AFONSO ALVES slowed Manchester United’s title charge with an excellent double to earn Middlesbrough a draw at the Riverside on Sunday.

The result means United has a three-point lead over Chelsea and six over third-place Arsenal, which tied 1-1 at home to fourth-place Liverpool. United hosts Arsenal next Sunday.

The Red Devils took a 10th-minute lead on Cristiano Ronaldo’s 37th goal of the season in all competitions.

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

Alves, signed from Dutch club Heerenveen during the January transfer window, almost added a third three minutes later when Jeremie Aliadiere won the ball in the air but Alves’ close range effort was blocked by Rio Ferdinand.

Already without Nemanja Vidic for three weeks with a knee injury, United lost its central defensive partner Ferdinand with an ankle problem only three days before it defends a 2-0 Champions League lead over AS Roma.

(SD-Agencies)