AfriPulse
Manchester United delivered a thrilling 2-1 victory over Chelsea at a stormy Old Trafford, providing much-needed relief for manager Ruben Amorim amid mounting sack speculation—despite both sides ending the match with 10 players.
Desperately battling to steady a dismal campaign, Amorim got an early lifeline when Chelsea’s Robert Sanchez was ejected just five minutes in for a reckless foul.
Captain Bruno Fernandes marked his 200th Premier League outing—and 100th goal across all competitions—with a sharp opener soon after.
Casemiro then made it 2-0 with a close-range header, only to earn his own marching orders in stoppage time via a second yellow.
Chelsea’s Trevoh Chalobah clawed one back late on with a towering header, injecting nail-biting tension, but United clung on for their second triumph in six outings this season.
From teetering just outside the drop zone, Amorim’s squad vaulted to ninth, offering the Portuguese tactician a brief respite.
Yet, with a mere nine wins from 32 top-flight games under his belt, Amorim can’t afford complacency.
Fresh off United’s worst league finish since 1973-74 and a feeble Europa League final defeat to Tottenham last year, the ex-Sporting Lisbon chief splashed cash in the transfer window to revive his faltering squad.
Troubles mounted fast: a humiliating League Cup ouster at the hands of League Two minnows Grimsby in August, followed by a humbling 3-0 drubbing at Manchester City last weekend, exposing the chasm to elite rivals.
Amorim, installed in November after Erik ten Hag’s dismissal, claims unwavering support from co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe—confirmed in a Thursday chat at the training base.
Ratcliffe himself braved the downpour in the directors’ box, scrutinizing whether his faith in Amorim holds water.
Stormy Salvation
Defying calls to ditch his polarizing 3-4-3 setup—despite quipping that “even the Pope could not make him change his tactics”—Amorim’s gamble sparked fireworks.
United surged ahead early: Left wing-back Patrick Dorgu whipped in a cross for Bryan Mbeumo’s saved header.
Seconds later, the impetuous Sanchez bolted from his box to intercept Benjamin Sesko’s lofted pass, only to clumsily upend Mbeumo—earning an undeniable red for halting a clear chance.
No protests from Chelsea on their fastest-ever Premier League sending-off.
Enzo Maresca reshuffled, subbing wingers Estevao Willian and Pedro Neto for Filip Jorgensen in net—a cautious pivot that unraveled instantly.
United pounced: Fernandes’ free-kick ricocheted off the wall, but Mbeumo’s volley skimmed the bar.
In the 14th minute, Fernandes struck gold, ghosting onto Dorgu’s header—perfectly timed thanks to Chalobah’s offside lapse—for a cool tap-in from four yards.
Chelsea’s woes deepened as Cole Palmer limped off with a suspected groin setback, forcing a staggering three changes in 21 minutes.
Lady Luck finally favored Amorim, and Chelsea crumbled spectacularly in the 37th minute.
Jorgensen froze as Reece James’ botched clearance fell to Harry Maguire’s nod-on, allowing Casemiro to loop in his first league strike in 11 months.
Already cautioned for tripping Enzo Fernandez, Casemiro saw red right before halftime for yanking back Andrey Santos in a needless tug.
Post-interval, United faltered for fluency, but Chalobah’s 80th-minute rocket—a fierce header off James’ delivery from 12 yards—breezed past Altay Bayindir, halving the gap.
Still, it proved scant consolation for Chelsea’s maiden league loss this term, as Amorim exhaled deeply in vindication.
Source: NationalAccordNewspaper | Read the Full Story…
