Man United Beat Chelsea 4 – 1, Qualify For Champions League2 min read
Manchester United secured UEFA Champions league football next season with a commanding 4-1 win over Chelsea at Old Trafford on Thursday.
It was the third consecutive win for Man United while Chelsea suffered consecutive losses to both sides in Manchester within seven days.
Casemiro, Anthony Martial, Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford were on target as the Red Devils moved up to third in the Premier League.
Chelsea were the better side for much of the first half but United led 2-0 at the break after goals from Casemiro and Anthony Martial.
The hosts ran riot in the second half, extending their lead through a Bruno Fernandes penalty and a Marcus Rashford goal before Joao Felix scored a late consolation for the visitors.
Despite Chelsea coming close to equalising on multiple occasions, its missed chances came to bite it in the back late in the first half. Casemiro’s through ball, first received by Jadon Sancho, was served on a plate for Anthony Martial to tap-in.
The Red Devils began the second half with the same level of attacking prowess and sloppy defending by Frank Lampard’s boys gifted them a spot-kick in the 72nd minute, which captain Bruno Fernandes converted with ease.
With United knocking on the door constantly, Chelsea suffered for dropping its guard yet again, five minutes later when Marcus Rashford scored the fourth, becoming the first Manchester United player to score over 30 goals in a season since Robin van Persie in the 2012-13 season.
Joao Felix, on loan from Atletico Madrid, tried to uplift the hopes of the visitors, with a great solo goal, but it was too little too late as Chelsea slumped to a morale-breaking defeat to its rival, United.
Dan Sheldon has broken down why securing a top-four finish was so important to the club, and what it might mean for their summer.
