Sat Apr 19 14:31:20 2008

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Tevez salvages draw for United

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Blackburn, England (Sports Network) - Carlos Tevez scored in the 88th minute to help Manchester United earn a 1-1 draw against Blackburn at Ewood Park on Saturday.

The draw leaves United three points clear of Chelsea with three games to play, and the two teams will meet at Stamford Bridge next Saturday in a game that will determine how the title race shakes out.

Roque Santa Cruz put Blackburn ahead midway through the first half, but it was the play of keeper Brad Friedel in the second half that allowed Rovers to claim a point.

Blackburn seized the initiative after 20 minutes from a throw-in deep in the United end.

The ball was tossed into the area but United defenders Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic did poorly in their attempt to clear the ball, and it deflected off Vidic and fell to Santa Cruz at the penalty spot. The Blackburn striker then drove the ball inside the right post with a first-time effort to put his team in front.

The hosts continued to look threatening eight minutes later when David Bentley tested United goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak with a dipping shot from 30 yards. The ball was struck well but Kuszczak was able to tip the ball over the crossbar.

Friedel then came up big minutes before halftime to preserve his club's lead. Ryan Giggs swung a corner into the center of the box and Cristiano Ronaldo headed it on target from six yards. However, Friedel came up with a good reaction stop to keep his side in front.

Ronaldo was dangerous after the restart when he fired a left-footed shot off the far post from outside the area, and United missed out on a great chance in the 79th minute.

Wayne Rooney got into the box and laid a pass off to Ronaldo in the center of the area. The Portuguese winger was knocked off the ball but it ended up on the foot of Tevez, who quickly turned and put a shot on goal. Friedel got a piece of the shot and was able to recover and pounce on the ball as it rolled towards goal.

Friedel made another huge save minutes later when Nani put Rooney into the box with a good through ball, but the American netminder came off his line and made a great save to deny Rooney.

United continued to pressure and they were finally rewarded in the 88th minute from a corner kick. The ball was driven into the box and nodded towards the far post by Paul Scholes. Tevez then turned it into the top corner with a glancing header to earn a point.

Arsenal all but secured third place with a 2-0 win against Reading as Emmanuel Adebayor and Gilberto Silva each scored goals in the first half. Liverpool also looks to be headed to the Champions League next season as the Reds beat Fulham 2-0 to move eight points clear of Everton with three games to play. The loss also puts Fulham's hopes of avoiding relegation further in doubt as they are now five points from safety.

Bolton scored a massive 1-0 victory over Middlesbrough to help them climb out of the bottom three. Gavin McCann tallied the lone goal in the 61st minute for Bolton, which moved one point clear of Birmingham.

West Ham downed lowly Derby 2-1 and Wigan played to a 1-1 draw with Tottenham.