0-1, Lingard 61'. 1-1, Costa 90+1'.
Guus Hiddink is still unbeaten in his second stint as Chelsea manager and he has Diego Costa to thank, after the Spanish international striker leveled in the 91st minute.
Jesse Lingard put the Manchester United ahead in the 61st minute as he received the ball with his back to goal and swivelled to strike a superb effort into the top corner.
The goal came four minutes after Kurt Zouma had to be stretchered off the pitch after the French youngster landed badly from a jump. It seemed to be an innocuous one but they can sometimes be the most damaging to a footballer’s career.
A first half that flattered to deceive
In opening stages of the game showed the character traits so associated with Louis Van Gaal’s United. The Red Devils looked very comfortable with the ball, picking well placed passes and focusing on obtaining and maintaining possession.
Yet the visitors seemed lacklustre in the final third. With all of their early control, Anthony Martial was the first to really test Thibaut Courtois with a curling effort from the left hand side in the 21st minute. The Belgian goalkeeper responded well with a fingertip save, pushing the ball over the bar.
After Chelsea struggled to play in the early parts, it was Willian who seemed to be the only player who was showing real desire to get his side back on top. He has without a doubt been Chelsea’s best player so far this season and he raced down the right hand side and give Cameron Borthwick-Jackson a nightmare first half so early in the full-back’s career.
This was shown in the 31st minute when the Brazilian winger skinned Borthwick-Jackson with a fine cut back, leaving the 19-year old on the floor. The Chelsea winger’s cross was inviting and all Oscar needed to do was get a touch on the ballad n the home side would have been 1-0 up, but the midfielder narrowly missed out on making contact.
John Terry was playing his first game in front of his home fans since announcing that he will be leaving the club at the end of the season. The Chelsea skipper had the chance to show his club exactly what they will be missing as he had a shot blocked by Daley Blind with shouts for a penalty.
A second that was similar to clashes of old
United started the second half much like they did the first, only this time they looked more menacing. Testing Courtois on a number of occasions, with Martial cutting in from the right and Rooney having a number of Chances to shoot, the goalkeeper was drawn into action more times in the first 10 minutes of the second half than he was in entire first 45 minutes.
Juan Mata enjoyed a wonderful return to Stamford Bridge, the Spanish midfielder played for two and a half years at Chelsea, and received a warm reception from both sets of fans.
The former Valencia man was dictating the game, every attack that Manchester United had was flowing through him, and in the 47th minute Mata picked out Wayne Rooney in acres of space in the box but the England captain couldn’t manage to put his header towards goal.
United’s pressure really paid off when Rooney knocked the ball onto Lingard who managed to control the ball with his back to goal. The 23-year old then had the ability to turn and strike the ball in one move and gave Courtois no chance of saving it.
The home side then came back into the game, reacting very well to conceding and United had to sit back. David De Gea had to be called into action a number of times.
Branislav Ivanovic found himself in the box with some space and the defender struck a sweet volley which looks destined for the top corner but De Gea shows why he is regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in world football as he managed to pull off a leaping save.
Then in the 72nd minute Cesc Fabregas easily turned Blind in the box and fired a powerful effort on goal, with De Gea having to react strongly again.
After trying so hard all game to get a goal, in the first minute of added time, Fabregas picks an expert pass through to Costa who was played onside by Borthwick-Jackson. Costa had the coolness to take it round his fellow countryman and tap the ball home.
The result leaves Manchester United 5th and six points adrift of Manchester City in fourth place.
Chelsea remain in 13th position and a win in their next game could see them go 10th in the Premier League and only two points behind Liverpool.
