Marc Cucurella sees off Manchester United to keep Chelsea in hunt for Champions League spot
Chelsea's Marc Cucurella celebrates scoring the winner. Pic: Bradley Collyer/PA Wire.
MARC Cucurella’s fifth league goal of the season gave Chelsea’s hopes of securing a top five finish and a place in next season’s Champions League a major boost as Enzo Maresca’s side responded to Aston Villa’s victory earlier in the evening with the win that moved them up to fourth place.
Cucurella’s 71st minute header was enough to settle a disappointing game. Chelsea though did enough to secure the points that means they will visit Nottingham Forest on the final day in a strong position to see out the job.
Defeat ended Manchester United’s hopes of heading to next week’s Europa League final on the back of a morale-boosting win. Instead, they will face Tottenham in Bilbao having failed to win their last eight Premier League games.
Maresca admitted before kick-off that having been part of the leading group for much of the season, anything less than a top five finish would be hugely disappointing.
A run of three successive victories suggested the Italian’s side were hitting form at exactly the right time as they chased down their target before the defeat at Newcastle halted their charge and came with the added cost of a red card for Nicolas Jackson.
The lack of forward options has been a running theme throughout Chelsea’s campaign and Jackson’s absence could hardly have been more badly times. Maresca responded to the striker’s absence by putting his faith in Tyrique George, entrusting the role of centre-forward to the 19-year-old on his first Premier League start.
The youngster had few opportunities to make his mark during the opening stages, however, as United made the more positive start, quickly exposing the Chelsea defence’s vulnerability to a well delivered cross.
Twice Bruno Fernandes delivered a telling ball into the home penalty area and on both occasions the home defence was unconvincing in its efforts to deal with the threat.
And they would have been behind in the 16th minute when VAR spotted Harry Maguire was marginally offside when the United centre-back made contact with Fernades’ cross with a well taken volley.
Chelsea had created their own chance to open the scoring when Carlton Palmer threaded a precise through ball towards Noni Madueke who shot wastefully over.
But it took some time before Maresca’s side threatened again through a superbly struck 25-yard shot from Reece James that clipped the outside of the post.
The Chelsea skipper’s effort was a reflection of a shift in the balance of the game as United faded badly following a positive start while the home side grew into the game and began to dominate possession. They continued to struggle in the final third though with Palmer offering the main threat.
The former Manchester City player saw an effort deflected wide before almost catching out keeper Andre Onana out in first half added time.
For a team playing for a Champions League spot, Chelsea’s first half efforts were underwhelming and they clearly need to find another gear after the break, particularly as news of Aston Villa’s victory over Tottenham Hotspur filtered through.
Frustrating form Maresca, however, it was a case of more of the same from his side at the start of the second period and it was United who came closest to opening the scoring as Amad Diallo finally made an impression on the right.
The winger teed up Mason Mount for a first time shot the former Chelsea man pulled wide before pulling back for Fernandes who was unable to keep his effort down.
The decisive moment came midway through the second half when James produced a clever turn to create space to deliver the cross that Cucurella headed firmly past Onana.
Sanchez 6; James 7, Adarabioyo 6, Colwill 7, Cucurella 7; Caicedo 8, Fernandez 7; Madueke 6, Palmer 6, Neto 6 (Gusto 90, 6); George 6 (Lavia 81,6).
Onana 6; Lindelof 6, Maguire 7, Shaw 6 (Heaven 81,6); Mazraoui 6, Casemiro 6 (Ugarte 70,6), Fernandes 7 (Mainoo 81,6), Dorgu 6; Diallo 6, Mount 6 (Garnacho 70,6); Hojlund 4.
Chris Kavanagh 6.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
