Man United win 2-0 at Chelsea amid VAR controversy
| CHELSEA | MAN UNITED |
| 0 | 2 |
| (Anthony Martial 45, Harry Maguire 66) |
Headed goals from Anthony Martial and captain Harry Maguire earned Manchester United a hard-fought 2-0 win at toothless Chelsea on Tuesday morning (Feb 18, Singapore time), amid more VAR controversy, putting them back in the hunt for a Champions League spot.
The VAR system made the headlines once again after two Chelsea efforts were ruled out and England international Maguire escaped sanction for a kick-out at Michy Batshuayi.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side made the most of their chances while Chelsea, whose home form has been suspect all season, squandered a string of opportunities.
Defeat left Chelsea fourth, a point clear of resurgent rivals Tottenham Hotspur led by their ex-coach Jose Mourinho. Chelsea host Spurs on Saturday. United, another of Mourinho’s old clubs, rose to seventh, three points behind Chelsea.
“It was a solid performance,” said Maguire. “We knew we had to get the win to close the gap. It’s a big three points.”
Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta added: “In two key moments, we lost the game. We created clear chances and were looking good, but we were punished before half-time.”
A fine glancing header from Martial just before the break from an Aaron Wan-Bissaka cross put the visitors ahead. It was United’s first EPL goal in four games.
Defender Maguire made it two in the 66th minute, losing marker Antonio Ruediger to head home from a corner by United’s new Portuguese signing Bruno Fernandes.
NO INTENT
Chelsea may feel hard done by after Maguire appeared to kick Batshuayi in the groin after he fell toward him on the sidelines after the pair challenged for the ball in the first half.
“I know I caught him and I felt he was going to fall on me and my natural reaction was to straighten my leg to stop him,” Maguire insisted. “It wasn’t a kick-out and there was no intent.”
In the second half, Chelsea netted twice only to be left disappointed. Kurt Zouma thought he had scored from a corner in the 54th minute, but VAR ruled that there was a push in the area by Azpilicueta on United’s Brandon Williams.
Then substitute Olivier Giroud’s header in the 77th was cancelled out when VAR showed the toe of his boot was offside.
“You want the right decisions to be made and we’re happy they were made, because they weren’t being made without that help,” said Solskjaer. "(Giroud’s effort), that’s offside. (Zouma’s) I just looked at the screen and it looks like a push in the back. So, for me, that’s not a goal.”
But Chelsea had only themselves to blame for their profligacy in front of goal. Until half-time, they had looked the stronger side, forging a string of good attacking moves but, as has been their downfall all season, they failed to finish.
“If we’re not finishing chances, it’s difficult to win games. We have 20 shots a game and then we don’t score. It’s very difficult,” said Chelsea manager Frank Lampard.
Reece James and Willian shot just wide and over the bar in the first 10 minutes while Batshuayi, playing instead of the injured Tammy Abraham, wasted a golden close-range opportunity from a neat Mason Mount pass in the 26th.
In the second half, Batshuayi, Pedro and Willian all missed chances while Mount hit the post as Chelsea toiled in vain. – REUTERS
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