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March 3, 2011

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Fergie rages at ref, Blues win

CHELSEA defender David Luiz was the center of attention after scoring in its 2-1 comeback win at home to Manchester United in the English Premier League on Tuesday as visiting manager Alex Ferguson unleashed another rant at the match officials.

United led with a Wayne Rooney goal after half an hour at Stamford Bridge in London but Brazil center back Luiz slammed home a well-taken equalizer nine minutes into the second half and Frank Lampard completed the turnaround 11 minutes from time with a penalty.

United had center back Nemanja Vidic sent off in stoppage time for a second booking but Ferguson was incensed that Luiz had not suffered the same fate earlier and was also unhappy with the penalty given after Chris Smalling tripped Yuri Zhirkov.

"The penalty kick was so soft but we played very well. It was a great performance by us. We didn't deserve that," Ferguson told Sky Sports.

"That's three years in a row referees' decisions have changed the game (here)."

Luiz was booked by referee Martin Atkinson for a foul after 61 minutes then appeared fortunate to escape a second yellow card after flattening Rooney.

"It was incredible. Even before that he'd done Chicharito (Javier Hernandez) off the ball. He'd done him late. Nothing done, the referee's in front of it," added Ferguson.

"He (Luiz) does Rooney clear as day, he's six yards from it, he doesn't do anything. These are decisions that change the game and he's going to be refereeing every week."

Ferguson, who said earlier that Rooney was lucky not to have been banned after a clash with Wigan Athletic's James McCarthy at the weekend, added: "I'm proud of the players. They've endured a lot of decisions against them but they've come through it."

Chelsea's win took it within 12 points of leader United and, asked if the Blues were back in the title race, Ferguson said: "If they get decisions like tonight then it can change everything. They got a lot of decisions that surprised me."

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti did not want to discuss the officials but said Luiz might have been lucky.

"There was a lot of intensity and it was not easy for the referee to decide every time. There was a lot going on on the pitch so the referee decided he didn't see this."

The win took Chelsea back into the top four but Ancelotti said the champion had no realistic hope of catching United (60 points), which is four points ahead of Arsenal having played a game more.

Meanwhile, Reading reached the FA Cup quarterfinals at Premier League Everton's expense after a first-half goal from defender Matt Mills earned a 1-0 fifth-round victory at Goodison Park in Liverpool on Tuesday.

The Championship (first division) side will visit either Manchester City or Aston Villa in the last eight.

 

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