Palmer’s stoppage-time double gives Chelsea incredible victory
Chelsea 4-3 Man Utd
Cole Palmer scored twice deep in stoppage time to complete a stunning hat-trick and give Chelsea an incredible victory at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues were looking in control initially, thanks to a goal from Conor Gallagher and the first of two Palmer penalties.
However, Manchester United responded in tremendous fashion with first-half goals from Alejandro Garnacho and Bruno Fernandes.
Garnacho added a third in the second half which looked like earning all three points.
Yet two from Palmer right at the end earned a win for the Blues on a dramatic night, which moved them up to 10th in the Premier League.
Chelsea sprung to the best possible start, scoring after only four minutes.
Malo Gusto powered down the flank before pulling the ball back from the touchline, where Gallagher swept home a low right-footed shot from just inside the penalty area.
With Chelsea successfully hustling United out of rhythm, it was no surprise when the hosts doubled their lead in the 18th minute. A
Marc Cucarella made a dangerous run into the box, he was tripped by Antony. Palmer made no mistake with the resulting penalty.
Nevertheless, in the 33rd minute, United were offered a way back courtesy of an error by Moises Caicedo.
The Chelsea midfielder inexplicably played a pass into the path of the lurking Garnacho, who kept calm before slotting the ball past keeper Djordje Petrovic.
United were suddenly emboldened – and they levelled just four minutes later.
A superb cross from the left by Diogo Dalot found Fernandes at the far post, and the United captain expertly placed a header into the corner of the net.
Gallagher almost put Chelsea ahead again at the end of an exciting opening half when he hit the woodwork.
Chelsea were aggressive immediately after the break, and both Nicolas Jackson and Palmer brought out fine stops from United keeper Andre Onana.
But the Blues were vulnerable on the counter-attack – and they were caught out when United went ahead in the 66th minute.
Antony raced down the right side before slicing in a cross which Petrovic failed to intercept, with Garnacho nodding home.
Chelsea continued to battle, and they found fortune at the climax when Dolot clumsily dragged down Noni Madueke inside the penalty area and Palmer converted.
More drama followed when, fastening on to a corner by Enzo Fernandez, Palmer fired home from distance to complete his hat-trick and a famous Blues victory.
Chelsea: Petrovic, Cucurella, Badiashile, Disasi (Chalobah 74), Gusto (Gilchrist 74), Fernandez, Caicedo (Chukwuemeka 70), Mudryk (Sterling 70), Gallagher (Madueke 87), Palmer, Jackson.
