Chelsea beat Manchester United 1-0 in the FA Cup on Monday, March 13. Here are all the highlights from the match.
Manchester United’s last visit to Stamford Bridge ended in a 4-0 thrashing, so you could forgive Jose Mourinho for taking a more cautious approach this time around. Cautious is one word for it, anyway.
United’s tactics consisted largely of fouling Chelsea’s main playmakers, Eden Hazard and Willian, at every opportunity. For a little while, it worked. The Red Devils forced Chelsea back early on, as Hazard and Willian struggled to get a foothold in the game.
But it was a wonderful piece of skill from Hazard that turned the tide in the 16th minute, the Belgian beating Chris Smalling with one beautiful touch before forcing David De Gea into a good save.
The Blues took control from there, without creating many clear cut chances, but Hazard still managed to have the most telling influence on the first half. After Phil Jones fouled Hazard for what felt like the fifth or sixth time in the half, referee Mark Oliver gave United captain Smalling a brief lecture, the upshot of which seemed to be: stop fouling Hazard. United didn’t listen.
Ander Herrera was the victim, his lazily dangled leg enough to send the Chelsea playmaker tumbling and Oliver to his pocket. Herrera was sent off for his second yellow.
Mourinho responded immediately, bringing on Marouane Fellaini for Henrikh Mkhitaryan. His side stemmed the flow for the remainder of the first half, but Chelsea dominated the early stages of the second.
They opened the scoring in the 52nd minute, when N’Golo Kante, in space at the top of United’s box, placed a low finish past De Gea.
United almost hit back quickly, as Marcus Rashford beat Gary Cahill before seeing his effort saved by Thibaut Courtois. That was as good as it got for the visitors, however, as the Blues with the calm authority that has defined their season.
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Highlights
"The card that changes the game. What do you think, good call?Respond with 👍🏼 or 👎🏼. #FACup https://t.co/i64A1fmus8— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) March 13, 2017"
"N’Golo Kanté does it all!His 51st minute goal has Chelsea ahead 1-0 over Manchester United. #FACup https://t.co/dXnoDFlx2Q— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) March 13, 2017"
The FA Cup semifinals will take place at Wembley on the weekend of April 22.