Ferdinand scare as United held by Boro

(CNN) -- Manchester United had to come from behind to draw 2-2 at Middlesbrough, extending their Premier League lead to three points in a snow-hit match marred by an injury to defender Rio Ferdinand.

United went into the match without injured center-back Nemanja Vidic and ended it without England international Ferdinand, leaving the club potentially short of options ahead of the second leg of the Champions League quarterfinal at home to Roma.

Ferdinand, named England captain for the defeat by France last month, was replaced in the second half by Gerard Pique with his side 2-1 down.

However, Wayne Rooney netted the equalizer in the 74th minute from a low cross by substitute Park Ji-Sung to put United three points ahead of second-placed Chelsea with five matches to play.

Cristiano Ronaldo gave United the lead in the 10th minute with his 37th goal this season and 27th in the league, firing home from inside the area following a cross from Michael Carrick.

But Afonso Alves leveled in the 35th minute with his first goal for Boro since his $24 million transfer from Dutch club Heerenveen in January.

The striker lifted the ball over advancing goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar after Jeremie Aliadiere flicked on a long ball by Gary O'Neil.

And the Brazilian gave the home fans hope of another high-profile scalp -- having taken vital points off United, Chelsea and Arsenal in recent seasons -- when he drilled in his second 11 minutes after half-time.

But England forward Rooney netted for the third successive game with a deflected shot from close-range after Park did well to beat Andrew Taylor and deliver the cross, by which time the referee had ordered the use of a yellow ball due to the snowy conditions.

The result left Middlesbrough in 14th place, nine points clear of the relegation zone.

Meanwhile, Leon Osman kept Everton in contention for a Champions League place next season by scoring the winner in a 1-0 victory over already-relegated Derby County at Goodison Park.

Victory leaves Everton three points behind rivals Liverpool, who currently occupy fourth place and with it the final Champions League spot, with both Merseyside sides having five matches remaining.

For basement club Derby their 24th defeat from 33 league games this term left them on 11 points -- still four shy of the Premier League lowest total of 15 for a single season set by Sunderland in 2005-06.

The only goal of the game came in the 56th minute when midfielder Osman, allowed time and space to run onto Manuel Fernandes's through-ball, shot powerfully past goalkeeper Roy Carroll. E-mail to a friend

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