Marc Cucurella once again came through for Chelsea with a crucial headed goal, securing a 1-0 victory against Manchester United when their Champions League aspirations were on the line.
With 20 minutes left at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea seemed to be heading towards a disappointing result, risking their top-five finish and facing the possibility of missing out on European competition for the third consecutive season due to their ineffective finishing.
Aston Villa's win over Tottenham earlier in the day had pushed them ahead of Enzo Maresca's team in the standings, increasing the pressure on Chelsea supporters as they realized the gravity of the situation.
But then, Marc Cucurella emerged in the box, scoring a crucial goal in the 71st minute to turn things around for Chelsea. His goal, slipping past the defense to head in Reece James' cross, not only lifted his team but also redeemed their desperate position.
A victory against Nottingham Forest in their next match will secure a top-five finish for Chelsea.
Chelsea had the upper hand in the first half against a struggling United side, which had lost five of their last seven matches and hadn't won in two months.
Maresca had previously expressed concerns about Chelsea's profligacy in front of goal, as they had missed several big chances throughout the season. Noni Madueke's missed opportunity added to their frustrating trend.
Chelsea survived a narrow offside call through VAR, denying Harry Maguire's goal, and had their own moments of missed opportunities before Cucurella's breakthrough header.
The decisive goal came from a well-executed cross by James, finding Cucurella in the box to score with a powerful header past the United goalkeeper.
Despite some late scares, Chelsea held on to secure the vital win, with United only posing a threat once with a shot saved by Chelsea's goalkeeper.