Chelsea vs Manchester United. Premier League.
Stamford BridgeAttendance41,434.
Monday 8 February 2016 09:22, UK
Diego Costa scored an injury-time leveller as Chelsea secured a 1-1 draw against Manchester United to maintain Guus Hiddink’s unbeaten run since becoming manager.
In an open first half, Chelsea thought they should have had a penalty when John Terry, playing in his first home game since claiming Chelsea will not renew his contract when it expires at the end of the season, had a shot blocked by the arm of Daley Blind, but referee Michael Oliver waved away the Chelsea protests.
Chelsea lost defender Kurt Zouma in the 59th minute to a nasty looking leg injury and just two minutes later, Jesse Lingard looked to have sealed all three points for the visitors in the 61st minute.
But Costa, playing for the first time in his career against United, fired a 91st-minute equaliser.
The Spain striker had one final chance to win it for the hosts but he was denied by a superb save by David de Gea as Chelsea extended their unbeaten Premier League run to nine matches.
Louis van Gaal's side stay fifth but trail rivals Manchester City by six points in the race for Champions League qualification.
United, unchanged following their 3-0 victory over Stoke in midweek, started quickly with Michael Carrick testing Thibaut Courtois with a long-range effort in the 12th minute.
Terry, who was well supported by the Stamford Bridge crowd, was certainly earning his keep as United bossed possession and went close through Anthony Martial, but his right-footed shot was palmed to safety by Courtois.
The visitors were starting to build up a head of steam but Hiddink's side finally started to find their feet in the game and Costa was inches away from breaking the deadlock, firing a shot wide of the far post after latching onto Oscar's through ball.
Chelsea finally burst into life with two chances in as many minutes as Oscar fired over the bar before Willian fired a testing low cross into the box which the Brazilian midfielder was inches away from putting in the back of the net.
United went back on the attack just before the break as Marouane Fellaini headed wide and Matteo Darmian's cross eluded everyone in a red shirt, but the best chance of the half fell to the hosts and Terry. In stoppage time, the centre-back's shot hit Blind's arm at close range but referee Michael Oliver decided against giving a penalty amid the Chelsea protests.
In what was a lively start to the second half, Zouma thrashed a long-range effort over the bar before Wayne Rooney's curling effort from 25 yards forced Courtois into action low down at his near post.
Just like at the start of the first half, United were the dominant side in the early stages of the second 45 minutes with Martial again allowed to cut in from the left, but this time the Frenchman screwed his shot wide.
Courtois was called into action again in the 53rd minute, diving to his left to keep out a shot from Lingard from the edge of the box.
Hiddink reacted by bringing on Eden Hazard for Oscar and he was forced into another change when Zouma, who was replaced by Gary Cahill, went up for a header but landed awkwardly with his knee buckling underneath him.
Minutes later United were ahead when Lingard, who had his back to goal, controlled Cameron Borthwick-Jackson's cross from the left before turning and striking the ball into the corner and past the dive of Courtois.
With just over 20 minutes remaining, Hiddink made his final change with Pedro replacing Nemanja Matic as the hosts searched for an equaliser. They were nearly back on level terms as Branislav Ivanovic's volley was superbly kept out by De Gea.
Moments later, the Spanish goalkeeper was at it again, keeping out Cesc Fabregas' rising shot from 12 yards as Chelsea threw everything at United.
Costa headed over the bar from close range in the closing stages but it did not prove too costly as he made amends in the dying stages, taking advantage of a slip in the United defence to tap into an empty net.
With six minutes of additional time, Costa had one final chance to win it but he was expertly denied by De Gea as Chelsea recorded their fourth straight home draw in the league, but extended their unbeaten run against United to 10 games in all competitions.
Player ratings
Chelsea: Courtois (9), Ivanovic (7), Zouma (7), Terry (8), Azpilicueta (7), Matic (7), Mikel (6), Fabregas (7), Oscar (7), Costa (8), Willian (7).
Subs used: Cahill (6), Pedro (6), Hazard (6).
Manchester United: De Gea (9), Darmian (7), Smalling (7), Blind, Borthwick-Jackson (7), Fellaini (7), Carrick(8), Lingard (8), Mata (9), Martial (8), Rooney (7).
Subs used: Schneiderlin (6), Memphis (n/a), Herrera (n/a).
Man of the Match: Juan Mata
