Chelsea's Moises Caicedo celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Chelsea at Old Trafford stadium in Manchester, England, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Ian Hodgson)

Man United frustrated by Caicedo's brilliant volley in 1-1 draw with Chelsea

03 Nov 2024, 20:42 by JAMES ROBSON · Japan Today

MANCHESTER, England — Moises Caicedo’s stunning long-range volley secured a 1-1 draw for Chelsea against Manchester United in the Premier League on Sunday.

In front of the watching Olivia Rodrigo, Caicedo's strike from the edge of the box canceled out Bruno Fernandes' second-half penalty at Old Trafford.

Chelsea moved up to fourth in the standings, ahead of Arsenal on goal difference, while United is six points behind in 13th and playing catchup in the race for Champions League qualification.

Tottenham beat Aston Villa 4-1 earlier in the day.

It was United's first league game since manager Erik ten Hag was fired on Monday. Ruben Amorim has been hired as his replacement, but does not take charge until Nov. 11.

Assistant Ruud van Nistelrooy is holding the reins until then and for a short while was making top-flight management look relatively simple.

Having beaten Leicester 5-2 in the League Cup on Wednesday, United led 1-0 when Fernandes converted from the penalty spot in the 70th minute and was within sight of back-to-back wins.

But Caicedo’s effort from the edge of the box four minutes later ensured the points were shared.

Dominic Solanke scored twice as Tottenham thrashed Aston Villa 4-1.

The forward struck two goals in the space of four second-half minutes at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after Villa had led at the break.

Solanke scored in the 75th and 79th as Spurs produced a stunning second-half performance to follow up its victory against Manchester City in the League Cup on Wednesday.

Morgan Rogers had given Champions League-chasing Villa the lead in the 32nd minute, but Brennan Johnson leveled the game four minutes after the break.

Solanke’s double put Spurs 3-1 ahead and James Maddison curled a free kick into the top corner in the sixth minute of added time. Solanke is now on five goals for the season.

Tottenham is up to seventh in the standings, while sixth-place Villa missed out on the chance to move into the top three.

AFC Wimbledon beat MK Dons 2-0 in the first round of the FA Cup and took bragging rights in one of English soccer’s fiercest grudge matches.

Matty Stevens and Omar Bugiel scored either side of halftime at Stadium MK in a competition that holds deep ties for fans of both clubs.

Wimbledon was a shock winner of the Cup in 1988 when beating the mighty Liverpool 1-0. The team relocated to Milton Keynes in 2002 and was renamed MK Dons, which prompted disgruntled fans to create a phoenix club called AFC Wimbledon.

And it was the traveling AFC Wimbledon fans who were left celebrating Sunday after securing its place in the next round of the Cup.

There will be no Cup run for Wrexham this season after losing 1-0 at Harrogate Town.

Jack Muldoon's goal in the 24th was enough to seal victory for Harrogate, which plays in the fourth tier of English soccer, one division below Wrexham.