MANCHESTER United, who were beaten 3-0 by neighbours Manchester City last week, benefited from goalkeeper Robert Sanchez’s fifth-minute dismissal to secure a 2-1 English Premier League victory over Chelsea in torrential rain at Old Trafford on tonight.
The first match in Premier League history to see two or more goals, red cards and substitutions in the first half was settled by goals from Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro, who was the other player sent off before the break.
It was Sanchez’s red card that set the course of the game though.
The Spain international raced from his goal to meet Bryan Mbeumo as the Cameroon forward ran beyond the Chelsea defence onto a ball over the top.
Sanchez then upended Mbeumo outside the Chelsea box rather than allow him get past to tap the ball into an empty net.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca’s response to the red card was to take off both Pedro Neto and Estevao Willian and, as Cole Palmer had to be replaced after suffering a recurrence of a groin injury, the visitors had lost three attacking players in the space of 20 minutes.
Trevor Chalobah pulled one back for Chelsea with a header 10 minutes from time but United kept their nerves at bay to make it to the final whistle with their lead intact.
The victory was United’s second of the season and came in front of minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who gave head coach Ruben Amorim assurances over his future 48 hours earlier.
It also means Chelsea have still not won at Old Trafford since 2013, when Sir Alex Ferguson was still Manchester United manager.
With agency report