The Premier League title race took an unexpected twist Sunday when Manchester City beat Wolverhampton 2-0 to move within three points of leader Manchester United, which blew a two-goal lead to draw 4-4 with Everton. With the two rivals meeting at Etihad Stadium next and City having a much better goal difference than United, the destiny of the title is back in both teams' hands in what is proving a thrilling climax to the season. “It's a derby of amazing proportions — probably the most important derby game in my time,” said United manager Alex Ferguson, who took over in 1986. United appeared to be coasting to an eighth straight home win when Wayne Rooney scored his second goal to put the champion 4-2 ahead at Old Trafford. However, poor defending from the defending champion allowed Nikica Jelavic and Steven Pienaar to score goals in the final seven minutes and earn Everton a point. City took full advantage hours later at Molineux, with goals by Sergio Aguero and Samir Nasri ensuring Wolves became the first team to be relegated from the top flight. “The United game's in our sights,” City goalkeeper Joe Hart said. “We feel ready and are firing in the goals.” In the day's other match, Liverpool's poor league form continued with a 1-0 home loss to West Bromwich Albion, with Peter Odemwingie grabbing the winner against the run of play in the 75th minute. Liverpool, which had 28 shots at Anfield, is languishing in eighth place — two points behind Merseyside rival Everton with four matches left. United still holds the initiative although City's superb form at home — where it has won 16 of its 17 matches — gives Roberto Mancini's team a great chance of leap-frogging its greatest rival. City currently has a goal difference advantage of six. “I think they have a bigger chance than us,” Mancini said. “But we have another chance.” Schalke holds Augsburg Klaas-Jan Huntelaar's 25th goal of the season salvaged a 1-1 draw for third-place Schalke at relegation-threatened Augsburg Sunday, while Freiburg ensured it will stay in the Bundesliga with a 0-0 draw at Hannover. Huntelaar's 38th-minute strike canceled out Augsburg's opener in the sixth, when defender Sebastian Langkamp crashed his header in off the crossbar from a corner. Augsburg is four points above the relegation zone with two games remaining, while Freiburg is safe after stretching its unbeaten run to nine matches in Sunday's late game. Milan, Bologna tie Ten-man AC Milan needed a 90th-minute equalizer from Zlatan Ibrahimovic to salvage a 1-1 draw at home with Bologna Sunday. Elsewhere, third-place Lazio allowed a late equalizer in a 1-1 draw with Lecce; Inter Milan drew at Fiorentina 0-0; and Palermo drew 2-2 at Cesena. Siena, meanwhile, beat Genoa 4-1 in a match that was suspended for about 45 minutes early in the second half due to protests.
