Chelsea beat Manchester United in an incredible performance at Stamford Bridge. In overtime, the London team turned the game around with two scores after United had turned the game around first.
– There is nothing better than winning like this, says overtime hero Cole Palmer to TNT.
Erik ten Hag’s team got off to a nightmare start to the game when Conor Gallagher sent the Blues into the lead after just four minutes, after a shot that goalkeeper Andre Onana was able to parry.
A quarter of an hour later, Palmer doubled from a penalty after Marc Cucurella went down after a duel with Antony. The replays showed that the Brazilian was barely ahead of the Spaniard, but the referee chose to let the decision stand after VAR had been in to look at the pictures.
Viaplay expert Tor Ole Skullerud reacted to the decision.
– Strange. I think it’s strange, he says without hiding that he thinks the punishment was of the cheap kind.
But from there onwards the game turned completely around – several times.
– We made bad decisions and we didn’t help each other
Goals from Alejandro Garnacho and Bruno Fernandes left United believing they had secured the points for Manchester in what long looked like a mighty turnaround. But seven minutes into extra time, Chelsea received their second penalty of the evening after a foul on Diogo Dalot.
– Ridiculous from Dalot. A ridiculous end to a ridiculous match, says Manchester United journalist Samuel Luckhurst.
Ridiculous from Dalot. A ridiculous end to a ridiculous game. #mufc
— Samuel Luckhurst (@samuelluckhurst) April 4, 2024
– At that moment of the match you cannot afford to do that, says Manchester United’s former stopper Rio Ferdinand about Dalot’s involvement with TNT.
In extra time Chelsea turned the game to victory and again it was Palmer who provided huge Chelsea cheers. The 21-year-old completed his hat trick with a shot that went through Scott McTominay.
– Completely insane. Absolutely violent, says Skullerud.
– We dominated the match. We deserved to win the game but we can’t give it away like this. We have to do better, says ten Hag to TNT after the loss.
– We made bad decisions and we didn’t help each other, he continues about the fateful final minutes.
Butchers the defensive game: – A disaster
A few minutes after Chelsea’s second goal, they could quickly increase their lead when Alex Disasi was left completely unmarked at the back of the United box at a set piece. Skullerud could hardly believe what he saw in the defensive work of the reds from Manchester.
– Manchester United’s defensive play so far in the match is a disaster. It is strange how alone he is allowed to stand, says the expert.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side continued to cause trouble for the visitors throughout the half. After just under half an hour, they countered against several United players who struggled to defend themselves.
Casemiro’s defensive work in particular received strong criticism.
– What is Casemiro doing, asks Skullerud, almost shocked, after a situation where the midfielder was easily dismissed.
– He doesn’t look like he’s interested at all. They completely lack speed and movement. A horrible picture of Casemiro in the center.
Out of nowhere, United were reduced ten minutes before half-time after Garnacho capitalized on an ugly mistake by Moisés Caicedo. The Argentine poked the ball past the goalkeeper.
– A gift package from Caicedo, stated Viaplay’s commentary duo.
Minutes later, Bruno Fernandes equalized for Manchester United, turning the game completely on its head in just a few minutes.
– Where did this come from, says Skullerud, almost shocked.
– A crazy fight
The second half was a frantic affair where the game waved back and forth at a great pace.
At one point after half-time, Manchester Evening News reporter Samuel Luckhurst observed ten Hag urging his players to calm down.
– A crazy fight, this. It is brilliant, he writes.
Midway through the half, United turned the game around when Garnacho headed the Reds into the lead. The Argentine dispatched a fantastic pass from Antony into the goal.
– He can hardly believe that it has happened again, says Roar Stokke about Pochettino and his Chelsea team, who conceded two or more goals for the sixth game in a row.
In stoppage time, Palmer equalized from the penalty spot before turning it around a short time later and providing full cheers for Chelsea.