BIRMINGHAM: Manchester City striker Craig Bellamy rescued a 1-1 draw against Aston Villa on Monday after Richard Dunne had returned to haunt his former club.

Dunne had put Villa ahead early on with his first goal for Martin O’Neill’s team since his five million pounds switch from City in August. But Welsh star Bellamy continued his impressive start to the season with a clinically taken equaliser after the break at Villa Park to lift City into fourth place.

After losing a seven-goal thriller at Manchester United in their last away fixture, it was essential for Mark Hughes’ expensively assembled side to emerge unscathed from another tough trip

and City’s battling display bodes well for their

hopes of earning a Champions League place.

They will go into the international break ahead of Arsenal and Liverpool and only five points behind leaders Chelsea with a game in hand, while seventh placed Villa, who also harbour ambitions of a top four finish, deserve credit for an enterprising display.

Villa almost took a second-minute lead when Gabriel Agbonlahor flicked Ashley Young’s low corner goalwards, only for City keeper Shay Given to make a fine stop with his foot. Wayne Bridge led City’s

response as the left-back’s shot deflected over the crossbar before Adebayor brought Brad Friedel into action. But Villa were causing problems for the City defence and Stiliyan Petrov shot just wide with a long-range drive.

Home town honours Park

Seoul: Manchester United star winger Park Ji-Sung presided on Tuesday at a ground-breaking ceremony for a sports complex named after him in his South Korean home city.

The Park Ji-Sung Football Centre in Suweon just south of Seoul will be completed in May next year and offer two playing fields, a clubhouse, a clinic, a museum and a library, city officials said. The centre plans to run a training programme initially for children aged between six and 13 and later for older players. “I started playing football and spent most of my youth here,” Park was quoted by Yonhap news agency as saying. “I hope that the centre will help many young players grow physically and mentally through football and encourage them to enjoy the sport.” Park is one of the country’s biggest sporting stars. — AFP