Palmer stuns United with late, late brace in thriller
STUNNED: Cole Palmer seals the win for Chelsea with two late injury time goals. Pic: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
COLE Palmer struck twice in added time to complete his hat-trick and give a dramatic, enthralling game a late twist and deliver the victory that Mauricio Pochettino hopes will be a turning point in the final moments of Chelsea’s season.
Having seen a two goal lead overturned by a Manchester United side seemingly coasting to victory, Pochettino’s side were handed a lifeline in the seventh minute of added time when Diogo Dalot brought down Noni Madueke, allowing Palmer to convert his second penalty of the evening.
Worse was to come for Erik ten Hag’s United side when Palmer fired in the winning goal from the edge of the box two minutes later to clinch victory that, for once this season, triggered euphoric scenes at Stamford Bridge.
Both managers had insisted before kick-off this was a ‘must-win’ game, a point underlined by the full-bloodied nature of the contest. Pochettino got his wish, diverting attention away from questions about his own future while Ten Hag faced more misery.
Conor Gallagher and Palmer’s penalty put Chelsea in control but Alejandro Garnacho and Bruno Fernandes brought United level before the break. Garnacho added United’s third but that proved insufficient.
It had started so promisingly for Chelsea with Gallagher providing the home side with the perfect start. The chance came when Chelsea exploited the space that opened up Diogo Dalot, operating as a makeshift left-back, opted to track Cole Palmer infield. Kobbie Mainoo’s misplaced pass allowed Enzo Fernandez to release Malo Gusto on the right wing and the full-back advanced towards the byline before delivering a low cross into the box that reached Gallagher via a deflection off Raphael Varane’s heel. Casemiro failed to keep tabs on the Chelsea captain and Gallagher finished from 16 yards out.
United reacted well enough with Antony again prominent, drawing a save from Djordje Petrovic and Mainoo teeing up Garnacho who volleyed wastefully wide. As positive as Antony’s early efforts were, however, the winger’s most significant contribution came at the other end when he fouled Marc Cucurella to concede the 17th minute penalty.
Cucurella had burst into the United area to collect Mykhailo Mudryk’s threaded pass. Antony tracked back unconvincingly and was the wrong side of the left-back who went tumbling under the United man’s challenge. Palmer, who moments earlier had been taunted with chants of ‘City reject’ from the visiting supporters, sent Onana the wrong way and celebrated by making a ‘talking’ gesture with his hand.
Pochettino’s side were inevitably growing in belief with Palmer particularly impressive while United were ragged, seemingly unable to retain possession for any meaningful period of time and looking vulnerable at the back.
The absence of Lisandro Martinez and Victor Lindelof through injury limited Ten Hag’s options and it appeared as though defensive uncertainty would again cost the Dutchman’s side. Had Axel Disasi managed to direct his header on target when the Chelsea centre-back was left unmarked at the far post to meet a Gallagher free-kick, the game might effectively have been over.
Instead, Ten Hag’s side were gifted a way back into the game.Caicedo was under little pressure when he moved to clear up a loose ball just inside the Chelsea half but instead of squaring to a team-mate, the midfielder’s pass found Garnacho who was presented with a clear run on goal and took full advantage to halve the deficit in the 34th minute.
The goal came at exactly the right time for the visitors who were looking rudderless. Suddenly it was they who moved quickly onto the ball. Antony appeared determined to make up for his earlier error and his crossfield pass helped open up Chelsea ahead of the equaliser. Dalot delivered a cross towards the far post and this time United had numbers over as Rasmus Hojlund left the ball for Fernandez to head home.
A dramatic first half almost had a further twist when Gallagher shot against the post in added time and it quickly became clear the high-tempo, fluctuating nature of the first period would be maintained after the break.
Varane was forced off at the interval and Jonny Evans, his replacement quickly blocked a Fernandez effort, triggering a thrilling, breathless period where the two sides traded blows.
And it was United who, after a succession of chances for both sides, nudged ahead when Antony provided an outstanding assist, an excellent cross delivered from the right with the outside of his right boot, for Garnacho to head his side ahead in the 67th minute.
: Petrovic 6; Gusto 7 (Gilchrist, 75, 6), Disasi 5 (Chalobah 76, 6), Badiashile 6, Cucurella 7; Fernandez 6, Caicedo 5 (Chukwuemeka 71, 6); Palmer 8, Gallagher 7 (Madueke 86, 6), Mudryk 6 (Sterling 71, 6); Jackson 6.
: Bettenelli, Silva, Sterling, Casadei, Tauriainen.
: Onana 6; Wan-Bissaka 7, Maguire 7, Varane 6 (Evans 46, 6; Kambwala 66, 6), Dalot 6; Casemiro 4 (McTominay 76, 6); Antony 8, Fernandes 7, Mainoo 7, Garnacho 9 (Mount 85, 6); Hojlund 6 (Rashford 65, 6).
: Heaton, Amrabat, Eriksen, Diallo.
: J Gillett 6
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