United recover to take grip on title
Manchester United are close to the Premiership title after fighting
back to win 4-2 at Everton, while Chelsea could only draw 2-2 with
Bolton.In a thrilling lunchtime double-header, the Red Devils
trailed by two goals after 50 minutes at Goodison Park, at which
time the reigning champions were 2-1 up at Stamford Bridge.
But four minutes later Kevin Davies headed the Trotters level, and
soon after United staged an incredible turnaround to seize full
control of the title race.
With just three games left - one of which is the top-two showdown
at the Bridge - United lead the table by five points and have a far
superior goal difference.
Everton controlled the game at Goodison for an hour, but a series
of defensive mistakes allowed United to stage a remarkable comeback
thanks to strikes from John O'Shea, Wayne Rooney, Chris Eagles and
an own-goal by Phil Neville.
Cristiano Ronaldo was left out of United's starting line-up after
picking up a knock in training, while Everton paid tribute to late
legend Alan Ball with a minute of applause before kick-off.
And it was the Toffees who started the game more brightly with
Joleon Lescott heading a Mikel Arteta corner onto the top of the
bar in only the second minute.
But Everton grabbed the lead on 12 minutes when Alan Stubbs powered
a free-kick towards goal and Michael Carrick stuck out a boot to
deflect the ball past the despairing grasp of Edwin van der
Sar.
Rooney had United's first real chance, but Iain Turner turned his
low drive around the post and Alan Smith fizzed another effort wide
as Everton held on for a half-time lead.
And things got worse for United five minutes after the break when
Manuel Fernandes scored a stunner to double Everton's
advantage.
Fernandes collected an Arteta pass and took the ball past Wes Brown
before unleashing a fierce shot from the edge of the box, which
whizzed past van der Sar.
But a howler from Everton goalkeeper Turner gifted United a route
back into the game on the hour when he dropped a simple catch from
Ryan Giggs' corner and O'Shea was on hand to prod home into an
empty net.
Rooney then turned Joseph Yobo and lifted a shot over Turner only
to see Stubbs clear the danger before Ronaldo was thrown on as a
substitute in a bid to rescue the game.
And the Portuguese winger was involved as yet another clanger
gifted United their equaliser.
Ronaldo jumped to head a Giggs corner towards goal and the ball
ricocheted of several Everton defenders before former United player
Neville stuck out a leg and turned it into his own net.
United's comeback was complete with 11 minutes left when Tony
Hibbert gave the ball away needlessly and the ball broke to O'Shea
who crossed for Rooney to take a touch past Hibbert and drill home
low.
And in injury time, substitute Eagles collected Rooney's pass and
produced a composed finish past Turner to snatch a dramatic
win
At Stamford Bridge, Jose Mourinho made six changes for the match,
with Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba among the players
rested.
A cheer went up after 12 minutes as news filtered through of
Everton's opening goal against United, but seven minutes later the
Blues fans were silenced as Lubomir Michalik gave the visitors a
shock lead.
Andranik Teymourian's free-kick caused panic in the Chelsea defence
and when Michael Essien and Mikel John Obi failed to clear their
lines, the ball fell to Michalik to fire past Petr Cech.
However, within three minutes Chelsea were level as Salomon Kalou
met a cross from Wayne Bridge and glanced the ball beyond the
stranded Jussi Jaaskelainen with his head.
