Casemiro ended Chelsea s defensive resilience with a 94th-minute header to rescue a dramatic 1-1 draw for Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
Jorginho put the Blues in front by converting a penalty with three minutes of normal time remaining following Scott McTominay s foul on Armando Broja.
But United, who left Cristiano Ronaldo out of their squad for disciplinary reasons, found a leveller through Casemiro s first goal for the club in the dying embers after defender Raphael Varane had limped off in tears.
The Red Devils remain a point behind fourth-placed Chelsea, who were unable to hold on for what would have been a sixth consecutive clean sheet, in the Premier League table.
26 No Premier League fixture has been drawn as often as Chelsea against Manchester United (26). Indeed, seven of the last nine meetings between the sides have finished level, including each of the last five in a row. Stalemate.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe)
United dominated the majority of the first half, with Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga making good saves to deny Marcus Rashford and Antony.
Chelsea settled after Graham Potter reverted to a back four by introducing Mateo Kovacic for Marc Cucurella before the break, but Antony sliced another chance wide when played in behind.
The visitors were dealt a blow when an emotional Varane left the field after appearing to jar his knee, shortly before Nathaniel Chalobah s header skimmed the crossbar.
Chelsea had their breakthrough late on thanks to Jorginho s spot-kick, awarded after McTominay wrapped his arms around Broja when he tried to attack a corner, but there was to be another twist.
Luke Shaw sent in a cross and Casemiro got enough power on his header to beat Kepa, who helped the ball on to the post but saw it drop the wrong side of the goal-line.
What does it mean? Nothing to separate the sides – again
Casemiro s goal after Jorginho had calmly slotted home from 12 yards added some sparkle to a heavyweight Premier League tussle that underwhelmed for large parts.
The late leveller should not really have come as too much of a surprise, given this is the most drawn contest in the division s history, this being the 26th occasion the points have been shared.
United are now unbeaten in six matches since a derby hammering at Manchester City, while Chelsea have not been defeated in eight since head coach Potter took charge.
Casemiro ends Kepa s clean sheet streak
Jorginho surely must have thought he had sealed the points for Chelsea, with his penalty the 19th he has converted out of 22 – only Frank Lampard has scored more for the Blues (41) in the competition.
But up popped Casemiro with his first United goal to agonisingly deny Kepa another clean sheet, with that United s latest equaliser in the league since an encounter with Everton (93:41) in April 2017.
Varane s injury blow
The game ended on a high note for Erik ten Hag s side, but United and France face an anxious wait to discover the extent of Varane s injury less than a month out from the World Cup.
Former Real Madrid centre-back Varane had been a reassuring presence during his hour on the field, but he looked in agony as he left the field.
Key Opta Facts:
Chelsea are now unbeaten in their past 15 Premier League home games against teams from outside London (W7 D8), their longest unbeaten home run against such opposition since a 16-game stretch under Jose Mourinho between May 2014 and August 2015 (W10 D6).
The Blues now winless in their past 10 Premier League games against United (D7 L3) – only against Blackburn Rovers (12 between 1992 and 1998) and Arsenal (19 between 1995 and 2005) have they ever had a longer winless run in the competition.
Each of the past five Premier League meetings between Chelsea and United have been scoreless at half-time, and the Blues have now avoided defeat in each of their 18 Premier League games against United which were scoreless at the break (W4 D14).
Chelsea boss Potter is now unbeaten in his past three Premier League games against United (W2 D1), after losing each of his first five league matches against the Red Devils as a manager beforehand.
Only Arsenal (12) and Chelsea (9) have had more different Brazilians score a Premier League goal for them than Man Utd (8), after Casemiro netted his first Premier League goal with a 94th-minute equaliser.
What s next?
Chelsea travel to Salzburg in the Champions League on Tuesday, while United are home to Sheriff in the Europa League.
