Manchester United 2 Chelsea 0: Mourinho's men blow title race wide open

The Premier League title race was blown wide
open as Ander Herrera scored one and assisted
another for Marcus Rashford in Manchester
United's 2-0 win over leaders Chelsea at Old
Trafford.
Chelsea's lead over closest rivals Tottenham
remains at just four points with six matches to play
after Antonio Conte's men lost for the second time
in their last four games.
Jose Mourinho made four changes to his side, with
Zlatan Ibrahimovic – described by the manager as
"very tired" – among the players dropping to the
substitutes' bench.
But United made a fast start, Rashford putting them
ahead after only seven minutes with a
controversial strike after Chelsea had claimed for
handball against Herrera in the build-up.
The Blues were already without the injured Thibaut
Courtois before they lost an unwell Marcos Alonso
in the warm-up and were struggling to make an
impression before Herrera's strike deflected in off
the wing-back's replacement, Kurt Zouma, early in
the second half.
And a subdued Chelsea – 4-0 winners in the
reverse fixture – could not find a way back into the
game, failing to register a shot on target, as
Mourinho celebrated his first victory over his former
side in three attempts since his sacking last
season.
The win moves United, who are now 22 league
games unbeaten, up to fifth, four points behind
Manchester City with a game in hand.
Rashford, starting up front alongside Jesse Lingard
in Ibrahimovic's absence, had already struck wide
from a good opening before he made the early
breakthrough, netting for a second league game
running.
Chelsea were furious that Herrera was not
penalised for an apparent handball as he
intercepted Nemanja Matic's pass and the Spain
international then sent Rashford racing clear with
an excellent throughball, allowing the striker to
convert with a cool finish past Asmir Begovic into
the far corner.
What a start! #MUFC #MUNCHE
pic.twitter.com/QZw8mSNTQJ
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) April
16, 2017
Ashley Young, United's captain after coming in as
one of Mourinho's alterations, saw his cross-shot
only just evade Rashford in the Chelsea box and
then fired wide from Paul Pogba's pass as the
hosts' lightning start continued.
Chelsea were frustrated at the other end and did
not manage a shot in anger until Diego Costa, who
was booked for fouling Pogba before scuffling with
Marcos Rojo, finally hit one wide in stoppage time.
United doubled their advantage four minutes into
the second half, with Herrera – dismissed in last
month's FA Cup meeting between the sides – the
scorer on this occasion.
After initially having a cross blocked by David Luiz,
Young dispossessed N'Golo Kante at the corner of
Chelsea's box before being challenged by Zouma.
The ball then fell into Herrera's path and his drive
took a huge deflection off the defender to beat
Begovic.
2 - Ander Herrera has scored and
assisted in the same Premier League
game for the first time since October
2015 vs Everton. Imposing.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 16, 2017
United threatened to run riot as
Lingard blasted over from Rashford's pass, with
the striker then firing into the side netting after
being set up by Michael Carrick, who had come off
the bench for his 450th United appearance.
Chelsea, who brought on Cesc Fabregas and
Willian for Victor Moses and Matic, saw Pedro
shoot off target with one effort and have another
attempt deflect wide as David de Gea continued to
be unoccupied.
The lively Rashford was denied by a smart Begovic
save at his near post after impressively
outmuscling David Luiz, with a third United goal
looking more likely than a comeback from the
visitors.
Rashford came off to a standing ovation in the
closing stages, Ibrahimovic getting a late run-out
as Chelsea were forced to turn their attention to
next week's FA Cup semi-final against in-form
rivals Tottenham, a side who represent a huge
threat to their league hopes as well.