Thu Dec 27 17:37:58 2007

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Santa delivers late gift for Blackburn

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Manchester, England (Sports Network) - Roque Santa Cruz scored his second goal in the 84th minute as Blackburn earned a 2-2 draw Thursday at Manchester City, snapping the home side's perfect record at City of Manchester Stadium.

Blackburn trailed twice, but Santa Cruz needed just one minute to equalize the first deficit and his late goal erased an own goal by teammate Ryan Nelsen.

Blackburn (7-6-6) was tied in points with West Ham and Newcastle but moved one point clear into ninth.

Manchester City (10-4-5), which was 9-0 at home, remained in fifth but is only one point behind Liverpool and three back of Chelsea.

Darius Vassell gave Manchester City the lead in the 27th minute but Santa Cruz scored in the 28th to end the home fans' celebration.

Just two minutes later, though, Nelsen gave Manchester City the lead back when he knocked the ball into his own net.

Blackburn struggled to threaten Manchester City goalie Joe Hart but Santa Cruz eventually leveled the match with just minutes remaining.

David Bentley set up the goal by finding Santa Cruz with a cross and he buried his ninth goal in league play. Although the offsides flag was initially up, it was ruled the offsides was against a player not involved and the goal stood.

Santa Cruz scored a hat trick against Wigan and had two goals against Arsenal earlier this season, but Blackburn lost both games.

Manchester City was the only unbeaten, untied team remaining in the league.