham Potter’s team came out with more intensity at the start of the half and regained a little more possession of the game, but clear-cut chances were still few and far between for both sides.
On the hour mark, Rafael Varane appeared to sustain a serious injury, forcing the Frenchman to leave the field. Our number 19 was clearly upset, and while he was able to walk away, he did so in tears as he was replaced by Victor Lindelof. Trevoh Chalobah rose to head the ball onto the crossbar on 72 minutes for the Blues.Three minutes from time, McTominay brought down fellow substitute Broja inside the area, giving the hosts the lead. Chelsea’s main penalty taker, Jorginho, stepped up to send De Gea the wrong way.
United, on the other hand, would not be denied. Shaw drove down the left side and floated a ball into the area with six minutes added time. Casemiro leaped up to meet it, and while Kepa got a touch on it, the ball bounced off the post and over the line as the Brazilian wheeled away in ecstasy after scoring his first goal for the Reds.
