Carvalho earns Chelsea share of spoils at United

Champions Chelsea fought back to earn a 1-1 draw with leaders Manchester United yesterday that kept the teams locked in a two-horse race for the Premier League title.

France striker Louis Saha put United in front with a well-taken goal in the 29th minute but Portugal defender Ricardo Carvalho headed home in the 69th to secure a valuable draw for the Blues at Old Trafford.

Chelsea, champions for the past two seasons but playing second fiddle to United this term, remain three points behind the leaders.

United, who won this fixture 1-0 last season, had the better of the first half but faded after the break. They are top on 35 points, followed by Chelsea on 32.

"In the first half United were the best team, in the second half Chelsea were better," Blues coach Jose Mourinho told Sky Sports.

"This is the Premiership, this is what people around the world have to see, that it is the best league in the world, two great teams, a lot of good players, a lot of respect. We came here to win but the draw is fair and a good result."

The hosts signalled their intentions early with Wayne Rooney, playing a day after agreeing a contract extension until 2012, rising to send a second-minute header over the bar.

Rooney and Ryan Giggs showed plenty of willing, along with winger Cristiano Ronaldo, but Chelsea's defence buttressed by captain John Terry and Carvalho, looked solid.

Chelsea's attack was quiet with playmaker Michael Ballack failing to provide any bite. Keeper Carlo Cudicini tipped a 25-metre free-kick from Ronaldo over the bar before the match swung United's way.

Giggs started the move by picking out Rooney, whose neat pass found Saha outside the area. As Carvalho backed off, the Frenchman curled the ball into the corner from 20 metres.

Chelsea reacted well to the setback and United keeper Edwin van der Sar had to punch away a fierce Geremi drive.

Mourinho reshuffled the Chelsea pack at half-time, replacing Geremi with winger Arjen Robben and pulling midfielder Michael Essien back as defensive cover.

The visitors looked sharper and Drogba, booked for an elbow on defender Nemanja Vidic, came close with a header over the top.

The game was now opening up, with Rooney threatening to punish Chelsea on the break and Frank Lampard peppering Van der Sar's goal from the distance as the champions turned up the pressure.

It paid off when Lampard curled over a corner from the right and Carvalho leapt highest to score with a header.

Chelsea fans in the corner of Old Trafford burst into celebration with chants of "that's why we're champions, that's why we're champions."

Sensing a chance to win it, Mourinho threw on Joe Cole for the ineffective Shevchenko in the 75th minute and Chelsea finished the stronger of the two sides.

"The performance of my team was excellent and some of the football was fantastic," said United manager Alex Ferguson.

"I think we were the better team but Chelsea do take credit, they don't stop fighting."

Also yesterday, Tottenham Hotspur came from behind to beat Wigan Athletic 3-1 at White Hart Lane in the Premier League.

Henri Camara put Wigan ahead in the 25th minute but Tottenham turned things round with two goals in two minutes just before half-time.

Dimitar Berbatov set up Jermain Defoe, who spun cleverly for the first then cut in nicely to tuck in the second himself. The Bulgarian striker also set up the third for Aaron Lennon in the last minute.

Tottenham have moved up to 10th place with Wigan 11th.

Earlier a 69th-minute goal by substitute Antoine Sibierski was enough for struggling Newcastle United to beat fourth-placed Portsmouth at St James's Park.