Manchester United are back in the Champions League. It was a day when the result mattered far more than the performance, and that’s probably a good thing because United were miles from their midsummer best.
One of their worst players, the weary Bruno Fernandes, still had the personality to score a nerveless second-half penalty that gave them a vital cushion. Jesse Lingard sealed the victory with an open goal in injury time, his first goal since 1974, and his team-mates could not have been more thrilled for hin.
Lingard, who gleefully tapped the ball into the empty net. It’s his first Premier League goal since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s first game as a part-time manager in December 2018.
Astonishing things always happen on the last day of the season: Aguero, Oldham’s great escape in 1993, Newcastle 5-1 Spurs in 2016 and all that. But this surely tops the lot: Jesse Lingard has scored a goal.
Jonny Evans was sent off, he has been given a straight red for a poor tackle on Scott McTominay. We would have thought that it was a second yellow but Martin Atkinson brought the red card out straight away. Replays show why – it was a scandalous tackle, a potential legbreaker. Evans knew it and walked straight off the field.
Leicester needed victory once Chelsea took command at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers but their dreams were dashed as Bruno Fernandes scored a 71st-minute penalty after Anthony Martial tumbled under a challenge from Wes Morgan and Jonny Evans.
In Other News – Chelsea 2 – 0 Wolves
Chelsea beat Wolves to secure Champions League football. Chelsea sealed fourth place in the Premier League to wrap up qualification for next season’s Champions League with a comfortable victory over Wolves.
Frank Lampard’s side needed a point from the potentially nervy encounter at Stamford Bridge in order to clinch a top-four place – but they stylishly grabbed all three.
Mason Mount’s delightful 25-yard curling free-kick and Olivier Giroud’s effort from close range were just 144 seconds apart on the stroke of half-time and they settled the contest. continue reading
Source – TheGuardian
