Wayne Rooney believes Manchester United’s three-goal comeback against Chelsea could prove decisive in the Premier League title race, even though the champions lost ground on leaders Manchester City after a dramatic 3-3 draw at Stamford Bridge.
Sir Alex Ferguson’s side now sits two points adrift of City, who beat Fulham before the six-goal thriller in west London.
A Jonny Evans own-goal and strikes from Juan Mata and David Luiz left United three goals down by the 50th minute. But they fought their way back onto level terms through two controversial penalties, both converted by Rooney, and a Javier Hernandez equaliser in the 84th minute.
Rooney is confident his team’s sensational second-half recovery will not have gone unnoticed by Roberto Mancini’s City squad.
“Of course it’s two points lost, we understand that,” said Rooney. “But after being 3-0 down all the City players at home won’t enjoy watching us, the way we fought back and the spirit of the team. A lot of teams would find it easy to put their heads down and accept defeat but we carried on, worked hard and got something out of the game.”
Referee Howard Webb found himself at the centre of attention because of the two penalties he awarded United, and the two he denied Ferguson’s side in the first half.
Ferguson inevitably felt aggrieved by the two his side did not get.
“We had two penalties in the second half which I think were justified,” said Ferguson. “I think that we could’ve had four penalties and a winning game. But it was a massive effort from our players and a great game for the neutral.”
Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas admitted he was disappointed by the failure to wrap up the win from such a commanding position.
The defensive meltdown leaves the Blues just one point clear of fifth-placed Newcastle in the race for a top-four finish.
Cisse bags debut winner
Elsewhere, Senegal striker Papiss Demba Cisse enjoyed a dream debut for Newcastle as his second-half strike secured a 2-1 win against Aston Villa at St James’ Park.
“I’ll remember this day and I’ll work hard to get many more days like this,” said Cisse. “I didn’t even think that it was a beautiful goal, I was just happy to see the ball cross the line.”
Alan Pardew’s side took the lead through Cisse’s compatriot Demba Ba in the 30th minute before Robbie Keane equalised for Villa deep into first half stoppage-time.
But Cisse bagged the winner in his first appearance since his £10-million transfer from German club Freiburg with a powerful finish past Shay Given in the 71st minute.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 7th, 2012.
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it's not easy to equalize de goals, i wil say that rooney is a man with faith because faith is the greatest miraculy up man U, up Rooney.
The former liverpool player, Ryan Babel, was hundred percent right for taggen mr Webb with utd jc on, a couple of season ago on the social media. If u look at his tactics of officiatin on sunday when chelsea were held to a 3-3 by the utd @ stamford bridge.