London, April 6:

Wayne Rooney scored an equaliser and Manchester United hit back for a 2-2 draw at Middlesbrough on Sunday which cut its standings lead to three points.

After second-place Chelsea’s 2-0 victory at Manchester City on Saturday, the Red Devils needed to win at the Riverside and took a 10th-minute lead through Cristiano Ronaldo. It was his 37th goal of the season in all competitions.

But Afonso Alves struck twice for his first goals for Boro only for Rooney to deny the home side an upset victory with a 74th-minute goal.

The result means United have a three-point lead over Chelsea and six over third-place Arsenal, who drew 1-1 at home to fourth place Liverpool. United host Arsenal next Sunday.

Ronaldo struck the ball into the roof of the net with his left foot from 12 yards for his 27th league goal before Alves equalised in the 35th minute for Boro.

Gary O’Neil’s long ball was flicked on by Jeremie Aliadiere and found Alves clear of the United defense and he slid it past Van der Sar for the first league goal conceded by United in six games.

The home side went ahead in the 55th when Aliadiere won the ball in the air and Alves controlled it to run clear of the defense and slide it past Van der Sar. But the Red Devils struck back to equalise 16 minutes from the end. Substitute Park Ji-sung set up the chance with a break down the right, turning inside Taylor and crossing for Rooney to stab the ball home from 10 yards.

Saturday’s other results were Aston Villa 4, Bolton 0; Blackburn 1, Tottenham 1; Fulham 1, Sunderland 3; Newcastle 3, Reading 0; Wigan 2, Birmingham 0.

Spanish La Liga

MADRID: Real Madrid missed the opportunity to go nine points clear at the top Spanish League table after being held to a 1-1 draw at Real Mallorca.

With just two minutes of the first-half remaining, Real made Mallorca pay for their wastefulness in front of goal when they took the lead through Wesley Sneijder. Arjen Robben eased past David Navarro down the right wing, before pulling the ball back for his fellow Dutchman to tap into an empty net.

On 72 minutes the hosts finally equalised when substitute Borja Valero struck just four minutes after stepping off the bench. He combined well with Arango on the left, before curling an unstoppable effort into the top corner past a sprawling Casillas.

Recreativo climbed out of the drop zone following a 1-0 win away at fellow strugglers Osasuna. Florent Sinama-Pongolle grabbed his ninth goal of the season to seal the points after 37 minutes.