(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-04-28 09:15

LONDON - Michael Ballack's cool head caused Sir Alex Ferguson to lose his as Chelsea blew the English Premier League title race wide open.

Chelsea's Michael Ballack celebrates after scoring against Manchester United during their English Premier League soccer match at Stamford Bridge in London April 26, 2008. [Agencies]

On a day of high drama at both ends of the table, a 2-1 win over Manchester United at Stamford Bridge ensured Chelsea moved level on points with its rival with two games left for both clubs.

United's vastly superior goal difference means it remains masters of its own destiny but Ballack's second goal of the afternoon, a nerveless spot-kick four minutes from time, ensured the champion's nerve will be tested over the last two weeks of the campaign.

The Germany captain, who had given Chelsea the lead with a first-half header before Wayne Rooney equalized, claimed afterward that the thought of missing the penalty had never entered his head.

"In the end you have to score," Ballack said. "For me it is no problem, I can handle the pressure."

United will still be champion if it beats West Ham at home next Saturday and win at Wigan on May 11.

But Chelsea, which faces Newcastle away on May 5 and entertains Bolton on the final day of the season, has put itself in a position to exploit any slip-ups.

"We did what we needed to do," declared its manager, Avram Grant. "This team has a lot of courage and character."

Asked if he thought United would crack in its remaining matches, Grant replied: "I need to believe it. It is not easy when you are under pressure to win two games."

Ferguson variously described the penalty converted by Ballack after a Michael Essien cross struck the arm of Michael Carrick as "ridiculous," "disgraceful" and "diabolical."

Ferguson insisted that Carrick should not have been penalized because the contact with the ball was not deliberate and Rio Ferdinand was waiting to clear the ball behind the midfielder.

"It was absolutely diabolical," the United boss told United's in-house television station MUTV.

"It is a major decision. Granted, it hit his hand. But he has not lifted his hand above his shoulders, above his head, anything like that.

"It is going straight to Rio Ferdinand. The referee should have seen that rather than the linesman.

"If we're not going to get those decisions then we are under pressure."

Ferguson remains confident that his side can secure the 10th title of his reign at Old Trafford. "It's still in our hands," he said. "The players and the supporters are really fired up for the next game. Hopefully we can get the result we want."

Players from both sides were involved in a bizarre fracas on the pitch in an almost deserted Stamford Bridge stadium after Saturday's game.

None of the United players who started the match were involved but Patrice Evra, Gary Neville, Paul Scholes, Gerard Pique, Park Ji-sung, and substitute John O'Shea were all warming down when an argument began with the ground staff tending the pitch.

Stewards quickly moved in to separate those involved but after the situation quietened down the row flared up again, although no punches were thrown. The incident lasted less than 30 seconds but involved a great deal of shouting and posturing.