Ballack keeps Chelsea hopes alive

Michael Ballack's 86th-minute penalty kept Chelsea FC in the hunt for the Premier League title as Avram Grant's side defeated leaders Manchester United FC 2-1 at Stamford Bridge.

Ballack winner
The Germany captain fired to the right of United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar to score his second goal of the afternoon and pull the London side level at the top of the Premier League with United on 81 points with two games to play. United's vastly superior goal difference gives them the advantage in the run in, but Chelsea, who were without midfielder Frank Lampard following his mother's death, maintain hopes of a double with Liverpool FC to visit in the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday.

Rooney equaliser
Ballack had given Chelsea the lead in added time at the end of the first half when unmarked he headed in Didier Drogba's cross from the right. The goal came after a strong first-half performance from Chelsea who had come close to taking the lead on 20 minutes when Joe Cole struck the crossbar. United, though, were gifted a way back into the match 12 minutes after the restart. The normally dependable Ricardo Carvalho's poor backpass allowed Wayne Rooney to dart in and fire low under Petr Čech.

Injury concerns
Chelsea's title hopes looked over as the clock wound down but with five minutes to play Michael Carrick handled in the area, allowing Ballack to step up and score from the spot. Still the drama was not over as substitute Andriy Shevchenko cleared Darren Fletcher's attempt off the line at the other end. To compound United's afternoon, Nemanja Vidić, who missed Wednesday's goalless draw against FC Barcelona with a stomach complaint, was forced off after taking a blow to the face early in the first half, while Rooney was substituted in the second complaining of a sore hip.

Birmingham denied
It was a dramatic afternoon at the foot of the Premier League as Liverpool FC came from two goals down to draw 2-2 at Birmingham City FC, who had led through Mikael Forsell and Sebastian Larsson only for Peter Crouch and Yossi Benayoun to snatch a draw. Birmingham stay 18th and now have 33 points, a point behind both Reading FC – held 0-0 at Wigan Athletic FC – and Bolton Wanderers FC, who drew 1-1 at Tottenham Hotspur FC.

Stirring comebacks
Fulham FC, in 19th position, kept alive their hopes of avoiding relegation with a rousing fightback at Manchester City FC, who had led 2-0 thanks to early goals from Stephen Ireland and Benjani Mwaruwari. Substitute Diomansy Kamara reduced the deficit with 20 minutes left and, after Danny Murphy had equalised, got the winner in the last seconds with a fine solo strike to take his side on to 30 points. There was also late joy for Sunderland AFC, who beat Middlesbrough FC 3-2 in the Wear-Tees derby thanks to Emanuel Pogatetz's 90th-minute own goal, while Newcastle United FC drew 2-2 at West Ham United FC.