Cunha Goal Gives Man Utd win at Chelsea to Boost Champions League Hopes
Manchester United took a massive stride towards securing a return to the Champions League as Matheus Cunha’s first-half goal proved enough to beat out-of-form Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea’s own hopes of a place at European club football’s top table are in peril as they suffered a fourth Premier League defeat in a row for only the second time this century and were jeered off at the final whistle.
They have failed to score in any of those losses and have not found the net since 4 March. Yet Chelsea will wonder how they managed to extend that sorry record.
Three times – through Estevao Willian, who went off with his second hamstring injury in a month after 16 minutes, Liam Delap and Wesley Fofana – Liam Rosenior’s side saw chances come back off the woodwork.
The home side had more possession, shots, and shots on target. Their expected goals (xG) was also higher.
But it was the visitors who came away with the points as Bruno Fernandes’ cutback was clinically dispatched by Cunha’s first-time strike.
It was Fernandes’ 18th assist in the league this season, two short of equalling the Premier League record.
United fans celebrated only a second league win at Stamford Bridge since 2002 almost as enthusiastically as they booed Alejandro Garnacho on his first appearance against his old club.
The home supporters broke into a “we want our Chelsea back” chant, although Mason Mount’s introduction for the latter stages gave them someone to jeer as well.
Chelsea went into the match after another protest against the club’s ownership, with more than 500 supporters chanting against the regime as they marched alongside fans of French club Strasbourg, part of the same multi-club group.
On the pitch, Chelsea started brightly but soon ran into an increasing problem: scoring goals.
This latest defeat means it has been almost six and a half hours since Chelsea last scored, in the 4-1 win at Aston Villa.
Chelsea’s next game is at Brighton in the league on Tuesday, before they play Leeds in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley on 26 April.
United do not play until after both those fixtures, against Brentford at Old Trafford on 27 April.
Source: BBC
