(VIDEO): Chelsea 4: 3 Manchester United. Cole Palmer’s treble sinks Manchester United and gives Chelsea stunning late win ( watch Recap👇)

(VIDEO): Chelsea 4: 3 Manchester United. Cole Palmer’s treble sinks Manchester United and gives Chelsea stunning late win ( watch Recap👇)

Chelsea’s Cole Palmer celebrates after the Premier League match at Stamford Bridge, London. Picture date: Thursday April 4, 2024.

Chelsea’s Cole Palmer celebrates after the Premier League match at Stamford Bridge, London. Picture date: Thursday April 4, 2024.

Cole Palmer scored a sensational hat-trick as Chelsea struck twice in the final minutes of stoppage time to beat Manchester United 4-3 at Stamford Bridge.

United were 3-2 up and seemingly home and dry when Noni Madueke was felled by Diogo Dalot in the seventh minute of added time. Palmer scored from the penalty spot to seemingly rescue a point – but a stunning finale awaited.

The former Manchester City player – a United fan as a youngster – was given space inside the box and lashed it beyond Andre Onana with virtually the final kick, with the aid of a slight deflection off United’s Scott McTominay.

Their side had looked like running away with the Premier League contest in the first period, Conor Gallagher and Palmer from the penalty spot putting them into a 2-0 lead inside 20 minutes.

But a horrendous error from Moises Caicedo gifted United a way back, Alejandro Garnacho netting his first before Bruno Fernandes nodded unmarked past Djordje Petrovic to level before the break.

A breathless second half could have seen either side win it, and Garnacho looked to have done it for United when he headed in a brilliant cross from Antony midway through the half.

Then came scarcely believable drama at the end, with Palmer’s double sparking joyous scenes among home supporters.

Chelsea had looked irresistible for much of the first half and raced into a deserved lead.

First, Enzo Fernandez scooped a delicious ball into the right channel for the overlapping Malo Gusto. His low cutback pinged off the heel of Raphael Varane, spinning favourably into the path of Gallagher whose first-time drive slithered beneath Onana’s outstretched hand and into the net.

The second goal came from a similarly neat move down the other flank, this time Marc Cucurella feeding Mykhailo Mudryk who bolted onto it and flicked the ball back inside to Cucurella. Across to challenge came Antony, felling the Chelsea defender with an artless trip. Palmer dinked his penalty into the bottom corner with consummate ease.

United struggled with the pace and directness of Chelsea’s transitions but the hosts’ control of the game was punctured on 34 minutes.

Caicedo sensed Antony lurking on his shoulder and played a hurried, careless ball square that sold Benoit Badiashile short. Garnacho was onto it like a flash, tearing clear of the hapless Chelsea pair and slotting past Petrovic.

Onana pushed out Fernandez’s low hit and had to be bailed out by Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who shovelled the rebound away from Mykhailo Mudryk as Chelsea quickly resumed their assault.

But the goal had swung the game towards United and they were soon level. Antony swept the ball wide to Garnacho, who stood up Cucurella and knocked it back for Diogo Dalot. His cross whizzed across the box to Fernandes, arriving unmarked at the far post, to wipe out Chelsea’s lead.

Gallagher rattled the post when set up by Palmer late in the half, though they were clearly stunned by United’s rapid double and looked grateful to go in level at the break.

The second half was a gung-ho battle between defence and attack. At times, the midfield simply vanished as both sides ripped into each other, and by the hour mark either could have led, Fernandes and Palmer with the clearest chances lashed over as the game hummed with energy, coaxing a winner.

It looked to have arrived from Garnacho. Antony’s cross, whipped with the outside of his left boot, was elegant and pinpoint. Chelsea had two defenders back but neither tracked the run of Garnacho, who stooped bravely to reach the ball before Petrovic and guide it into the corner. The United fans, including new Kansas City Chiefs recruit Louis Rees-Zammit, were delighted.

It looked like staying that way until the final minute of stoppage time, when Palmer’s dramatic double sealed an astonishing turnaround.

TAGS

Premier League

Chelsea

Manchester United

RELATED ARTICLES

Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister (centre) celebrates scoring their side’s second goal of the game with team-mates during the Premier League match at Anfield, Liverpool. Picture date: Thursday April 4, 2024.

Alexis Mac Allister helps Liverpool return to the top of the Premier League

Match reports

10 hours ago

Phil Foden scored three-times for rampant Manchester City (Martin Rickett/PA)

Phil Foden fires Man City to victory with superb hat-trick against Aston Villa

Match reports

1 day ago

Martin Odegaard, left, broke the deadlock (Nick Potts/PA)

Title-chasing Arsenal go top after seeing off struggling Luton

Match reports

1 day ago

Brentford and Brighton could not be separated (John Walton/PA)

Brentford and Brighton battle to goalless draw

Match reports

1 day ago

Ange Postecoglou’s side had to settle for a point (John Walton/PA)

Tottenham ‘not the finished article’ but on right track – Ange Postecoglou

Match reports

2 days ago

Owen Moxon scored Pompey’s winner (Ben Whitley/PA)

Owen Moxon opens Portsmouth account in style to earn draw with Derby

Match reports

2 days ago

Kurt Zouma celebrates after scoring West Ham’s equaliser (John Walton/PA)

Tottenham pegged back by West Ham as Kurt Zouma nets equaliser

Match reports

2 days ago

Rob Harker equalised at the death for Halifax (Zac Goodwin/PA)

York denied fourth straight win as Rob Harker rescues point for Halifax

Match reports

2 days ago

Owen Bailey struck for Doncaster (Mike Egerton/PA)

Doncaster win again to dent Wrexham’s automatic-promotion hopes

Match reports

2 days ago

Rayan Ait-Nouri, second left scores Wolves’ equaliser against Burnley (Martin Rickett/PA)

Rayan Ait-Nouri denies Burnley vital victory as Wolves share spoils

Match reports

2 days ago