Petrov Spares Sven From More Misery Against Sanchez

This was a reunion that brought back bad memories for Sven-Goran Eriksson, but proved to be a contest that will live long in his memory. It was the first time that he had come up against David Healy and Lawrie Sanchez since the duo played an influential role in inflicting Eriksson's most humiliating moment as an international manager when his England team succumbed to Northern Ireland two years ago.

Twice his Manchester City side fell behind and it looked like Eriksson would be going home an unhappy man again, but his team produced the moments of individual brilliance to earn a hard-fought draw.

Four of the members of the Northern Ireland team that defeated Eriksson's England - Aaron Hughes, Chris Baird, Steven Davis and Healey - started for Fulham and they clearly believed they would cause the Swede another upset despite City's outstanding recent form.

Fulham's competitiveness ruffled the visitors early on, with Michael Johnson left feeling groggy in the opening minutes after feeling the full force of Alexei Smertin's elbow. Fulham further unsettled City when Simon Davies' long ball was collected by Healy, in a dangerous position, but Richard Dunne slid to the rescue with a well-timed tackle.

Stephen Ireland, on the pitch for the first time since his off-field controversy involving the Republic of Ireland side, shot over from 30 yards when City had their first opening. But Fulham snatched the lead their early determination deserved when Davis picked out Hameur Bouazza on the left flank. Bouazza's cross was headed in at the near post by Davies, who sneaked beyond Dunne in the six-yard box.

Bouazza should have done better with Fulham's next chance, but his sliced effort, after a promising break by Clint Dempsey, did not test Kasper Schmeichel in the City goal.

Vedran Corluka made some amends for a sluggish start with a fine cross from the right that eventually landed at Martin Petrov's feet, but the City midfielder put too much power into his strike. But they leveled courtesy of Petrov when he cut beyond Baird and his low shot evaded a cluster of Fulham defenders to beat Antti Niemi in the home goal.

Fulham wrestled back the initiative just after half time. The lively Dempsey set up substitute Diomansy Kamara, who was tripped by Dunne as he went beyond him while surging towards the edge of the 18-yard box. Bouazza took advantage with his free kick, exploiting a gap in City's defensive wall.

The game changed dramatically in the next 10 minutes. City wasted little time in equalizing as Emile Mpenza headed on for Petrov, who strode forward and shot from 18 yards. That strike was parried by Niemi, but Mpenza used his head again, nodding the rebound back beyond the Fulham goalkeeper.

City then went ahead in the 60th minute after a fabulous one-two between Elano Blumer and Petrov, which ended in the latter driving the ball past Niemi.

Fulham could have been deflated by that, but instead they were roused as this free-flowing and often scintillating game took another twist. This time it was Fulham's turn to score a route-one goal that culminated in Seol Ki-Hyeon heading the ball on towards Danny Murphy, who coolly slotted beyond Schmeichel. There were chances for both sides to snatch a late win, with a nerve-wracking four minutes of stoppage time played, but the match ended level.