Super sub Federico Macheda sent football betting favourites Manchester United back to the top of the Premier League table with a goal to break Sunderland's hearts at the Stadium of Light.
The 17-year old Italian's strike gave United a 2-1 victory over the Black Cats after Kenwyne Jones has equalised Paul Scholes' first-half opener for the champions.
Earlier in the day, Liverpool had sneaked to the top of the table after a 4-0 rout of Blackburn Rovers.
A Fernando Torres brace and further efforts by Daniel Agger and David N'Gog sealed a very comfortable win in a performance labelled as 'good enough to win the title' by Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce.
Chelsea maintained their own title push but in less straightforward circumstances after a 4-3 victory over Bolton Wanderers.
The home side were four goals ahead on the hour mark at Stamford Bridge thanks to goals from Michael Ballack, Frank Lampard and a Didier Drogba double, but were forced to hang on at the end after allowing the Trotters to hit back to 4-3.
At the other end of the table, Middlesbrough improved their chances of staying up by securing three precious points with a 3-1 win over Hull City.
Substitute Andy Carroll headed a priceless equaliser as Newcastle United came through a bombardment at the Britannia Stadium to draw 1-1 with fellow strugglers Stoke City.
West Brom continue to cling to their top-flight status following a spirited 2-2 draw with Portsmouth at Fratton Park.
Elsewhere, Arsenal survived an early scare to run out 4-1 winners over Wigan Athletic, while Harry Redknapp guided Spurs to a 1-0 victory over former club West Ham United.
In golf, Angel Cabrera and Kenny Perry will tee off in the final group at the Masters on Sunday after establishing a two-shot lead at Augusta.
The duo are tied on 11 under par after Argentine Cabrera shot a three-under-par round of 69 and American veteran Perry a 70.
Chad Campbell leads the chasing pack on nine under, while world number one Tiger Woods is seven shots off the lead.
A superb late individual try from Julien Dupuy's saw Leicester Tigers book a Heineken Cup semi-final place against Cardiff Blues following a dramatic 20-15 win over Bath.
Earlier in the day, the Blues had prevailed 9-6 in a low-scoring encounter with Toulouse.
Meanwhile, Northampton and Worcester got the better of Connacht and Brive respectively to book their places in the last four of the European Challenge Cup.