Man U 2 : 1 Chelsea: Lukaku stars as Jose Mourinhos’s men reclaim second spot on EPL table
Manchester United’s Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku celebrates scoring their first goal to equalise 1-1 during the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Chelsea at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on February 25, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / Oli SCARFF / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo credit should read OLI SCARFF/AFP/Getty Images)
Lukaku celebrating after scoring against Chelsea on Sunday Photo Credit: AFP/Getty
By Israel Igiri
Romelu Lukaku scored one and set up another as Manchester United came from behind to beat Chelsea 2-1 at Old Trafford on Sunday and reclaim second place in the Premier League table.
The Belgium international scored his first goal against a top-eight club this season with United’s equalizer after Willian had put the defending champions ahead in the keenly contested encounter.
After dominating the game in the early stages of the game, Willian gave Antonio Conte’s men the lead in the 32nd minute, firing a powerful shot through David de Gea’s defences after playing a one-two pass with Eden Hazard.
The Red Devils responded with six minutes to the end of first half as Alexis Sanchez and Anthony Martial combined at the end of an intricate move to free Lukaku, who slotted the equalizer into the bottom left corner from six yards.
Conte’s men started the second half the stronger of the two sides, with Danny Drinkwater forcing a save from De Gea. A clever block from Chris Smalling prevented Alvaro Morata’s shot from going near the United shot stopper.
However, it was Jose Mourinho’s men who made the most of the outing as Lukaku curled a fine cross from the right onto the head of Jesse Lingard, who steered his 13th goal of the season beyond Thibaut Courtois 15 minutes from time, to ensure that the Manchester side go six-point clear over the West London side who are now fifth on the log.
