MANCHESTER, England: Manchester United breathed life into their stuttering Premier League season when goals from Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro earned them a thrilling 2-1 home victory over Chelsea on Saturday.
A frantic first half got off to the worst possible start for Chelsea when goalkeeper Robert Sanchez was sent off in the fifth minute for a flying lunge at Bryan Mbeumo, up-ending the United forward when he was through on goal.
The hosts, with just one victory to their name previously this campaign, made their numerical advantage count, with Fernandes and Casemiro putting United 2-0 in front inside 37 minutes.
Casemiro’s needless dismissal just before halftime evened up the numbers and gave Chelsea a way back into the contest but Trevoh Chalobah’s late header was all the visitors could muster as a nervy United held on for a vital three points.
The pressure has been mounting on United coach Ruben Amorim after defeat in the Manchester derby last weekend left the Portuguese with a win record of just eight from 31 league games since taking charge last November.
The visit of Chelsea offered Amorim the opportunity to start rectifying that meagre return, with the Blues winless at Old Trafford since 2013. Sanchez’s rash tackle aided the beleaguered United manager’s cause a great deal.
Along with the added setback of Cole Palmer being withdrawn through injury, Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca was forced into an early reshuffle, making three substitutions in the first 21 minutes, the earliest a side has ever done that in a Premier League game.
It was not long before Fernandes added to Old Trafford’s euphoria in the driving Manchester rain, the skipper nudging home his 100th goal for United in all competitions.
Casemiro then seemingly put United in an unassailable position after determined work from Luke Shaw to keep alive the attack, the veteran Brazilian heading his first goal of the season.
A second booking soon turned Casemiro from hero to villain as he became the first player to score and be sent off in the first half of a Premier League match since Emmanuel Adebayor for Spurs against Arsenal in November 2012.
Even when chasing the game, Chelsea offered very little attacking threat until Chalobah’s header 10 minutes from time. United looked ragged from there on in, but Altay Bayindir remained largely untroubled in the home goal as the hosts held on.
Man United breathe life into season with Chelsea victory
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Man United breathe life into season with Chelsea victory
- The hosts, with just one victory to their name previously this campaign, made their numerical advantage count, with Fernandes and Casemiro putting United 2-0 in front inside 37 minutes
- The visit of Chelsea offered Amorim the opportunity to start rectifying that meagre return
Sri Lanka board tells cricketers to stay in Pakistan after bomb blast
- The players expressed fears for their safety following Tuesday’s suicide bombing in the Pakistani capital
- “If any player, players, or member of the support staff return despite SLC’s directives, a formal review will be conducted,” SLC said
COLOMBO: Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) on Wednesday told its players to remain in Pakistan or risk facing a “formal review” after members of the squad declared their intention to depart early from their tour of the country due to security concerns.
The players expressed fears for their safety following Tuesday’s suicide bombing in the Pakistani capital, which killed 12 and wounded 27 outside a court.
SLC issued a statement saying it had instructed the team to go ahead with their ongoing tour of Pakistan as scheduled despite an unspecified number of players requesting to return home.
“If any player, players, or member of the support staff return despite SLC’s directives, a formal review will be conducted... and an appropriate decision will be made,” the board said.
It added that replacements would be sent to ensure the tour continues without interruption.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed that the second ODI scheduled for Thursday has been put back by one day to Friday while Saturday’s third match will now be played on Sunday. Both will be in Rawalpindi.
“Grateful to the Sri Lankan team for their decision to continue the Pakistan tour,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi said on social media. “The spirit of sportsmanship and solidarity shines bright.”
Six Sri Lankan players were wounded in March 2009 when gunmen opened fire on their team bus as it was taking them to Qaddafi Stadium in Lahore for a Test match.
The incident led to international teams staying away from Pakistan for nearly a decade.
Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by six runs in the opening ODI in Rawalpindi on Tuesday, a game that went ahead despite the suicide attack in the twin city of Islamabad.
The PCB said security around the visiting team had been tightened following the attack.
Naqvi met Sri Lankan players at their Islamabad hotel on Wednesday and assured them of their safety, Pakistani officials said.
Sri Lanka are playing in a three-match ODI series against Pakistan before taking part in a T20 tri-series tournament against the hosts and Zimbabwe from November 17-29.
