HAV-A-GO HERO ... Javier Hernandez celebrates after scoring a controversial late winner for United
Published: 1 hr ago
JAVIER HERNANDEZ struck the winner that saw Manchester United down nine-man Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
But the match will be remembered for a controversial second red card as much as the Mexican’s offside winner on 75 minutes.
Referee Mark Clattenburg had already given Branislav Ivanovic his marching orders for a professional foul when he wrongly adjudged Fernando Torres to have dived on 68 minutes.
It was harsh on the Blues, who had dragged their way back into the match after United had raced into a 2-0 lead in the space of 12 minutes.
David Luiz opened the scoring on four minutes by steering the ball into his own net following a Van Persie shot.
The Dutchman then doubled the lead, firing home from inside the area after good work from Antonio Valencia down the right.
Chelsea did not give up however, with Juan Mata’s stunning free-kick on 44 minutes hauling them back into the match.
The Blues then drew level eight minutes into the second half as Ramires headed home, but any momentum was lost within the space of six minutes with the two red cards.
Last man Ivanovic was sent off for pulling back Ashley Young, before Torres was shown a second yellow for a dive.
The fact he was fouled by Jonny Evans left Blues fans frustrated, with their anger doubled on 75 minutes when Hernandez put United back in front from an offside position.
PALM SUNDAY ... Rio Ferdinand shakes hands with Ashley Cole
While Young opted against wearing the Kick It Out t-shirt in the warm-up, the pre-match handshakes were observed by all including with Rio Ferdinand and Ashley Cole.
Those talking points were quickly irrelevant, with United racing to their lead.
It took less than four minutes, the Blues losing possession and Van Persie crashing a shot against the post, the ball rebounding in off the luckless Luiz..
HAIR WE GO ... Manchester United take the lead after David Luiz's own goal
Ivanovic was fortunate to escape a booking for clattering into Young before United struck again, Ferdinand this time the architect.
The defender was predictably booed as he ambled out of defence and found Rafael, who fed Antonio Valencia, with the winger’s low cross instantly swept home by Van Persie.
ROBIN RELIANT ... Robin van Persie scores United's second goal
The European champions finally woke up midway through the half when Michael Carrick chopped down Ramires.
He should have been booked but Luiz almost punished him anyway with a brutal free-kick which David De Gea inexplicably elected to save with his legs before another unorthodox stop to keep out Gary Cahill’s header.
HOT ROB ... Robin van Persie celebrates his goal
The goalkeeper could do nothing when Wayne Rooney needlessly upended Eden Hazard with a revenge tackle a minute from half-time — earning a booking — and Mata stepped up to curl a sumptuous free-kick into the corner.
Mata would have equalised moments later had De Gea not made amends for a horrendous clearance before Torres earned his first booking for a foul on Tom Cleverley.
SPECIAL JUAN ... Mata bends in a stunning free-kick
But Chelsea needed only seven minutes of the second half to deservedly level as Mata took the game by the scruff of the neck.
After scuffing a right-foot shot, he showed sublime control to keep Oscar’s ball in play, allowing the Brazilian to cross again for Ramires to head home.
Hazard had two more sniffs before United got a grip.
RAM RAID ... Ramires pulls Chelsea level
And they were given a golden opportunity to snatch all three points as disaster struck for Chelsea when Ivanovic and Torres were both sent off in the space of six minutes.
Ivanovic could have no complaints, the right-back seeing red for bringing down Young, who had been played clean through by Van Persie.
Rooney fired the resultant free-kick just over before United replaced the ineffective Cleverley with Hernandez and Chelsea sent on Cesar Azpilicueta for Oscar.
TUNNEL VISION ... Branislav Ivanovic trudges off
They were about to bring on Daniel Sturridge for Torres but the striker joined Ivanovic in the dressing room when he was controversially shown a second yellow for diving when replays showed he had been caught by Evans.
Torres was furious, trudging off and berating the fourth official, who was then forced to keep Roberto Di Matteo and Alex Ferguson apart on the touchline.
RED AND BURIED ... Fernando Torres is given his marching orders
Ryan Bertrand joined the fray instead of Sturridge but Chelsea faced an impossible task with nine men and Hernandez snatched what proved the winner 15 minutes from time from an offside position.
Petr Cech brilliantly tipped Van Persie’s shot onto the post but Rafael followed up and Hernandez turned the ball home.
Mikel was booked for his protest, Sturridge entered the fray and Valencia also saw yellow as well as wasting a chance to kill the contest.
Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Luiz, Cahill, Cole, Mikel, Ramires, Hazard (Sturridge 82), Oscar (Azpilicueta 66), Mata (Bertrand 72), Torres. Subs Not Used: Turnbull, Romeu, Moses, Marin.
Sent Off: Ivanovic (63), Torres (69).
Booked: Torres, Mikel.
Goals: Mata 44, Ramires 53.
Man Utd: De Gea, Da Silva, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra, Valencia, Carrick, Cleverley (Hernandez 65), Young, Rooney (Giggs 74), Van Persie. Subs Not Used: Lindegaard, Anderson, Nani, Welbeck, Scholes.
Booked: Rooney, Valencia.
Goals: Luiz 4 og, van Persie 12, Hernandez 75.
Att: 41,644
Ref: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear)
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