Rediff.com« Back to articlePrint this article

PHOTOS: Chelsea draw at United to boost top-four chances

April 29, 2019 00:11 IST

Chelsea's Marcos Alonso scores the equaliser as Manchester United's David de Gea looks on during their EPL match at Old Trafford in Manchester on Sunday

IMAGE: Chelsea's Marcos Alonso scores the equaliser as Manchester United's David de Gea looks on during their EPL match at Old Trafford in Manchester on Sunday. Photograph: Phil Noble/Reuters

Chelsea bolstered their top-four hopes with a 1-1 draw at Manchester United after the home side's Spanish goalkeeper David de Gea gifted the Londoners an equaliser in the Premier league on Sunday.

 

United led through Juan Mata's 11th minute strike but just before halftime the visitors were level when De Gea weakly parried an Antonio Rudiger shot into the path of Marcos Alonso.

With two games remaining in the season, the result put fourth-placed Chelsea on 68 points, two clear of Arsenal who are fifth and still three ahead of sixth-placed United in the race to earn a Champions League berth for next season.

Manchester United's Marcos Rojo heads at goal past Chelsea's David Luiz 

IMAGE: Manchester United's Marcos Rojo heads at goal past airborne Chelsea's David Luiz. Photograph: Phil Noble/Reuters

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's United have run out of steam, having won just two out of their last 10 games in all competitions.

The hosts dominated the first half, fully deserving to take the lead when marauding left back Luke Shaw latched onto a chip into the area from Romelu Lukaku and passed across the goal for Mata to score against his old club on his 31st birthday.

But De Gea, whose form has dipped in recent weeks with a string of uncharacteristic errors, failed to deal with Rudiger's shot and Alonso pounced to bring Chelsea level in the 43rd.

Source: REUTERS
© Copyright 2024 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.