CHELSEA 2, MANCHESTER UNITED 2
There was a heated confrontation between Jose Mourinho and Chelsea coach Marco Ianni after a late Ross Barkley equaliser denied victory to Man Utd.
Ianni was seen overtly celebrating Ross Barkley’s injury time equaliser in front of the Manchester United bench before igniting an angry reaction from Mourinho who tried to follow him as he escaped down the Stamford Bridge tunnel before he was held back by Chelsea stewards.
Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri and Ianni were understood to have apologised after the match but there was a lengthy delay as referee Mike Dean tried to make sense of the confusion before the end of a dramatic match was allowed to be played out.
United had almost held out for a win – which would have been Mourinho’s first at the Bridge as United manager – after two goals by the impressive Anthony Martial had seen the Reds overhaul an early goal by Antonio Rudiger to take the lead against Chelsea with 17 minutes to go.
But United couldn’t hold on against the Chelsea pressure and Ross Barkley had a tap-in to level the scores after David Luiz headed against the post from Cesar Azpilicueta’s cross into the box, Rudiger’s follow-up header was saved by De Gea but the Spaniard could not prevent Barkley from having the final word from close range in the sixth minute of added time.
Victor Lindelof and Juan Mata started the game at Stamford Bridge and Eric Bailly and Scott McTominay stepped down as Jose Mourinho made just two changes from the team that memorably came back from 2-0 down to win 3-2 at home to Newcastle United before the international break.
The Reds were soon behind after Paul Pogba was guilty of losing Rudiger from Willian’s corner in the 20th minute, with the German easily evading the United midfielder to head home unmarked past David De Gea from eight yards out.
Eden Hazard also tested De Gea before Juan Mata’s shot was parried away by Chelsea ‘keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga following a good cross by Luke Shaw.
United were more positive in the second half and were soon level after Chelsea failed to clear Ashley Young’s ball back into the fray which took a deflection off Jorginho on the way back into the box and fell to Martial who turned and fired past Arrizabalaga from 7 yards in the 55th minute.
Luiz headed wide from Willian’s free kick and N’Golo Kante drew a great save from De Gea as Chelsea tried to retake the lead but it was United who put themselves in pole position when Marcus Rashford’s ball into the Chelsea area found Martial.
His first touch was heavy but he quickly curled the ball past Arrizabalaga to put the Reds in front in the 73rd minute – his third goal in three consecutive starts and his fourth of the season.
United looked to have closed the game down too as time ticked away for Chelsea before Azpilicueta launched a last gasp ball into the area and the real mayhem started.