Aston Villa's Gabriel Agbonlahor (left), Gareth Barry (right) and Patrik Berger celebrate teammate John Carew's (unseen) goal during their English Premier League soccer match at Goodison Park Stadium, Liverpool, England, yesterday. - AP

LONDON (AP):

John Carew headed an 86th-minute equaliser for Aston Villa to draw 2-2 with Everton in the Premier League yesterday.

Everton twice went ahead at Goodison Park, but three late goals in seven minutes gave Villa a point in the race to finish fifth and a place in next season's UEFA Cup.

The Toffees went ahead in the 56th minute when Aiyegbeni Yakubu skilfully broke down the left. He pulled the ball back and Phil Neville, who averages one goal a season, hit a low shot that deflected off Villa defender Martin Laursen and flew past goalkeeper Scott Carson.

Villa equalised in the 80th after Gabriel Agbonlahor escaped his marker to meet a corner from Gareth Barry and turn the ball into the net.

Regained lead

Three minutes later, Everton regained the lead when Lee Carsley floated the ball to the far post and Joseph Yobo got behind the defence to drive the ball home. But Carew made it 2-2 when he headed home a through ball by Barry.

The draw means that Everton have 62 points from 36 games, while Villa have 59 with two rounds to go.

In yesterday's other game, Roque Santa Cruz scored a 74th-minute winner for Blackburn to beat sixth-place Portsmouth 1-0 and virtually finish Pompey's chances of finishing fifth.

The Paraguay striker took a short pass from Jason Roberts to score the winner, taking his tally to six in seven league games and 17 for the campaign.

Portsmouth goalkeeper David James missed his first league game of the season because of a calf injury and replacement Jamie Ashdown saved well from Roberts five minutes after the goal.

While Rovers climbed one place to eighth, Portsmouth are five points behind Everton with 57.

Highlight of the games

"Fifth place looks out of reach for us now, but it was always going to be difficult,'' said Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp, whose team plays the FA Cup final on May 17 against League Championship club Cardiff City

"We could have done it if we'd won last week and then today, but, to be honest, winning the FA Cup final is the most important thing now."

The highlight game of the weekend was Chelsea's 2-1 victory over league leader Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. Michael Ballack's two goals put the Blues level on points with United, but behind on goal difference and each club has two games left to play.

Third-place Arsenal do not play until today when they visit Derby.

Saturday's other results were: Birmingham 2, Liverpool 2; Manchester City 2, Fulham 3; Sunderland 3, Middlesbrough 2; Tottenham 1, Bolton 1; West Ham 2, Newcastle 2; and Wigan 0, Reading 0.

Portsmouth's captain Sol Campbell (left) and Blackburn Rovers' Roque Santa Cruz fight for the ball during their English Premier League soccer match at Fratton Park stadium, Portsmouth, England, yesterday. Rovers won the match 1-0 with a goal by Santa Cruz. - AP

SATURDAY, APRIL 26

BIRMINGHAM 2 LIVERPOOL 2

GOALS - BIRMINGHAM: FORSSELL 34th; LARSSON 55th.

LIVERPOOL: CROUCH 63rd; BENAYOUN 76th.

Birmingham let a two-goal lead slip against Liverpool as they were denied a crucial win in their relegation battle. Mikael Forssell lashed in a shot at the far post to put the Blues ahead, with Sebastian Larsson's exquisite long range free kick adding to their lead.

But Peter Crouch guided in a shot to haul the Reds back into the game. And as Liverpool penned the Blues back, Yossi Benayoun equalised with a deflected header, which all but secures fourth spot for the Anfield side.

CHELSEA 2 MAN UNITED 1

GOALS - BALLACK 45th, 86th PEN. UNITED: ROONEY 57th.

Michael Ballack's penalty blew the title race open as Chelsea moved level on points with leaders Manchester United with only two matches left. Joe Cole's shot hit the bar as United, who lost Nemanja Vidic to injury, backtracked before Ballack headed Chelsea in front on 45 minutes.

Wayne Rooney drove in the equaliser after Ricardo Carvalho's error to put United back in the driving seat. But after Michael Carrick handled in the area, Ballack won it from the spot - the first penalty conceded by United all season.

MAN CITY 2 FULHAM 3

GOALS - IRELAND 10th; BENJANI 21st. FULHAM: KAMARA 70th, 90th; MURPHY 79th.

Fulham staged a remarkable comeback to keep their Premier League hopes alive in a dramatic see-saw match. City opened a 2-0 lead thanks to a brilliant curler from Stephen Ireland and Benjani's side-foot finish.

Diomansy Kamara put Fulham back into it with 20 minutes left by drilling a shot through 'keeper Joe Hart's legs. Danny Murphy equalised nine minutes later, slotting home after Joe hart saved his penalty, and Kamara fired the winner in the very last minute.

SUNDERLAND 3 M'BROUGH 2

GOALS - HIGGINBOTHAM 6th; CHOPRA 45th; MURPHY 90th. MIDDLESBROUGH: TUNCAY 4th, ALVES 73rd.

Sunderland substitute Daryl Murphy headed home a dramatic injury-time winner to sink Middlesbrough in an absorbing Wear-Tees derby.

Tuncay calmly drove Boro ahead inside the fourth minute before Danny Higginbotham headed Sunderland's equaliser just two minutes later.

A minute before half-time Michael Chopra fired home before Afonso Alves' low shot levelled again for Boro.

Murphy headed home at the death to ensure Sunderland's top-flight safety.

TOTTENHAM 1 BOLTON

GOALS - TOTTENHAM: MALBRANQUE 52nd.

BOLTON: STELIOS 46th.

Bolton held on for a valuable point in their battle against relegation, despite being totally outplayed by Tottenham.

Spurs dominated the first half but failed to create clear chances against a well-organised Bolton defence.

The visitors grabbed a shock lead when substitute Stelios Gianna-kopoulos stabbed home a scruffy goal from close range within 20 seconds of the restart. Steed Malbranque turned in Robbie Keane's shot to level before Dimitar Berbatov wasted a glorious late chance.

WEST HAM 2 NEWCASTLE 2

GOALS - NOBLE 10th; ASHTON 23rd. NEWCASTLE: MARTINS 42nd; GEREMI 45th.

Newcastle came back from 2-0 down to earn a point at Upton Park. George McCartney's left-wing cross was volleyed home by Mark Noble before Dean Ashton fired in West Ham's second after being found by Bobby Zamora's flick-on.

But Obafemi Martins scored with the Magpies' first real attack when he finished calmly after latching on to Joey Barton's ball over the top. And Geremi diverted Martins' shot into the net with his shoulder to haul Newcastle level just before half-time.

WIGAN 0 READING 0

Wigan edged closer to Premier League safety but Reading are still looking nervously over their shoulders after this tense draw.

The Latics made a blistering start and almost scored early on when Marcus Bent's powerful header hit the post. Reading settled after a poor opening and Leroy Lita and Michael Duberry both went close after the interval.

Michael Brown almost won it for Wigan late on, but neither side could force the winner they desperately needed.