Manchester United beat Chelsea as Cunha strike boosts Champions League hope

Manchester United strengthen grip on third spot in Premier League with 1-0 win that leaves Chelsea relying on favours.Manchester United took a giant step towards ending a two-year exile from the Champions League as Matheus Cunha scored the only goal in a 1-0 win against Chelsea.United’s victory on Saturday opens up a 10-point gap between the Red Devils in third place and sixth-placed Chelsea, with only 15 points left to play for this season.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4Infantino defends World Cup pricing in ‘very special’ US marketlist 2 of 4‘Turning point’: How Marie-Louise Eta can blaze a trail for women in sportlist 3 of 4Men caught competing as women in prestigious South African marathonlist 4 of 4Iran women football players thank Australian government for protectionend of listThe top five in the Premier League will qualify for the Champions League next season.But a fourth consecutive league defeat leaves Chelsea’s chances of being back among Europe’s elite next season in tatters. It also piles pressure on manager Liam Rosenior, only three months into his reign.Chelsea once again bemoaned the lack of a clinical striker as they failed to break down a makeshift United defence ravaged by injury and suspension.United manager Michael Carrick was forced to name a backline featuring three full-backs and 19-year-old Ayden Heaven. But they held out to boost the former England midfielder’s case to get the job at Old Trafford beyond the end of this season.Chelsea were missing their top scorer, Joao Pedro, through injury, and one-time United target Liam Delap failed to take his chance to shine up front.Rosenior recalled Enzo Fernandez after the Argentinian was given a two-game suspension by the Blues for suggesting he would be open to a summer move to Real Madrid.Fernandez started with a point to prove and came agonisingly close to the opener when he curled inches wide.United looked rusty in a 2-1 defeat to Leeds on Monday, their first action for three and a half weeks.