A Jorginho penalty cancelled out Jadon Sancho’s strike as Chelsea and Manchester United played out a 1-1 draw in the Premier League at Stamford Bridge.
The first half was a one-sided affair with Chelsea dominating possession throughout, although Manchester United did well to stay disciplined at the back and limit the hosts to very few chances. Callum Hudson-Odoi had the first big opportunity of the evening after a blunder from Victor Lindelof but was denied by David de Gea, who also tipped Antonio Rudiger’s venomous effort from distance onto the crossbar.
Hudson-Odoi was presented with another chance courtesy of a poor pass from Bruno Fernandes in his own half, but the Chelsea youngster scuffed his effort, which de Gea saved comfortably as the first period ended goallessly. Four minutes into the second half, however, Manchester United pulled in front as Jadon Sancho finished past Edouard Mendy, capitalising on a mistake from Jorginho.
Chelsea upped the ante in pursuit of an equaliser and were offered a way back when Aaron Wan-Bissaka fouled Thiago Silva in the box, leading to a penalty. And Jorginho nonchalantly dispatched the spot-kick into the back of the net to make it 1-1.
Both teams failed to create clearcut chances from that point on, although United were gifted a great opportunity when Mendy passed it straight to Fred, who fired a tame effort back to the Chelsea keeper. Rudiger then sent his effort over the bar deep into stoppage time as the two teams ended up sharing the spoils at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea Player Ratings
Edouard Mendy: 6/10
The Senegalese international was untroubled throughout the first period, with Manchester United not offering any threat. However, he was sat down by Sancho for the goal. Not troubled from thereon, but almost ended up gifting the visitors a goal when he hit a pass right to Fred, who failed to make the most of it.
Trevoh Chalobah: 7/10
The Chelsea academy graduate got the nod for the big game ahead of Cesar Azpilicueta and Andreas Christensen, and he repaid the manager’s faith with a solid display. Chalobah wasn’t asked many questions by United but was alert when needed to be, passed well from the back. He was lucky to avoid a booking for a foul on Marcus Rashford.
Thiago Silva: 7/10
Well, amongst the negativity, here’s my positive tweet from today’s game :
Thiago Silva won all of his ground duels, had 11/15 long balls completed, with 3 clearances, 2 tackles, an interception and won the all important penalty.
Never lets us down, even on a off day. pic.twitter.com/7gPoCMGhti
— Pys (@CFCPys) November 28, 2021
Another rock-solid display from the veteran Brazilian. A crunching challenge on Bruno Fernandes in the first half set the stone for Silva, who did not put a foot wrong at the back. Won the penalty that led to the equaliser.
Antonio Rudiger: 7/10
The German was involved in the thick of things from the off, driving forward from the back with pace and aggression as he did not have much to do defensively. Rattled the crossbar with a thumping effort in the first period but spurned a great chance to win it for his team late in the game.
Reece James: 6/10
Chelsea’s most in-form player in recent weeks, James was quieter than usual on the evening. While he did deliver a few teasing crosses in, the right wing-back could not have the expected impact going forward. He was booked for a foul on Rashford, although he was not tested much defensively.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek: 6/10
Handed a start in place of the injured N’Golo Kante, Loftus-Cheek looked good when he drove forward with the ball but could not carve out openings, most notably failing to set Werner up for a chance early in the second half. Capable of much better.
Jorginho: 7/10
Jorginho has made two errors leading directly to goals in the Premier League:
◉ vs. Arsenal
◉ vs. Man UtdBoth in 2021 at Stamford Bridge. ? pic.twitter.com/Ok5ZntNgMa
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) November 28, 2021
The Chelsea captain on the evening helped the team stay on top in the first period, as he kept things ticking along nicely while trying to create chances. However, his fault led to Manchester United scoring as a poor touch saw Sancho pouncing on the error. Did make amends with a fine penalty to level things up.
Marcos Alonso: 6/10
Replacing the in-form Ben Chilwell, the Spaniard could not offer the same kind of intensity and attacking threat on the left. He hesitated to pull the trigger from a James cross in the first period. Alonso looked better as the game wore on but failed to impact the proceedings before being hooked off.
Hakim Ziyech: 5/10
There were a few moments when he showed his quality on the ball, but Ziyech’s decision-making left a lot to be desired as it often led to moves breaking down. He needs to step up if he is to become a regular in the lineup.
Callum Hudson-Odoi: 6/10
The Chelsea youngster looked purposeful with the ball at his feet but was guilty of spurning a couple of great opportunities in the first half. The first of the two chances needed to be put away, but de Gea made a fine save. The second one, he couldn’t get enough venom behind his shot, as the United stopper saved easily again. Provided support defensively but needed to be sharper at the top.
Timo Werner: 4/10
Timo Werner attempted more shots than any other player during his time on the pitch (5).
None of them hit the target. ? pic.twitter.com/pgeIDX3EHo
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) November 28, 2021
Started ahead of the returning Romelu Lukaku, the German international endured a quiet outing. He failed to show any sort of goalscoring threat and made a meal of a chance, firing wide from close-range at 1-0. Then he had a shot blocked by Wan-Bissaka. Poor.
SUBSTITUTES
Christian Pulisic: N/A
Came on for Alonso in the 77th minute. Delivered a fine cross to Rudiger for his late chance.
Mason Mount: N/A
Sent on in place of Hudson-Odoi with less than 15 minutes left. Did not do much of note.
Romelu Lukaku: N/A
Made his return from injury against his former club, replacing Werner in the 82nd minute. Made a good tackle on the edge of the box late on.
Manchester United Player Ratings
David de Gea: 7/10
The Spaniard was key to Manchester United, keeping Chelsea at bay in the first period as he pulled off two fine saves to deny Hudson-Odoi and Rudiger. He went the wrong way for Jorginho’s penalty but was still crucial yet again.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka: 4/10
? "I don't think it was a penalty, no"#MUFC's Michael Carrick feels Chelsea should not have been given a penalty for Aaron Wan-Bissaka's challenge on Thiago Silva.
? Reaction on Sky Sports Premier League
? #CHEMUN highlights ? https://t.co/SOfsJV2MIq pic.twitter.com/8o8MF1Fn4Y— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) November 28, 2021
The ex-Crystal Palace star looked dodgy from the off against Hudson-Odoi but grew tighter defensively with time. However, he handed Chelsea a way back into the game with a reckless kick on Silva to gift them the penalty. Did make a vital block to deny Werner late on.
Victor Lindelof: 6/10
Made an iffy start to the game, gifting Hudson-Odoi the chance from which de Gea saved and misplacing simple passes. However, the Swede grew in stature with time and made several key clearances in the second period to ensure United returned with a point from Stamford Bridge.
Eric Bailly: 7/10
Starting in the absence of captain Harry Maguire, Eric Bailly was solid and assured at the back on the evening. The Ivorian did not give anything away on his side throughout the game and was at hand to make a few important clearances and interceptions, especially in the second half.
Alex Telles: 6/10
A mistake early on was almost punished but recovered from that point on and was steady for the rest of the game. The Brazilian did his bit to ensure Ziyech was quiet in a disciplined display.
Nemanja Matic: 6/10
A solid performance from Matic in the first half. #CHEMUN pic.twitter.com/XyWhFze3kM
— Ahmed. (@InnocentNyank) November 28, 2021
A surprise starter, Matic put in a disciplined display on his return to Stamford Bridge. Screened the backline well and was composed with the ball at his feet on the rare occasions that United were in possession.
Scott McTominay: 5.5/10
The Scotsman was unable to get close to the Chelsea midfielders in the first period. While he did improve with time and guarded the defence well, he failed to make any major impact on either side of the pitch. Booked.
Fred: 6/10
Like McTominay, he was overrun in the middle of the park in the first half, but the Brazilian grew into the game, especially after the half-time break. He tried to press Chelsea and forced a few turnovers while trying to be proactive with his passing. However, he spurned a glorious chance to win it for his team late on when Mendy passed the ball straight to him on the edge of the box.
Bruno Fernandes: 4/10
Back into the lineup and donning the captain’s armband, the Portuguese international struggled to impose himself on the proceedings. Constantly gave away the ball with one misplaced pass close to the United box leading to a chance for Hudson-Odoi. His long hoick led to the goal in the second period but was, otherwise, terrible.
Jadon Sancho: 7/10
◎ Jadon Sancho under Ole Gunnar Solskjær: 14 games, 0 goals
◉ Jadon Sancho under Michael Carrick: 2 games, 2 goals
He's burst into life. ? pic.twitter.com/rkMelrjzLl
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) November 28, 2021
Starting alongside Rashford at the top, the Englishman had a quiet first half during which he hardly got on the ball. However, when the chance presented itself, he pounced, robbing the ball from Jorginho before calmly slotting it past Mendy to make it 1-0. Goals in back-to-back games will do his confidence a world of good.
Marcus Rashford: 5/10
A near-anonymous first-half display apart from a late chance he created for Sancho. He tried to get into the game after the break, and provided a threat on the counter on occasions but failed to muster up anything in the final third.
SUBSTITUTES
Cristiano Ronaldo: 5/10
On for goalscorer Sancho. Did not see a lot of the ball and was booked for arguing with the referee.
Jesse Lingard: N/A
Replaced Rashford with a little less than 15 minutes left. Lingard tried to spark a counterattack, but nothing came of it.
Donny van de Beek: N/A
Late substitute for Fernandes. Hardly got a touch.
That is not so bad for chelsea