LONDON - Javier Hernandez's controversial winning goal gave Manchester United a dramatic 3-2 victory against nine-man Chelsea at Stamford Bridge yesterday.
The result ensured Alex Ferguson's side reduced the gap on Roberto di Matteo's Premier League leaders to just one point, but the Blues were left fuming at the performance of referee Mark Clattenburg.
Chelsea had recovered from falling behind to a David Luiz own goal and a Robin van Persie strike to level through goals from Juan Mata and Ramires when Branislav Ivanovic was sent off for a 63rd-minute foul on Ashley Young.
More contentious, though, was the second yellow card shown to Fernando Torres five minutes later, after the referee had decided the striker dived following a challenge by Jonny Evans.
Worse was to come for the home side, with substitute Hernandez clinching victory in the 75th minute with a close-range finish from what appeared to have been an offside position.
Petr Cech was called into action after less than three minutes when Van Persie drilled in a stinging left-foot shot from outside the area.
United took the lead after Wayne Rooney had worked his way to the byline and pulled back for Van Persie, whose shot crashed off the post and into the net via the back of Luiz.
The second came just eight minutes later after another lightning move down the United right.
Goalkeeper David de Gea started the move by rolling the ball out to Ferdinand and it ended with Van Persie sweeping the ball home from Antonio Valencia's low cross.
Mata eventually halved the deficit for Chelsea shortly before the interval. - Sapa-AFP