Manchester, September 21(HS):
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes marked a landmark occasion by scoring his 100th goal for the club across all competitions during a chaotic Premier League encounter against Chelsea at Old Trafford on Saturday. The match proved pivotal for under-pressure United manager Ruben Amorim, as the victory breathed new life into their challenging season.
The contest began in dramatic
with Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez being sent off in the fifth minute for a reckless challenge on Bryan Mbeumo. Fernandes seized the moment and opened the scoring in the 14th minute on his 200th Premier League appearance, narrowly turning home a close-range effort following a precise header from teammate Patrick Dorgu. After a lengthy VAR check, the goal was confirmed, making Fernandes only the 23rd player in United’s storied history to reach the milestone of 100 goals for the club.
“Every goal is important, doesn’t matter the moment,” he told Sky Sports after the final whistle.
“Big moment for me to reach that milestone for a massive club, I won’t hide from that. If I can get more goals to help the team that’s what matters the most.”
Speaking to BBC Sport, Fernandes said: “Obviously I’m very proud of that, two massive milestones. Not something I was aiming for. I just aimed to play the next game.”
Casemiro doubled Manchester United’s lead with a powerful header in the 37th minute, only to receive a second yellow card shortly before halftime, dropping both teams to ten men. Chelsea fought back with a bullet header by Trevoh Chalobah ten minutes from full time, but United held firm to claim a critical win that lifts them into the Premier League’s top half, just two points shy of the top four.
The rain-soaked match demanded immense resilience, with Chelsea forced into three substitutions in the opening 21 minutes due to injury and tactical reshuffles, further compounding their woes. Despite the pressure, Manchester United’s defensive organization helped withstand a courageous late Chelsea surge.
Post-match, Fernandes remained humble and team-focused, stating, “Every goal is important. It’s a big moment for me to reach that milestone for a massive club, but what matters most is helping the team.” Manager Ruben Amorim praised the team’s aggressive start and desire to win, acknowledging it as a much-needed boost after a difficult start to the campaign.
This victory breaks Chelsea’s longstanding run at Old Trafford and provides Manchester United hope as they seek to rediscover consistency under Amorim’s leadership.
Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
