United lead down to three points after draw with Boro
Wayne Rooney grabbed his 17th goal of the season
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Sunday, 06, Apr 2008 09:01
Manchester United have had their lead cut at the top of the Premier League table after a 2-2 draw with Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium.
The visitors had lead through Cristiano Ronaldo's goal, but Boro came back with a double from Afonso Alves.
Wayne Rooney equalised 16 minutes from time, a result which sees Sir Alex Ferguson's side lead Chelsea by just three points.
Julio Arca and Alves replaced Lee Cattermole and Tuncay Sanli for the hosts, while John O'Shea came in for the injured Nemanja Vidic for the Premier League champions.
In snowy conditions, United made the perfect start by taking the lead on 12 minutes with the first chance on goal. Michael Carrick fired in a low cross for Ronaldo to tap in from five yards for his 37th goal of the season.
But instead of folding, it was Boro who passed the ball better for the rest of the half. Gareth Southgate's side were deadly on the break and Jeremie Aliadiere dragged a shot wide after being sent clear on 23 minutes.
Alves, who had not scored in nine appearance since his £12 million move, came agonisingly close to equalising with a dipping free-kick on 32 minutes that Edwin van der Sar could only parry.
The Brazilian striker broke his duck three minutes later when he ran on to Aliadiere's flick-on and finished coolly from 16 yards out to make it 1-1.
United's defence, missing Vidic, continued to look fragile in the second half with Michael Carrick making a last-ditch block to deny Alves on 47 minutes.
Boro's possession was rewarded when they went ahead after Alves lashed the ball into the bottom-right corner on 56 minutes.
Four minutes later, the Teesiders should have sealed victory when Aliadiere chose to pass to Alves rather than head in from six yards with the Brazilian's effort blocked by Rio Ferdinand.
Worryingly for Sir Alex Ferguson, Ferdinand limped off and was replaced by Gerard Pique.
Both sides continued to carve out chances with van der Sar palming away Stewart Downing's shot from an acute angle.
United's blushes were spared 16 minutes from time when substitute Park Ji-Sung's low cross found Rooney whose shot struck David Wheater and crossed the line.
In the dying minutes, Rooney's bullet header was parried by Mark Schwarzer while a superb challenge from Wes Brown denied substitute Tuncay when the striker was about to pull the trigger.
Despite four minutes of added time, United were unable to grab a winner which throws the title race wide open ahead of their clash with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on April 26th.