Cole Palmer scores two goals after 99 minutes to secure Chelsea a dramatic 4-3 victory over Manchester United
By Ben Morse, CNN
(CNN) — This was a late show and then some from Cole Palmer as the 21-year-old forward guided Chelsea to a dramatic 4-3 Premier League victory over Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on Thursday.
With United holding a goal advantage heading into the 10th minute of additional time, Chelsea was awarded a late penalty after United defender Diogo Dalot fouled winger Noni Madueke.
Palmer cooly stepped up to equalize, before his deflected strike two minutes later gave Chelsea a thrilling victory.
Manchester United set a record for holding the latest lead in a Premier League game and still lose; the Reds were 3-2 up at 99 minutes and 17 seconds.
The two late goals completed a hat-trick for Palmer and sparked wild Chelsea celebrations, with coaches – including manager Mauricio Pochettino – and substitutes all running onto the field in jubilation.
The match began so positively for Chelsea, with the Blues racing into a two-goal lead through Conor Gallagher and Palmer’s first penalty of the game.
But the game unfolded in a typically chaotic manner.
Alejandro Garnacho and Bruno Fernandes levelled the score at 2-2 before halftime, then Garnacho’s second of the game in the 67th minute handed United a second-half lead.
And as much as Chelsea pushed for an equalizer, it looked like the game was slipping away from the home side, only for Palmer’s late double to salvage three points and leave Manchester United wondering how it let the result out from its grasp.
Palmer’s winning goal was timed at 100 minutes and 39 seconds, making it the latest winning Premier League goal since the 2006-07 season, per Opta.
Chelsea manager Pochettino, who has faced pressure from fans after some indifferent results this season and with his team ensconced in mid-table, said afterwards that he hopes the dramatic victory can be a springboard for his side.
“It’s important in the end to finish in the way that we finished, creating I think the connection (between) fans and players,” Pochettino told reporters, per Reuters.
“It’s a very good thing that happened today and I think should be a turning point for us, creating trust with the fans and in the team.”
For Manchester United, it’s the second time in five days that it has dropped points in stoppage time in the Premier League after Kristoffer Ajer’s goal in the ninth minute of added time secured a draw for Brentford.
Erik ten Hag’s side has struggled to control fixtures this season, and Thursday was no different. United faced 28 shots against Chelsea – it has faced 225 shots in total this season, more than any other side in Europe’s big-five leagues, per Opta.
The defeat means United is 11 points off fourth place, and Champions League qualification, with eight games remaining.
Chelsea meanwhile moves to 10th in the table, just five points behind United.
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The Premier League is often billed as ‘the best league in the world’ and the string of 4-3 results this season only adds further grist to that particular mill.
Thursday’s game was the latest in a long line of seven-goal thrillers, with no lead seemingly safe from a comeback.
Just last weekend, Newcastle United produced a stirring comeback from 3-1 down at home to West Ham to win 4-3, with second-half substitute Harvey Barnes scoring a long-range curling 90th-minute winner to secure all three points.
Earlier in March, Bournemouth scored four second-half goals having trailed 3-0 at halftime to stun Luton Town, while in December Liverpool scored a quick-fire double in the 87th and 88th minutes to win 4-3 at home against Fulham.
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