LONDON, Oct 25: Manchester United wasted the chance to close on the Premier League leaders when a sloppy second half cost them in a 1-1 draw at Everton on Saturday.

Midfielder Darren Fletcher put the champions in front on 22 minutes and the Old Trafford side should have had the points in the bag before halftime as Ryan Giggs and Cristiano Ronaldo teased Everton’s defence.

Everton got an unexpected equaliser after 63 minutes when Marouane Fellaini showed tremendous strength to head a cross from former United player Phil Neville past Edwin van der Sar and they finished the stronger side.

United striker Wayne Rooney was substituted shortly afterwards, denying him the chance to chalk up a 100th goal in club football against his old side.

The draw leaves United in fifth place, five points behind Chelsea and Liverpool who clash at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

—Reuters