London • Javier Hernandez completed Manchester United’s comeback from a 3-0 deficit at Chelsea on Sunday with a late header that salvaged a 3-3 draw and leaves the defending champions two points off the Premier League lead.
After storming to a 3-0 lead by the 50th minute, Chelsea collapsed at home by conceding two penalties that Wayne Rooney converted and then allowing Hernandez to tie it in the 84th.
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"It’s two points lost," Rooney said. "We understand that, but after being 3-0 down — the [Manchester] City players at home must have liked that — we enjoyed the way we fought back."
United had inadvertently given Chelsea the lead when Jonny Evans turned the ball into his own net in the first half, and Juan Mata and David Luiz found the net just after halftime.
United is two points behind leader Man City, which beat Fulham on Saturday. Fourth-place Chelsea is only a point ahead of Newcastle, which beat Aston Villa 2-1 on Sunday after a debut goal from Papiss Demba Cisse.
Third-place Tottenham is in action Monday night at Liverpool, with Luis Suarez due to return for the hosts after serving an eight-match ban for racially abusing United defender Patrice Evra.
The specter of racism loomed large at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. Some Chelsea fans jeered every touch of the ball by United defender Rio Ferdinand, whose brother was allegedly racially abused by Chelsea captain John Terry in October.
Terry, who was sidelined Sunday because of injury, is set to face trial for allegedly racially abusing Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand.
"You don’t expect opposing fans to cheer your players," Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas said. "This is a normal situation in the Premiership."
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