Levi Colwill, serving as Chelsea’s captain for the day, has come under heavy criticism for his part in Manchester United’s decisive goal at Old Trafford, as goal-scorer Scott McTominay displayed a greater determination.
In a captivating and back-and-forth match on Wednesday night, the Red Devils generated numerous excellent chances early on, including a saved Bruno Fernandes penalty by Robert Sanchez.
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United earned the breakthrough they deserved in the 19th minute when McTominay skillfully placed the ball into the bottom corner. However, they were pulled back against the flow of the game just before half-time.
A swift transition from Chelsea, one of many in the game, provided Cole Palmer with an opportunity at the edge of the box, and he expertly placed the ball into the far corner.
Unfazed, United resumed their attacking dominance in the second half, and McTominay secured his second goal in the 69th minute, a moment briefly scrutinized by VAR.
The Scottish international had a physical encounter with Colwill at the back post, causing the defender to fall, but the minimal contact allowed the goal to stand.
In reality, United had the potential to score more goals, but they settled for a 2-1 victory, bringing them within three points of reigning champions Manchester City in the table despite their season struggles.
Ultimately, McTominay’s second goal determined the outcome, and Alan Shearer strongly criticized Colwill’s defensive efforts, suggesting the former Brighton loanee conceded too easily.
Speaking on Amazon Prime Video, Shearer said: ‘It’s really weak defending there from Colwill. You can see the both of them were at it, they’ve both got their arms on each other there.
‘It went to VAR but it was never a foul, it was never going to be enough to be turned over. The defender should be dealing with it there.
‘But great credit to McTominay, he wanted it more than the defender and he gets it – and it wins the game for them.’
Patrice Evra agreed, saying: ‘The left-back, he went down really softly there. He was too soft.’
Chelsea legend Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink said: ‘It’s a goal. You need to defend your box, you need to be strong there. It doesn’t matter how big or how tall you are, or how small you are, you cannot lose a ball at the second post.’
