Chelsea 4-3 Man Utd: A Wild Ride
Over at Stamford Bridge, it was a spectacle. Just when United thought they’d lost it, Cole Palmer became the hero, not once but twice, in the dying minutes.
Five days after a stumble at Brentford, United found themselves in a déjà vu, conceding late goals to Chelsea’s Palmer, who bagged a sensational hat-trick. Down by two, United clawed back, with Alejandro Garnacho netting twice, thinking victory was theirs. But Palmer wasn’t done. He bagged a penalty in the 99th minute and then, bam, another goal in the 102nd.
While United’s fighters showed their mettle, it was a gut punch to their Champions League dreams. Jim Ratcliffe, United’s new co-owner, got more than he bargained for watching from the stands.
With an FA Cup final looming, a rematch with Chelsea could be electric, given tonight’s drama.
Ten Hag’s gamble to bench Marcus Rashford for Antony had eyebrows raised, especially with big names back from injury and Jonny Evans on standby.
Yet, Chelsea didn’t wait to pounce, with Gallagher and Palmer putting United on the back foot early on. An unchanging Chelsea lineup was out for redemption after a slip-up against Burnley, while United seemed stuck in neutral.
Mistakes and missed chances marred United’s play, but they found an unlikely equalizer by halftime. Chelsea’s defense faltered, allowing United to sneak in two goals, turning the game on its head.
The second half was a frenzy. Both teams had their moments, but it was Garnacho’s second that seemed decisive until Palmer’s late-game heroics changed the script.
Despite the rollercoaster, it’s clear United has the fight in them. Yet, with the season winding down, they’re left chasing what could have been.
