Villa fightback keeps hopes alive
Sunday, April 27, 2008
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Everton FC remain favourites to finish fifth in the Premier League and qualify for the UEFA Cup despite being held by their rivals for that place, Aston Villa FC.
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Aston Villa FC maintained their hopes of qualifying for the UEFA Cup after twice coming from behind late on to hold an Everton FC team who remain favourites to secure that coveted fifth position.
Carew leveller
John Carew was the visitors' hero, heading an equaliser with four minutes to go at Goodison Park to deny Everton the three points they thought were theirs when Joseph Yobo thumped in an 84th-minute Lee Carsley cross after the Irishman had combined down the right with Mikel Arteta. That strike came four minutes after Gabriel Agbonlahor drew Villa level at 1-1 with a neat side-footed finish of his own, Phil Neville having opened the scoring with a deflected shot on 56 minutes.
Cruz winner
Everton have 62 points and Villa 59 with two rounds of Premier League games to play, and look set to fight it out for Europe after Portsmouth FC, in seventh on 57 points, lost 1-0 at home to Blackburn Rovers FC. Roque Santa Cruz continued his excellent first season in English football by scoring the only goal in the 73rd minute, leaving the FA Cup as the home team's most likely route into the UEFA Cup as they meet Cardiff City FC in the Wembley final.