United Beat 10-Man Chelsea 2-1 at Old Trafford

In a match that crackled with drama, red cards, and relentless rain, Manchester United held firm to defeat Chelsea 2-1, extending their unbeaten home Premier League streak against the Blues to 13 games and handing Enzo Maresca’s side their first league loss of the season.

The tone was set early and brutally. Just five minutes in, disaster struck for Chelsea when goalkeeper Robert Sánchez raced off his line and collided with Brentford loanee Bryan Mbeumo (on as a late sub for the injured Christopher Nkunku), after Benjamin Šeško’s clever flick sent him clear.

No hesitation from the referee: red card. Filip Jörgensen, the young Dane, was thrust into the spotlight and almost immediately into trouble.

Despite the numerical disadvantage, Chelsea tried to regroup. But United smelled blood. In the 14th minute, Bruno Fernandes ghosted into the box, stayed just onside, and coolly redirected Patrick Dorgu’s flicked header past Jörgensen, a landmark 100th goal in Red Devils colors for the Portuguese captain.

Maresca reacted swiftly, yanking off Cole Palmer for Andrey Santos in the 21st minute, an early tactical gamble. For a while, it steadied the ship. But United’s pressure never relented. From a cleverly worked short corner in the 37th, Luke Shaw kept the move alive with a low drive across the box, and Casemiro rose unmarked to power home a header doubling United’s lead and silencing the traveling Blues.

The drama wasn’t done. In a moment of needless frustration, Casemiro, already booked in the 17th for a reckless challenge on Enzo Fernández, chopped down Santos in stoppage time. Second yellow. Game on 10 vs. 10.

The second half opened under gray skies and slick turf, with Ruben Amorim responding by replacing Šeško with the industrious Manuel Ugarte. Conditions were treacherous; passes skidded, boots slipped, and every tackle echoed through the soaked stadium.

Chelsea, to their credit, refused to fold. They thought they’d clawed one back after 62 minutes when Tosin Adarabioyo flicked Reece James’ corner toward Wesley Fofana only for VAR to swiftly intervene. Offside. No goal.

But hope arrived in the 80th minute. James, ever the threat, whipped in a teasing cross from the right. Trevoh Chalobah soared above everyone unchallenged and powered a header past Altay Bayındır. Suddenly, Old Trafford held its breath.

Nerves jangled. Fernandes forced a fingertip save from Jörgensen. Chelsea pushed. Santos surged forward in stoppage time only to be denied by a heroic sliding block from Ugarte, who threw his body in the path of certain danger.

Seven added minutes felt like an eternity. But United, backed against the wall, held on, securing just their second win in five matches and giving Amorim a much-needed sigh of relief.

For Chelsea, it’s now three games without a win across all competitions and their first Premier League defeat of the campaign. For United? A gritty, chaotic, rain-drenched triumph and bragging rights preserved at the Theatre of Dreams.