Casemiro earns Man United well-deserved point in last-gasp draw at Chelsea

Casemiro earns Man United well-deserved point in last-gasp draw at Chelsea

LONDON — Chelsea and Manchester United played out a tight 1-1 Premier League draw at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. Jorginho converted a penalty to put the hosts in front, only for Casemiro to eke a header over the line and end the 10-plus-hour clean-sheet streak of Kepa Arrizabalaga, and give the Red Devils a deserved share of the spoils.

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It’s as you were for the two clubs in the table, with the Blues occupying fourth place, one point ahead of United in fifth.

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Rapid reaction

1. Casemiro snatches point for United in dramatic finish at Chelsea

Casemiro scored his first goal for Manchester United with a dramatic headed equaliser four minutes into stoppage time against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Jorginho’s 87th-minute penalty, following a needless foul by Scott McTominay on Armando Broja, had looked to have given Chelsea a victory that their performance barely deserved. But Brazil international Casemiro, a £70 million summer signing from Real Madrid, salvaged a point for United by beating McTominay to a cross and heading the ball past goalkeeper Kepa, who had pushed it onto the post.

Kepa scrambled to try to keep the ball out of the net, but the goal was given after the Hawk-Eye system confirmed it had narrowly crossed the line.

United had dominated the chances and possession at Stamford Bridge, with Marcus Rashford and Antony wasting clear opportunities to score, but Jorginho looked to have sent them to a fourth league defeat of the season when he sent goalkeeper David De Gea the wrong way from the spot. McTominay had foolishly wrestled Broja to the ground in front of referee Stuart Attwell, leaving the official with no option but to award a penalty.

Match report: Chelsea 1-1 Man United | Premier League table | Upcoming fixtures

It compounded a bad day for United, who lost defender Raphael Varane to what appeared to be a worrying injury in the second half. United had also travelled to Stamford Bridge without Cristiano Ronaldo, who had been dropped by manager Erik ten Hag for refusing to go on as a substitute in Wednesday’s 2-0 home win against Tottenham.

Just as the game looked to be lost, though, Casemiro claimed a deserved point with his late header.

2. Ten Hag has toughened up Man United

There is an old maxim that football teams are a reflection of their manager’s personality and, despite only being in charge of Manchester United since the summer, Ten Hag’s toughness and abrasiveness is already rubbing off on his players.

Last season, and repeatedly since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013, United have been a soft touch on the pitch with opponents too often winning the physical battle over the 90 minutes. But Ten Hag is clearly a spiky character and the players he has added to the squad since taking charge have given United the physical edge they have lacked for too long. Casemiro, Antony and Lisandro Martinez all displayed a hard edge against Chelsea, at times going too far in challenges against their opponents.

Antony, who played for Ten Hag at Ajax Amsterdam, was booked for a foul on Jorginho in the first half, while Martinez was involved in a scuffle with Mason Mount following a late challenge by the Chelsea player. And Casemiro showed his experience with a series of tactical fouls that helped halt Chelsea attacks.