Chelsea halt Man. Utd

Frank Lampard breathed fresh life into the Premier League title race as the Chelsea midfielder’s late penalty clinched a 2-1 victory over leaders Manchester United yesterday.

Lampard’s dramatic winner came after referee Martin Atkinson ruled that United defender Chris Smalling had brought down Chelsea substitute Yuri Zhirkov with 10 minutes to go at Stamford Bridge.

It was a hammer blow for United, who suffered just their second league defeat this season despite taking the lead through Wayne Rooney’s first-half strike.

Brazilian defender David Luiz equalised with his first goal for Chelsea soon after half-time and Lampard sealed the points before captain Nemanja Vidic was sent off for a second booking in stoppage time.

While fourth-place Chelsea’s hopes of retaining the title are still slender as they trail United by 12 points, their win has done a massive favour to second-place Arsenal. The Gunners can close to within one point of Alex Ferguson’s team if they win their game in hand.

Ferguson, whose side last won at Chelsea back in 2002, had kept faith with the players that won emphatically at Wigan on Saturday, which meant he sent out an unchanged United team for the first time in 165 games, and they dominated in the first half.

Rooney showed why he remains United’s most dangerous force as he opened the scoring in the 30th minute.

Taking Nani’s short pass in his stride, he turned towards the penalty area and unleashed a powerful low strike that arrowed into the bottom corner of Petr Cech’s net.

The Blues drew level from virtually their first decent delivery of the match in the 54th minute.

Michael Essien floated over a teasing cross that Ivanovic flicked onto Luiz and he blasted a half-volley past the keeper.

Ryan Giggs came on to make his 606th league appearance for United – equalling Bobby Charlton’s record. Another substitute, Chelsea’s Zhirkov, had the decisive impact, however.

Didier Drogba and Lampard worked the ball towards Zhirkov and he stumbled under the slightest of touches from Smalling, prompting the referee to award a penalty.

Lampard slammed the 80th minute spot-kick past Edwin Van der Sar and then Vidic deflected Zhirkov’s shot onto a post before the Serbian defender saw red for tugging back Ramires.

Everton stunned

Everton’s hopes of a lengthy FA Cup run came to an abrupt end last night after the Premier League club were sent crashing out by Championship outfit Reading in their fifth round clash.

A first-half goal from Reading defender Matt Mills stunned Goodison Park into silence and sent the Royals into a quarter-final tie against either Manchester City or Aston Villa.

It was a bitterly disappointing exit for Everton, who had knocked out holders Chelsea in the previous round. Everton’s players left the field to a chorus of boos as Reading’s players celebrated a famous win.