Manchester United 1, Chelsea 1
Cristiano Ronaldo’s quick reactions earned Manchester United a point against Chelsea who had taken the lead through Marcos Alonso.
United had seven players ruled out through injury and the bench looked as thin as it has been in years up against a Chelsea side who wanted to score goals but somehow couldn’t get the win their play had deserved.
Better decision making and marksmanship would have earned Chelsea more richly rewarded goals at Old Trafford as United failed to protect their flanks and allowed NGolo Kante free rein to dash through their midfield at times.
It might have been a classic Premier League battle in the past but this re-arranged contest only intermittently raised the intensity and excitement levels at Old Trafford as Chelsea really should have taken all three points at United for the first time since May 2013.
It was no surprise after United’s left flank had been exposed time and again that Reece James, who hit the post late on, finally got rewarded for his persistence.
Anthony Elanga was drawn out of position and James put in another quality cross from the right, Kai Havertz flicked it on and Marcos Alonso volleyed home from 8 yards.
The Chelsea joy was short-lived as 119 seconds later Cristiano Ronaldo powered home the equaliser after Nemanja Matic intercepted an Ngolo Kante pass and chipped the call up to the Portuguese to score his 23rd goal of the season.
James was so happy in the space allowed that he almost got the winner for Chelsea, his shot coming off the far post upright as United fell to another counter attack in the last 10 minutes.
And there was time for a bit of aggro late on as James tangled with Matic as both left the pitch in a tussle for the ball while Romelu Lukaku was roundly booed by the home fans after he was brought on as a late substitute for the Blues.
And the paucity of options on a night when a win was needed meant that 17-year-old Argentine winger Alejandro Garnacho came on as a final substitution for the Reds – replacing Anthony Elanga in injury time,
As it is, the point leaves the Reds 5 points adrift of Arsenal in the final Champions League spot – and the Gunners have 2 games in hand.
More relevantly the Reds will now be looking over their shoulder as West Ham in seventh are only three points behind on a superior goal difference with a game in hand.
And most gallingly of all? United will have to win all three of their remaining Premier League games just to draw level with their worst ever points haul in the Premier League era.
PLAYER RATINGS – Manchester United 1, Chelsea 1
David De Gea: 8. In the action early, saving from Reece James, Timo Werner, and NGolo Kante. Saved twice from Kai Havertz too as United held on.
Diogo Dalot: 6. His flank was targeted, offered little going forward.
Victor Lindelof: 6. Few options ahead of him.
Raphael Varane: 6. Comfortable evening after injury lay-off. Needed more protection though.
Alex Telles: 5. Difficult to defend against Chelsea’s wide men. Had a torrid time against Reece James which allowed the visitors lots of chances.
Nemanja Matic: 7. Had to drop deep on occasions to shield the defence. Won the ball and picked out Cristiano Ronaldo for the equaliser.
Scott McTominay: 6. Offered little going forward.
Marcus Rashford: 5. Didn’t seem too interested in tracking back and helping out Alex Telles. Poor service and poor going forward.
Bruno Fernandes: 6. Tame header into Edouard Mendy. Not much else from him as he allowed NGolo Kante as much of the ball as he liked in midfield.
Anthony Elanga: 5. Some willing running but no end product and was drawn out of position for Marcos Alonso’s goal.
Cristiano Ronaldo: 7. Extravagant overhead kick wild and over plus an early shot blocked. Wasteful with his other chances but landed a priceless equaliser in the second half.
Phil Jones (on for Nemanja Matic, 79): No time to mark
Juan Mata (on for Marcus Rashford, 79): No time to mark
Alejandro Garnacho (on for Anthony Elanga, 90+1): Debut, no time to mark.
GOALS – Manchester United 1, Chelsea 1
Man Utd 0, Chelsea 1: 60. Marcos Alonso volleyed Chelsea into the lead after Anthony Elanga got caught out of position, Reece James’ cross was flicked on by Kai Havertz to the Chelsea fullback who made no mistake from 8 yards.
Man Utd 1, Chelsea 1: 62. NGolo Kante lost the ball twice and Nemanja Matic’s chip into the Chelsea area was collected by Cristiano Ronaldo who finished with aplomb from 6 yards out.
MATCH STATS – Manchester United 1, Chelsea 1
Man Utd: De Gea, Dalot, Lindelof, Varane, Telles, Matic (Jones 79), McTominay, Rashford (Mata 79), Fernandes, Elanga (Garnacho 90+1), Ronaldo
Man Utd Subs not used: Heaton, Henderson, Bailly, Hannibal, Shoretire, Fernandez
Goal: Ronaldo 62
Chelsea: Mendy, James, Thiago Silva, Rudiger, Azpilicueta, Kante (Loftus-Cheek 82), Jorginho, Alonso, Mount, Werner (Lukaku 70), Havertz (Pulisic 70)
Chelsea Subs not used: Arrizabalaga, Chalobah, Saul, Ziyech, Kenedy, Sarr
Booking: Rudiger 86 (foul on Juan Mata)
Goal: Alonso 60
Referee: Mike Dean
Attendance: 73,564