LONDON, England -- Manchester United moved five points clear in the Premiership title race after fighting back from two goals down to beat Everton 4-2 on a day of rollercoaster drama on Saturday.
Wayne Rooney's 79th-minute strike and a stoppage time goal from youngster Chris Eagles capped a remarkable fightback at Goodison Park where Everton had led 2-0.
Victory ensured that Alex Ferguson's side took full advantage of Chelsea being held to a 2-2 draw by Bolton at Stamford Bridge.
It was a dramatic turnaround on a day that had seen Chelsea 2-1 ahead at the time United trailed by two goals.
Everton went ahead in the 11th minute after Patrice Evra fouled Mikel Arteta 20 metres out to concede a free-kick in a dangerous position which Alan Stubbs fully exploited.
The 35-year-old defender powered in a ferocious shot that took a slight deflection off Michael Carrick and flew past Edwin van der Sar into the back of the net.
United dominated most of the rest of the half but it was Everton who were the first to find the net again when Manuel Fernandes created space for himself and then drilled an unstoppable shot past Van der Sar to make it 2-0 after 50 minutes.
But poor defending at two corners midway through the second half turned the game United's way.
Iain Turner, in goal because Everton's regular keeper Tim Howard is on loan from United and not allowed to play against his parent club, fumbled an inswinging corner from Ryan Giggs, allowing the ball to drop at the feet of John O'Shea who lashed it into the empty net from close-range.
United's equalizer seven minutes later followed another corner when the Everton defence failed to clear a header from substitute Cristiano Ronaldo.
The ball fell to former United defender Phil Neville -- who scored nine goals in 386 appearances during his 11-year career at Old Trafford.
But he scored for United again when he sent the ball into the back of his own net instead of clearing it.
United's dominance finally paid off in the 78th minute when Everton failed to deal with a high cross from Ronaldo.
The ball fell to Rooney, who is still unpopular with some Everton fans after he left for United in 2004, who rode a tackle before steering a shot into the right-hand corner for his 14th league goal of the season.
Youngster Chris Eagles, who replaced Ole Gunnar Solskjaer after 86 minutes, marked his first appearance for United in the Premier League with the fourth goal in stoppage time when he curled the ball home from 18 meters to complete United's stunning comeback.
Over at Stamford Bridge, Slovakia defender Lubomir Michalik gave Bolton a surprise 19th minute lead on his full debut, only for Chelsea's Ivorian striker Salomon Kalou to level soon after with a header.
Kalou was also responsible for Chelsea's second goal, sending in a header that struck the crossbar and rebounded into the net off keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen in the 33rd minute.
But as Chelsea closed in for the kill, Bolton forward Kevin Davies exploited a defensive lapse to head an equaliser soon after the re-start and Sam Allardyce's men held on for a point.
It means that United, who travel to face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on May 9, have 85 points to the champions' 80.
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said: "With Chelsea drawing, it's back with us. A five-point lead and a superior goal difference gives us an absolutely marvellous chance with just three games left."
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho conceded Manchester United were now very close to Premier League glory.
"Mathematically, we still have a chance and when there's a chance you have to wait...you have to win and you have to wait.
"I think Manchester United at the moment feel very close... They feel very comfortable...They can come to Stamford Bridge and they can lose," he said.
"I feel sad, but I feel I have a big game against Liverpool on Tuesday. That's a good thing, about being in this situation, that you still have a big game so you don't have time to be sad," Mourinho said.
Mourinho began against Bolton by resting England midfielders Frank Lampard and Joe Cole and top scorer Didier Drogba but all three eventually came off the bench.
Remaining fixtures of English Premier League title contenders:
Manchester United
Saturday, May 5: v Manchester City (a)
Wednesday, May 9: v Chelsea (a)
Sunday, May 13: v West Ham (h)
Chelsea
Sunday, May 6: v Arsenal (a)
Wednesday, May 9: v Manchester United (h)
Sunday, May 13: v Everton (h)
Wayne Rooney's 79th-minute strike and a stoppage time goal from youngster Chris Eagles capped a remarkable fightback at Goodison Park where Everton had led 2-0.
Victory ensured that Alex Ferguson's side took full advantage of Chelsea being held to a 2-2 draw by Bolton at Stamford Bridge.
It was a dramatic turnaround on a day that had seen Chelsea 2-1 ahead at the time United trailed by two goals.
Everton went ahead in the 11th minute after Patrice Evra fouled Mikel Arteta 20 metres out to concede a free-kick in a dangerous position which Alan Stubbs fully exploited.
The 35-year-old defender powered in a ferocious shot that took a slight deflection off Michael Carrick and flew past Edwin van der Sar into the back of the net.
United dominated most of the rest of the half but it was Everton who were the first to find the net again when Manuel Fernandes created space for himself and then drilled an unstoppable shot past Van der Sar to make it 2-0 after 50 minutes.
But poor defending at two corners midway through the second half turned the game United's way.
Iain Turner, in goal because Everton's regular keeper Tim Howard is on loan from United and not allowed to play against his parent club, fumbled an inswinging corner from Ryan Giggs, allowing the ball to drop at the feet of John O'Shea who lashed it into the empty net from close-range.
United's equalizer seven minutes later followed another corner when the Everton defence failed to clear a header from substitute Cristiano Ronaldo.
The ball fell to former United defender Phil Neville -- who scored nine goals in 386 appearances during his 11-year career at Old Trafford.
But he scored for United again when he sent the ball into the back of his own net instead of clearing it.
United's dominance finally paid off in the 78th minute when Everton failed to deal with a high cross from Ronaldo.
The ball fell to Rooney, who is still unpopular with some Everton fans after he left for United in 2004, who rode a tackle before steering a shot into the right-hand corner for his 14th league goal of the season.
Youngster Chris Eagles, who replaced Ole Gunnar Solskjaer after 86 minutes, marked his first appearance for United in the Premier League with the fourth goal in stoppage time when he curled the ball home from 18 meters to complete United's stunning comeback.
Over at Stamford Bridge, Slovakia defender Lubomir Michalik gave Bolton a surprise 19th minute lead on his full debut, only for Chelsea's Ivorian striker Salomon Kalou to level soon after with a header.
Kalou was also responsible for Chelsea's second goal, sending in a header that struck the crossbar and rebounded into the net off keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen in the 33rd minute.
But as Chelsea closed in for the kill, Bolton forward Kevin Davies exploited a defensive lapse to head an equaliser soon after the re-start and Sam Allardyce's men held on for a point.
It means that United, who travel to face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on May 9, have 85 points to the champions' 80.
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said: "With Chelsea drawing, it's back with us. A five-point lead and a superior goal difference gives us an absolutely marvellous chance with just three games left."
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho conceded Manchester United were now very close to Premier League glory.
"Mathematically, we still have a chance and when there's a chance you have to wait...you have to win and you have to wait.
"I think Manchester United at the moment feel very close... They feel very comfortable...They can come to Stamford Bridge and they can lose," he said.
"I feel sad, but I feel I have a big game against Liverpool on Tuesday. That's a good thing, about being in this situation, that you still have a big game so you don't have time to be sad," Mourinho said.
Mourinho began against Bolton by resting England midfielders Frank Lampard and Joe Cole and top scorer Didier Drogba but all three eventually came off the bench.
Remaining fixtures of English Premier League title contenders:
Manchester United
Saturday, May 5: v Manchester City (a)
Wednesday, May 9: v Chelsea (a)
Sunday, May 13: v West Ham (h)
Chelsea
Sunday, May 6: v Arsenal (a)
Wednesday, May 9: v Manchester United (h)
Sunday, May 13: v Everton (h)
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