In a dramatic Premier League clash at Old Trafford, Moises Caicedo’s strike denied Manchester United a victory in their first match since sacking Erik ten Hag, resulting in a 1-1 draw with Chelsea.
Under interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy, who will be succeeded by Ruben Amorim later this month, United took the lead in the 70th minute when Bruno Fernandes converted a penalty. The excitement in the stadium was palpable as van Nistelrooy celebrated by sprinting down the touchline. However, Chelsea quickly responded, with Caicedo equalizing just four minutes later, leaving United languishing in 13th place, six points adrift of the top four.
Amorim was not present at the match as he prepares for his final game in charge of Sporting Lisbon against Manchester City in the Champions League on Tuesday.
While United displayed a more competitive spirit compared to their recent 3-0 defeats to Liverpool and Tottenham, they continued to exhibit the flaws that contributed to Ten Hag’s dismissal. Van Nistelrooy had previously overseen a convincing 5-2 victory over a weakened Leicester in the League Cup, earning him continued adoration from the United faithful.
Chelsea, on the other hand, tested United’s resilience, having lost just once in their last nine league outings. Noni Madueke almost put the Blues ahead in the first half, heading a corner from Cole Palmer off the post. United struggled to create opportunities early on but nearly scored just before halftime when Marcus Rashford’s volley hit the crossbar.
The second half began with Chelsea’s Pedro Neto narrowly missing a chance to score, sending his shot past the far post. Chelsea relied heavily on Palmer for creativity but found it difficult to break through United’s midfield, which featured Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte.
United’s attacking inefficiency was evident once more, as only Southampton had scored fewer than their eight goals in nine league matches this season. Alejandro Garnacho squandered a golden opportunity from a cut-back by Fernandes, shooting directly into the arms of Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez.
United was finally awarded a penalty when Sanchez clipped Rasmus Hojlund in the box. Fernandes converted the spot-kick, igniting celebrations among the home supporters. However, Chelsea responded swiftly; after a corner was cleared to the edge of the area, Caicedo unleashed a powerful strike into the bottom corner to level the score.
The visitors nearly took the lead again shortly after when substitute Enzo Fernandez shot over the bar with Andre Onana stranded. In a frantic finish, Garnacho came close to snatching a winner for United, but his acrobatic attempt sailed just over the bar.
As both teams settled for a point, Chelsea’s draw leaves them fourth in the league on goal difference, while United continues to seek consistency and confidence as they navigate a challenging season.
