Jorginho the villain and hero as Chelsea rescue point against Manchester United in 1-1 draw

By Paul Lagan at Stamford Bridge

Chelsea 1 v  Manchester United  1

Jorginho was villain and hero in equal measure as he gifted Manchester United their goal, but rescued a point for the league leaders with a cooly struck penalty as this pulsating and at time comical match ended 1-1 at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea could have won the match deep into added time, when Toni Rudiger smashed the ball over the United crossbar, but in truth this was a game where the west Londoners dominated  possession, but looked a bit creaky against the counter-attack.

United with caretaker  manager Michael Carrick handing over the reins can count himself fortunate that his deep-lying tactics and hope for the best worked to perfection.

Chelsea lacked the guile needed to break down a United rearguard determined to put a shift and a half in.

But it was Brazil-born Italian midfielder who cost the Blues three deserved  points.

Five minutes after half-time United smashed a hopeful ball in the air.

Jorginho was looking after the defence alone following the Chelsea attack.

However he failed to control the high ball that fell in the centre-circle.

Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford raced onto the now loose ball.

Sancho took the ball to the edge of the Chelsea penalty to area before expertly sliding the ball past Mendy.

Chelsea continued to show poise and composure as they went in search of an equaliser and were rewarded with 20 minutes left on the clock when a needless hack by Aaron Wan-Bissaka upended Thiago Silva in the United area.

A deserved penalty was awarded and Jorginho made amends of sorts by sending David de Gea the wrong was to level the score.

There was only one side who looked like they were going to score and that was the Blues.

But United held on for a point that keeps them in eighth place in the Premier League stay top but by just a point from Manchester City 

Hakim Ziyech had the first chance on target after three minutes. Good set up up play by Callum Hudson-Odoi saw Ziyech’s effort saved by David deGea. The Spain stopper did even enter two minutes later, deselecting away a gol-bound , close-range shot by Hudson-Odoi.

United finally got into the Chelsea half on 21 minutes, but a poor right-footer from Bruno Fernandes was the end product.

With neither side doing much in particular, lots of keep ball in midfield and defence, it was left to Toni Rudiger to liven proceedings when, on 31 minutes he thumped a zipper of a right-footer, rom 25 yards that smashed the United crossbar. 

Hudson-Odoi latched onto a terrible cross-field ball by Fernandes and raced towards goal. While space was quickly closed down, he managed to get a scuffed shot away, which De Gea did well to dive to his right to snaffle.

The first yellow card of the evening fell to Scott McTominay for one foul too many.

There were no changes by either side at half-time.

But within minutes of the restart a hopeful kick in the air to clear a Chelsea attack, saw Jorginho fail to trap the ball and it bounded to Jadon Sancho who, along with Marcus Rashford raced into the Chelsea penalty area unchallenged.

South London Sancho kept his cool and slotted the ball past te advancing Mendy to give United the lead.

Cristiano Ronaldo entered the cray on 64 minutes at the expense of Sancho.

All hell broke loose on 67 minutes when following a corner, Wan-Bissaka left. Railing leg on Thiago Silva. The Brazil defender hit the ground and referee Anthony Taylor awarded a penalty.

Up stepped Jorginho who easily sent De Gea the wrong way to level the score.

Jessie Lingard replaced Rashford on 77 minutes, while Thomas Tuchel opted to bring on Mason Mount and Christian Pulisic – off came Hudson-Odoi and Alonso.

Romelu Lukaku soon followed. Inevitably it was misfiring Tim Werner who was replaced on 82 minutes.

As the clock ticked deep into five minutes of added time, that miss by Rudiger will be giving him nightmares for some time.

Teams: Chelsea, mendy, Rudiger, Alonso, Joginho, Silva, Werner, Loftus-Cheek, Chalobah, Hudson-Odoi, Ziyech, Jame 

Subs: Kepa, Christensen, Lukaku, Pulisic, Saul, Barkley, Mount, Azpilicueta, Havertz 

Man Utd: De Gea, Lindelof, Bailly, Rashford, Fred, Fernandes, Sancho, Telles, Wan-Bissaka, Matic, McTominay

Subs: Henderson, Jones, Ronaldo, Mata, Martial, Greenwood, Lingard, Dalit Van de Beek

Referee Anthony Taylor