Chelsea 2 - 1 Man Utd (Lampard Sinks The Red Devils) 1st March

Posted By GAMBLING SYSTEMS REVIEWS

Frank Lampard rammed home a second-half penalty as Premier League champions Chelsea kept their title hopes alive by coming from behind to beat leaders Manchester United 2-1 in an absorbing encounter at Stamford Bridge.

England midfielder Lampard emphatically fired home from the spot 11 minutes from time to earn his team the points after substitute Yuri Zhirkov had fallen over Chris Smalling's outstretched leg.

The victory moves Chelsea to within 12 points of United, with a game in hand and a trip to Old Trafford to come later in the season, to leave the holders still dreaming of back-to-back crowns.

A high-octane contest in West London saw United head into half-time in front through a thumping low drive by Wayne Rooney, who had been cleared to play after escaping FA action for his elbow on James McCarthy in Saturday's win at Wigan Athletic.

United had largely been the better team in the first period, but Chelsea rallied after the interval and equalised on 54 minutes when January signing David Luiz volleyed home his first goal for the club.

Luiz was then fortunate not to pick up a second yellow card on 77 minutes for a trip on Rooney and, two minutes later, the Blues struck decisively when Zhirkov was felled by Smalling.

Zhirkov came close to a third goal as United struggled to respond and the visitors were reduced to 10 men in stoppage-time when Nemanja Vidic was shown a second yellow card for pulling back Ramires.

Vidic will now be suspended for Sunday's trip to arch-rivals Liverpool when United can ill-afford to lose in their quest for a record-breaking 19th top-flight title.

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