United hopes dashed by Alves brace

The Brazilian's first goals for Middlesbrough capped a thrilling match at the Riverside and it was left to Wayne Rooney to grab an equaliser when defeat was looming.

Earlier, Cristiano Ronaldo had struck his 37th goal of the season to open the scoring.

The result sees United's lead over Chelsea cut down to three points - and they still have to go to Stamford Bridge but Gareth Southgate's side were well worth the point at a snow-swept Riverside, and could even have stolen a late winner.

The home fans were left cold however when their marking completely went to pieces and United scored a 10th-minute opener as Ronaldo drifted away from his marker to fire home a cross from inside the six-yard box.

But Boro struck back 10 minutes before the break as Gary O'Neil's long pass from the right caught United ball-watching and Alves' kept his cool to lift the ball over the sliding Edwin van der Sar with his left foot after a Jeremie Aliadiere flick-on.

Alves' equaliser had been the first goal conceded by United since February 23 so when he put Boro ahead in the 56th minute, the majority of the 33,952 crowd went mad with excitement as he finished expertly with his right foot.

But it was Rooney, who finally found an outlet to his frustration when substitute Ji-Sung Park centred for the England striker to clip home from close range off Emanuel Pogatetz's leg and salvage a point for United.

The tension then increased and both sides had chances to seal it in a frantic finish. Van der Sar pulled off a diving save to deny Aliadiere then Rooney dragged his effort wide from a threatening position.

Tuncay Sanli looked poised to steal it in injury-time after a brilliant turn - but van der Sar once again proved United's saviour.