Chelsea down QPR after spot-kick controversy

28 January 2012 14:16

Chelsea booked their place in the last 16 of the FA Cup on Saturday after a controversial penalty saw them defeat west London rivals Queens Park Rangers 1-0 at Loftus Road.

The first meeting of the two sides since the stormy clash which led to Chelsea captain John Terry being accused of racially abusing Anton Ferdinand never lived up to the pre-match hype.

Rangers defender Ferdinand was spared the awkward dilemma of whether or not to shake Terry's hand in the pre-match build-up after the FA ruled there would be no handshake shortly before kick-off.

A disappointing fourth round tie was settled on 62 minutes when Chelsea midfielder Juan Mata sent Paddy Kenny the wrong way from the penalty spot.

However Rangers were seething at referee Mike Dean's decision to award a penalty, the official ruling that Clint Hill had fouled Daniel Sturridge as the two players came together in the box.

Television replays later suggested Hill had made only the slightest contact with Sturridge, but Dean remained unmoved by QPR protests and Mata stepped up to coolly stroke home the winner.

Source: AFP