Frank Lampard converted a penalty kick in the 80th minute, giving Chelsea a come-from-behind 2-1 victory over first-place Manchester United on Tuesday night that tightened the Premier League race.
Wayne Rooney scored in his third straight Premier League game for the first time in a year, putting United ahead in the 29th minute with a 25-yard shot that beat goalkeeper Petr Cech.
David Luiz tied in the 54th by volleying in his first goal for Chelsea, and Lampard scored the go-ahead goal, putting his kick just over the outstretched arm of goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar after Yuri Zhirkov was tripped in the penalty area by United defender Chris Smalling. Chelsea has won three straight league games against United.
United captain Nemanja Vidic was ejected in stoppage time when he received his second yellow card for a foul on Ramires. Vidic is suspended for Sunday's game at Liverpool.
Manchester United (17-2-9) has 60 points, four more than second-place Arsenal (17-5-5), which has played one fewer game. The Gunners host United on May 1.
Chelsea (14-7-6) moved into fourth place -- the final Champions League spot -- with 48 points, two back of Manchester City (14-6-8) and one ahead of Tottenham (13-6-8).
"We're still a lot of points behind, but all we could do was win the game," Lampard said. "United are deservedly top of the league, but we've still got some fight in us and we showed that tonight."
United manager Alex Ferguson used the same starting lineup in consecutive games for the first time in 165 matches. Ryan Giggs entered in the 70th minute, a day shy of the 20th anniversary of his league debut for United. The 37-year-old tied Bobby Chartlon's club record by making his 606th league appearance.
Fernando Torres failed to score and has no goals in four games since Chelsea bought him from Liverpool for about $80 million.
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