By Lori Ewing
MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) -Moises Caicedo’s blistering second-half strike cancelled out a Bruno Fernandes penalty as Chelsea salvaged a 1-1 draw with Manchester United on Sunday, spoiling United’s celebrations in their first Premier League game since manager Erik ten Hag was sacked.
Chelsea are fourth in the table on 18 points while United, who had interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy in the dugout, are 13th on 12 points after 10 games.
“It was a lot of disappointment in the dressing room. We could have won the game,” Fernandes said.
“We know that Erik has gone, it is not good for anyone at the club when the manager goes. The team is not the best, the results are not the best and he is the one who pays for it.
“Whenever you see a manager go you have to take some of the blame on yourself, it is because the team is not doing so well.”
The United captain scored from the spot in the 70th minute after Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez caught Rasmus Hojlund’s foot when diving for the ball. Fernandes sent Sanchez the wrong way, prompting a delighted Van Nistelrooy to leap in the air in celebration.
United briefly looked poised for their second league win in six outings but the mood in Old Trafford swiftly shifted four minutes later when Casemiro failed to fully clear Chelsea’s corner, leaving Caicedo to fire a low volley that Andre Onana managed to just get a hand on, though he could not stop it sailing into the bottom corner.
“It was the chance to score a goal. I did it. I’m so happy,” Caicedo told BBC Sport.
“We knew if we waited for a long time (to equalise) it was going to be complicated. I’m so happy to equalise.
“We deserved to win. We knew it would be a tough game but we were prepared for it. I’m so happy for the team. It was a great fight.”
Ten Hag was sacked on Monday with United languishing in 14th in the Premier League. Ruben Amorim was named as his replacement on Friday and will arrive at the club on Nov. 11.
A common refrain from Ten Hag was United’s inability to score goals — only Crystal Palace and lowly Southampton have fewer than United’s nine — and it was more of the same on Sunday.
Alejandro Garnacho nearly broke the deadlock in added time, firing a long shot that glanced just over the crossbar before Fernandes missed a sitter seconds later, lashing a shot from the centre of the box well over the net.
“Everyone knows how much I wanted the goal to come,” Fernandes said. “I need to help the team with goals and assists. It’s been one of the most disappointing things this season.”
Right before the final whistle, Garnacho worked the ball down the left before sending a cross to Joshua Zirkzee, whose shot deflected off a Chelsea defender and over the net, to groans from the Old Trafford crowd.
Both sides hit the woodwork in a back-and-forth first half of a game that will not go down as a classic. Chelsea’s Noni Madueke headed into the post from close range from Cole Palmer’s corner early in the game.
Marcus Rashford nearly scored in style in the last action before the halftime whistle when Fernandes chipped the ball over Chelsea defender Reece James but Rashford’s side-footed volley bounced off the crossbar.
There were some heated minutes of pushing and shoving after United defender Lisandro Martinez caught Palmer’s foot, although a VAR check decided it was a reckless challenge and not serious foul play and so did not merit a red card.
(Reporting by Lori Ewing; editing by Clare Fallon)
