Caicedo Strikes Late as Chelsea Salvage a Point at Old Trafford

Chelsea made a spirited comeback to snag a Premier League point against Manchester United at Old Trafford!

November 3, 2024
7:44 pm

After a disappointing midweek EFL Cup exit against Newcastle, Chelsea rolled into Old Trafford hoping for a morale boost. Facing a United team unbeaten in 11 league matches at home, the Blues put in a gritty performance to avoid defeat.

The game started off a bit shaky, with both sides struggling to create clear chances. Chelsea’s Noni Madueke came closest with a near-post header from a corner that hit the woodwork. United responded with Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Højlund, who both tested Robert Sánchez, but neither could find the back of the net in a scrappy first half.

Just before halftime, Marcus Rashford’s side-footed volley rattled the woodwork, giving fans hope for a more exciting second half. Early in the second half, Pedro Neto fired narrowly wide for Chelsea, as the game seemed to be heading for yet another Premier League stalemate – a common outcome in this fixture.

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United finally broke through with 20 minutes to go. A long pass from Casemiro found Højlund, whose quick touch was interrupted by Sánchez’s outstretched hand. Referee Robert Jones awarded a penalty, confirmed by VAR, and Bruno Fernandes coolly converted from the spot to give United a hard-earned lead.

But that lead didn’t last long! Just four minutes later, a half-cleared Chelsea corner fell to Moisés Caicedo at the edge of the box. The Ecuadorian unleashed a fierce volley through Mykhailo Mudryk’s legs and past an unsighted André Onana to level the score. The closing moments were tense, with Enzo Fernández and Joshua Zirkzee coming close to snatching a winner, but neither side could find that decisive edge.

The 1-1 draw lifts Chelsea above Arsenal into fourth place, while United stays in 13th, three points shy of the top half. As United awaits Rúben Amorim’s arrival after the international break, both teams will be looking to build on this result and find more consistency in their campaigns.