MANCHESTER UNITED held their nerve to see off Chelsea despite a late fightback at Old Trafford.
Robert Sanchez was sent off after five minute before goals from Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro gave United a 2-0 half-time lead.
But Casemiro was also sent off to even the playing field and despite Trevoh Chalobah pulling one back – United held firm.
Here is how SunSport’s Katherine Walsh rated Ruben Amorim’s men from the Theatre of Dreams.
Altay Bayindir – 5
His launched punt put Chelsea in all sorts of trouble when Robert Sanchez was sent off for flying out of the box to take down Mbeumo.
Stood all alone as the heavens opened in Manchester as the keeper endured a quiet first-half with United producing their best start to a game of the season.
Was left vulnerable and flat footed for Chalobah’s pulled back header from five yards. Him and his team-mates just can’t deal with corners.
Noussair Mazraoui – 7
United can count themselves lucky that the Moroccan is back in action.
The wing-back’s cross was headed back by Dorgu for Fernandes’ opener and he never put a foot wrong. United were considerably more shaky when he came off.
Winger-like run through the Chelsea midfield but the water-logged pitch was his biggest opponent tonight. The crucial tackle stopped 2-1 by the hour mark.
Matthijs De Ligt – 8
His big interventions won United the game.
The Dutch star pushed high up the pitch with United dominating so much early on. And he produced some key passes as his team reigned on the ball.
The centre-back produced the best defensive clearance of the ball to deny Chelsea a goal back quickly after the break.
Harry Maguire – 6
Maguire failed to sure things up at the Etihad last week but he should definitely start in a back-two pairing with De Ligt moving forward.
He played a key role in all areas of the pitch, almost setting up Fernandes on the stroke of half-time.
More mistake-prone when United were down to 10 after his misplaced ball put Chelsea through on goal.
Luke Shaw – 6
Was a surprise starter after his poor showing at the Etihad but this was a much better Shaw.
The full-back assisted Casemiro’s goal with a header in the box and had choice words with Enzo Fernandez after the celebrations.
Was up there in the strongest before his bizarrely fumbled pass was picked up by Reece James in the final seconds.
Bruno Fernandes – 7
Almost cried when he broke the deadlock inside 14 minutes with a clever poachers finish following a lengthy offside review from VAR.
It was his 100th goal in his 200th game for the club since joining in January 2020.
With his team dominating 10-man Chelsea, Fernandes wasn’t forced to play in his deeper role so often.
Dropped into midfield after United lost Casemiro and was unlucky to be stopped by a great Filip Jorgensen save in the last 10. He turned into Amorim’s No.2 on the touchline when he subbed in the final minutes.
Patrick Dorgu – 6
Crosses were much better placed than his City showing last Sunday and he set up the second.
Was perhaps lucky that James launched his poor header in the air before Casemiro doubled the home side’s lead. But some silly mistakes almost cost his team-mates.
Amad Diallo – 5
Is the winger lacking in confidence? Amad got his feet mixed up and failed to hit a cross from a few yards, instead waiting and pulling the ball out of play as United’s second was ruled out.
Minutes later the 23-year-old made the wrong decision again when he failed to shoot with acres of space, instead trying to find Sesko in the box.
Feel like a broken record but the Ivorian again overfired an easy cross into Sesko which could have seen United 3-0 up before half-time.
His mess ups proved costly as Chelsea pushed in the second half. Was weak in the final seconds when he pulled out of a challenge with Chalobah who sent the ball up.
Casemiro – 3
Why Casemiro, just why? The Brazilian made history for all the wrong reasons.
His goal and sending off make him the first Man Utd player to score and be sent off in the same half off football in a Premier League match.
The supposed most experienced man on the pitch showed naivety to be sent off in the fifth minute of first-half injury time – especially after his back post header doubled United’s lead 10 minutes before.
The first booking came from a needless foul on Enzo Fernandez , while the second was somewhat unfortunate as he grappled Andrey Santos from behind before winning the ball.
Bryan Mbeumo – 7
So crucial to everything United do going forward and relieves Fernandes off the set-piece duties, although they were poorly dispatched at times.
His sprint forced Sanchez into action for the sending off but the former Brentford star later air-kicked a brilliant cross in a good position.
Benjamin Sesko – 7
This is what Sesko can bring to his game that Rasmus Hojlund couldn’t.
The 6ft 5in out -jumped Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalboah to flick on Mbeumo’s run through on goal which led to Sanchez flying out and his workrate shone throughout.
Was sacrificed at half-time after Casemiro’s red and United missed his second ball wins in the last 45.
SUBS
Manuel Ugarte (for Sesko, 46) – 3
Amorim had to replace one foul-ridden midfielder for another.
But the former PSG couldn’t get a grip of the game. His awful miskick from a corner put Chelsea through in the last 10 minutes.
Matheus Cunha (for Mbeumo, 61) – 5
Fans were thrilled to see the Brazilian back from injury. He played off Fernandes well.
Leny Yoro (for Maguire, 70 ) – 3
Wasn’t in the tempo of the game and fell asleep while marking Chalobah’s pull back.
Mason Mount (On 70′): N/A
Kobbie Mainoo (On 87′): N/A
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