EPL: Michael Ballack and Diomansy Kamara Strike to Keep Their Teams Alive

Chelsea and Fulham both recorded sensational victories today to keep their Premier League ambitions alive.

Chelsea overcame the reigning champions Manchester United 2-1 at Stamford Bridge whilst Fulham mounted a sensational comeback from 2-0 down to beat Manchester City 3-2. 

Chelsea struck first at Stamford Bridge when Michael Ballack poked in a header after 45 minutes after Joe Cole's sizzler had hit the bar. But United bounced back when Wayne Rooney latched onto a rare defensive lapse from Ricardo Carvalho to fire past Petr Cech. But then 5 minutes from time Micheal Carrick handled in the penalty box and Ballack coolly slotted home the first penalty United have conceded this season.

United fought on until the end, however, and goal-line clearances from Ashley Cole and Andriy Shevchenko denied Cristiano Ronaldo and Darren Fletcher respectively.

This result provides a potential mouth-watering climax to the Barclays Premier League season, with United and Chelsea level on 81 points, albeit United have a superior goal difference, with two games to go. Chelsea have to hope United will slip up at either West Ham or Wigan, and if Chelsea beat both Newcastle and Bolton, the title will go to Stamford Bridge.

In the other major D-Day clash, Fulham found themselves 2-0 down with 20 minutes to go against Manchester City after goals from Stephen Ireland and Benjani. Their season seemingly doomed. But in a great death-or-glory comeback, Diomansy Kamara rammed a shot passed City keeper Joe Hart to give Fulham a hope. Danny Murphy converted the rebound after his initial penalty was saved by Hart. And then Kamara sent Fulham fans into dreamland after he fired in again in the very last minute.

This means Fulham are still within a shout of staying in the Premiership, as they, in 19th, are only 3 points from safety with 2 games left, with Reading and Sunderland being drawn into the scrap as well.

In the day's other Premiership ties, Peter Crouch and Youssi Benayoun spared Liverpool's blushes as they came back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 against Birmingham City.  Daryl Murphy hit a crucial injury-time winner for Sunderland as they beat Middlesborough 3-2 at the Stadium of Light. Newcastle recovered from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 at West Ham. Bolton snatched a vital point with a 1-1 with Spurs, and Wigan and Reading played out a 0-0 draw at the JJB.