Achi news desk-
United went up 3:2 and seemingly home and dry when Shannoni Madoka was felled by Diogo Dalot in the seventh minute of added time. Palmer scored from the penalty spot to seemingly salvage a point – but a stunning finish awaited.
The former Manchester City player – a United fan as a youngster – was given space in the box and whipped it past Andre Onana with what was effectively the last kick, assisted by a slight deflection from United’s Scott McTominay.
His strike in the 101st minute was set as the last winning goal in Premier League history.
Their side looked like running away with the Premier League competition in the first period, Conor Gallagher and Palmer from the penalty spot putting them 2-0 up inside 20 minutes.
But a terrible mistake from Moises Caicedo gave United a way back, Alejandro Granacho scoring his first before Bruno Fernandes nodded an unmarked pass past Djorja Petrovic to equalize before the break.
A breathless second half could have seen either side win it, and Granacho looked to have done it for United when he headed home a brilliant Antony cross midway through the half.
Then came some barely believable drama at the end, with Palmer’s double sparking jubilant scenes among the home supporters.
Chelsea looked unstoppable for most of the first half and raced to a deserved lead.
First, Enzo Fernandes scooped a delicious ball into the right channel for the overlapping Malo Gusto. His low cut back hit Raphael Varane’s heel, spinning positively into the path of Gallagher, whose first-time drive slipped under Onana’s outstretched hand and into the net.
The second goal came from a similar neat move along the other wing, this time Mark Cucorella fed Michail Modric who got stuck at him and put the ball back in for Cucorella. Antony stepped up to the challenge, knocking down the Chelsea defender with an artless drive. Palmer slotted his penalty into the bottom corner with absolute ease.
United struggled with the pace and directness of Chelsea’s passing, but the hosts’ control of the game was established in the 34th minute.
Caicedo felt Antony lurking on his shoulder and squared a hasty and careless ball that sold Benoit in short Diashila. Granacho was on it like a flash, tearing away from Chelsea’s hapless pair and slotting past Petrovic.
Onana pushed away Fernandez’s low strike and had to be saved by Aaron Wan-Biske, who pushed the rebound away from Michail Modric as Chelsea quickly resumed their onslaught.
But the goal swung the game in United’s direction and they were soon level. Antoni swept the ball wide to Grancho, who set up Cucorella and passed it back to Diego Dalot. His cross went across the box to Fernandes, who reached the far post unmarked, to erase Chelsea’s lead.
Gallagher rattled the post when set up by Palmer late in the half, though they were clearly overwhelmed by United’s quick-fire duo and looked grateful to go level at the break.
The second half was a crazy battle between defense and attack. At times, the midfield simply disappeared as the two sides tore at each other, and by the hour mark either could have taken the lead, Fernandes and Palmer with the clearest chances striking as the game hummed with energy, coaxing a winner.
It seemed to come from Garancho. Antony’s cross, lashed to the outside of his left boot, was elegant and precise. Chelsea had two defenders at the back but neither tracked the run of Granacho, who bravely stooped to get the ball in front of Petrovic and guide it into the corner. United fans, including new Kansas City Chiefs signing Louis Rees-Zammit, were pleased.
It looked set to stay that way until the final minute of stoppage time, when Palmer’s dramatic brace sealed a stunning turnaround.
