Chelsea beat United
Juan Mata's dramatic late goal earned Chelsea an unlikely three
points in their quest for Champions League football as they secured a
1-0 victory at Premier League champions Manchester United on Sunday. The
Chelsea midfielder struck at the end of a rare flowing move in the 87th
minute -- Ramires' back-heel finding Oscar, whose pass to Mata allowed
his team-mate to drive the ball home via a deflection -- to lift his
team into third place in the table.
To add to United's dissatisfaction, substitute Wayne Rooney claimed
he had been brought down just outside the Chelsea penalty area in the
seconds leading up to the goal. It was a rare moment of memorable
attacking play in an otherwise forgettable contest and a goal that
ensured an ill-tempered conclusion to the game, with United defender
Rafael da Silva shown a straight red card two minutes later.
The Brazilian hacked at the ankles of countryman David Luiz as the
pair tussled for the ball near the corner flag, and players from both
sides engaged in a subsequent shoving match. There had been pre-game
speculation over whether United manager Alex Ferguson would shake the
hand of opposite number Rafael Benitez, with whom he has a frosty
relationship, but the veteran manager went out of his way to seek out
the Chelsea interim coach on his way to the bench.
Ferguson had taken the controversial step of resting key personnel
and handed starts to reserve goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard and
midfielders Anderson and Tom Cleverley.
AFP |