Manchester United recorded a 2-0 win over Chelsea amid VAR controversy at Stamford Bridge on Monday night to move within three points of Premier League spot. The Red Devils claimed their first League win at the Bridge since 2012.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
United striker Anthony Martial scored before half-time and Harry Maguire doubled the visitors\u2019 lead on 66 minutes to seal all three points for the Red Devils to move up the table to seventh. Chelsea, meanwhile, saw two goals cancelled after VAR reviews.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The hosts started well when midfielder Mateo Kovacic drove forward and created two early chances with Reece James firing just wide of the far post and Willian bending one over the bar from the right-hand side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chelsea manager Frank Lampard was, however, dealt an early blow when N\u2019Golo Kante was forced off with a groin injury. Mason Mount replaced Kante and then set up their best chance of the game as he broke into the box and squared for Batshuayi on 26 minutes, only for the Belgian striker to fire wide from a great position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manchester United recorded a 2-0 win over Chelsea amid VAR controversy at Stamford Bridge on Monday night to move within three points of Premier League spot. The Red Devils claimed their first League win at the Bridge since 2012.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
United striker Anthony Martial scored before half-time and Harry Maguire doubled the visitors\u2019 lead on 66 minutes to seal all three points for the Red Devils to move up the table to seventh. Chelsea, meanwhile, saw two goals cancelled after VAR reviews.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The hosts started well when midfielder Mateo Kovacic drove forward and created two early chances with Reece James firing just wide of the far post and Willian bending one over the bar from the right-hand side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chelsea manager Frank Lampard was, however, dealt an early blow when N\u2019Golo Kante was forced off with a groin injury. Mason Mount replaced Kante and then set up their best chance of the game as he broke into the box and squared for Batshuayi on 26 minutes, only for the Belgian striker to fire wide from a great position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Blues were then punished for not converting their chances when Martial headed home the first goal when he connected to whipping cross from Aaron Wan-Bissaka. It was brilliant work from the right-back to beat Willian then tee him up with a perfect cross, and the Frenchman rose in the box before nodding past the helpless Willy Caballero.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chelsea\u2019s problems without Abraham continued as Batshuayi, having been sent through by Pedro, scuffed another finish across the mouth of the goal. The striker has been criticized for wasting chances this season and his lack of goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lampard opted for a change at the break, Christiensen hooked in place of Kurt Zouma and it had looked a moment of inspiration from Lampard when, just shy of the hour mark, the Frenchman whacked home an equaliser from a corner, only for VAR to highlight a shove from Cesar Azpilicueta in the build-up and correctly rule out the goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bruno Fernandes, Manchester United\u2019s marquee January arrival, was starting to have his say into the second half and nearly claimed a first goal in English football in bizarre fashion, his low freekick catching Caballero out but striking the near post.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He may not have found the back of the net, but moments later he steered a corner onto the head of captain Maguire who rammed home the advantage of avoiding a red card by shrugging off Antonio Rudiger and powering a header home to notch his first Premier League goal for Manchester United.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lampard reacted, finally ending Batshuayi\u2019s nightmare and sending Olivier Giroud on for his first appearance since November. The World Cup winner quickly looked more of a presence, backheeling the ball through to Kovacic who was only denied by a fine last ditch Eric Bailly challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Giroud thought he had a first Premier League goal of the season moments later, stooping to head home a wonderful Mount cross only for VAR to crop up again, this time picking out the Frenchman\u2019s big toe in an offside position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chelsea continued to battle but could not find that finishing touch, Mount cracking a devilish freekick against David de Gea\u2019s near post. Abraham cannot return soon enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Speaking after the game, Lampard was unhappy with VAR decisions, adding that Zuma\u2019s goal should have stand. He also said that Maguire should have been sent off for his kick out at Batsuayi<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe decisions were crucial. Maguire should get a red and he scored the second goal,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI think that\u2019s what VAR was brought in for \u2013 a second viewing and more angles. But if [the referee] doesn\u2019t look at the monitor you won\u2019t see it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe Zouma goal should have stood. At first, I didn\u2019t because I thought it was a shove, but it certainly wasn\u2019t clear and obvious. The VAR check happens and you\u2019re trusting they make the right decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBut the wrong decision is harder to take with the presence of VAR than it was before. Love it or hate it, that\u2019s why it was brought in. If they see that and then don\u2019t make the right decision it\u2019s very confusing. It could just be my opinion here, but everyone I\u2019ve spoken to has said the same.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reacting, United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said he is delighted with the victory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhen you win 2-0 here you\u2019re delighted,\u201d said Manchester United boss Solskjaer. \u201cI\u2019d take that any day of the week. But I don\u2019t think we played particularly well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIn the first half we were cumbersome, our passing was slow and cumbersome, but we got the first goal and we hung in there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve got a good team with quality. We\u2019ve come here and defended really well. We\u2019ve kept four clean sheets on the bounce, which is a great foundation to work on, and we\u2019ve found a way to play against some of these teams that has worked really well.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"