United lament FA Cup goal that never was

Manchester United lamented a goal that never was and suggested the referee lacked courage on Saturday after Chelsea beat them 1-0 to lift the FA Cup.

The Premier League champions had been aiming for a double in the first final to be staged at the re-built Wembley Stadium and thought they had scored in the first half of extra-time.

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Captain Ryan Giggs' effort, under a challenge from Michael Essien, sent the ball into Chelsea keeper Petr Cech's arms and it appeared to cross the line as the Welshman's momentum carried him into the Chelsea keeper. No goal was awarded.

"It was a penalty kick," United manager Alex Ferguson said. "That was the decision that should have been taken. I don't think the linesman was in a position to see clearly if that ball was over."

"But there's no question (about) Essien....the referee was in a really good position and should have seen that. It was a penalty on Giggs."

United winger Cristiano Ronaldo said the goal was not given because referee Steve Bennett and his colleagues had been under pressure from Chelsea.

"The ball was half a metre over the line and the referee saw it but he did not give it," the 22-year-old Portuguese said.

"The referee was under pressure all week from Chelsea. But it's over now," he shrugged. "That's football and we are still champions."

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho had said earlier in the week that he expected the officials to act "correctly" in the showpiece final.

Ronaldo, whose scintillating form this season won him two awards as footballer of the year voted by players and by football writers, had a quiet game.

Mourinho said his compatriot was unable to shine because he was kept quiet by another Portuguese, defender Paulo Ferreira.

"Paulo was magnificent," Mourinho said.

Manchester United's Portuguese assistant manager Carlos Queiroz said because both teams were tired at the end of a long season the game was tight and tactical rather than spectacular.

"The game was very balanced and equal because it was the two top teams in the championship," he said. "We had opportunities, we controlled much of the game."

"There were two weeks of great pressure on the referee and when the crucial time came he did not have the courage to take a decision. It was a penalty."

"But it's not Chelsea's fault," the Portuguese added. "They constructed a good goal."

Didier Drogba scored Chelsea's goal four minutes before the end of extra time after a clever passing move with Salomon Kalou, John Obi Mikel and Frank Lampard.

"It was a good move and Didier got there and finished it well under pressure," Lampard said.