London: Michael Ballack scored an 86th-minute penalty kick on Saturday to give Chelsea a 2-1 win over Manchester United that leaves the teams tied on points at the top of the Premier League.
Ballack's second goal of the game, which came following a handball by Michael Carrick, lifted the Blues to 81 points - trailing United only on goal difference with two games remaining.
"We needed to win," Chelsea captain John Terry said.
"All season long we've had to put up with, 'Chelsea can't play as well as Manchester United and Arsenal,' but we showed today we can play as well as anyone." Liverpool's slim chances of overhauling Arsenal to finish third were hit by a 2-2 draw at Birmingham, a result that also had ramifications at the other end of the standings.
Relegation zone
Birmingham stayed in the three-team relegation zone and its failure to win boosted Fulham's faint chances of avoiding demotion. Fulham's hopes are still alive after it scored three goals in the last 20 minutes to rally from 2-0 down to win 3-2 at Manchester City.
United was seeking to end Chelsea's four-year unbeaten streak at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League to go six points clear and effectively clinch a second straight title on the basis of its hugely superior goal difference.
However, United manager Alex Ferguson rested leading scorer Cristiano Ronaldo to keep him fresh for Tuesday's Champions League semifinal against FC Barcelona.
Chelsea dominated the first half. Ballack put Chelsea ahead in the 45th with a diving header from Didier Drogba's cross, but Blues defender Ricardo Carvalho gave the ball away to Wayne Rooney with a short back pass in the 57th and the England striker raced clear to score.
Rooney then followed teammate Nemanja Vidic off the field injured and Chelsea won a penalty when Carrick charged down a cross by Michael Essien.
