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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 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 - playing against
United for the first time in his career - 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 in the 34th minute 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 at the end of
the first-half, 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 in
search of an equaliser.
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.
Click Here For Official Teamsheet
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
Teams
Chelsea Courtois, Ivanovic, Zouma (Cahill 59), Terry (c),
Azpilicueta, Mikel, Matic (Pedro 67), Willian, Fabregas, Oscar (Hazard 55),
Costa
Subs Not Used Begovic, Baba, Traore, Loftus-Cheek
Booked
Goals Costa 90+1
Manchester United De Gea, Darmian, Smalling, Blind,
Borthwick-Jackson, Fellaini (Schneiderlin 79), Carrick, Lingard (Depay 87), Mata
(Herrera 90+5), Martial, Rooney (c)
Subs Not Used Romero, Varela, McNair, Pereira
Booked Lingard, Blind, Smalling
Goals Lingard 61
Attendance 41,434
Referee Michael Oliver