CHELSEA saw off a lacklustre Manchester United to progress to the FA Cup semi-finals in controversial fashion at Stamford Bridge.
By JOE SHORT
A dour game sparked to life when Ander Herrera was sent off for a second yellow card 10 minutes before half time.
Managers Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte squared up to each other and United players surrounded referee Michael Oliver as tensioned flared on and off the pitch.
And when the dust settled Chelsea controlled the game, with N'Golo Kante breaking the deadlock early in the second half, leaving United unable to respond.
United manager Mourinho was wary about revealing his tactics ahead of the clash, knowing all too well that the last time he led United out at Stamford Bridge they were humbled 4-0.
But without Zlatan Ibrahimovic up front the Red Devils lacked a presence to scare Chelsea, meaning the hosts dictated play.
Hazard and Gary Cahill were both expertly denied by David de Gea as United nervously battled to keep the scores level early on.
But the game changed when Herrera foolishly picked up a second yellow for tripping Hazard - just moments after referee Olivier had warned the visitors to stop fouling the Belgian.
Chelsea's control of the game heightened after the red card, which saw managers Mourinho and Conte square up to each other on the touchline, and minutes into the second half Kante struck the inevitable blow.
The Frenchman was fed into space on the edge of the area and expertly wrapped his boot around the ball to wrong-foot De Gea and find the net from range.
The goal killed United and Chelsea fluffed opportunities to double their lead, with striker Diego Costa unable to connect with a Willian centre from six yards out.
But they were never in threat of losing their lead as Manchester United laboured to create anything going forward against a drilled unit marshalled by Kante.
By JOE SHORT
Managers Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte squared up to each other and United players surrounded referee Michael Oliver as tensioned flared on and off the pitch.
And when the dust settled Chelsea controlled the game, with N'Golo Kante breaking the deadlock early in the second half, leaving United unable to respond.
United manager Mourinho was wary about revealing his tactics ahead of the clash, knowing all too well that the last time he led United out at Stamford Bridge they were humbled 4-0.
But without Zlatan Ibrahimovic up front the Red Devils lacked a presence to scare Chelsea, meaning the hosts dictated play.
Hazard and Gary Cahill were both expertly denied by David de Gea as United nervously battled to keep the scores level early on.
But the game changed when Herrera foolishly picked up a second yellow for tripping Hazard - just moments after referee Olivier had warned the visitors to stop fouling the Belgian.
Chelsea's control of the game heightened after the red card, which saw managers Mourinho and Conte square up to each other on the touchline, and minutes into the second half Kante struck the inevitable blow.
The Frenchman was fed into space on the edge of the area and expertly wrapped his boot around the ball to wrong-foot De Gea and find the net from range.
The goal killed United and Chelsea fluffed opportunities to double their lead, with striker Diego Costa unable to connect with a Willian centre from six yards out.
But they were never in threat of losing their lead as Manchester United laboured to create anything going forward against a drilled unit marshalled by Kante.
Comments
Post a Comment