Manchester United will not be going to the World Club Championships as Premiership leaders, as the natural order of things was defied in inspirational fashion last night by a Sunderland side who refused to relinquish their place among their supposed superiors at the top of the table.
Leeds United's defeat at Arsenal had left United needing victory to regain the Premiership leadership. But they were desperately grateful for a point, only gained three minutes from the end of a pulsating clash when Paul Butler's weak headed clearance was driven in by Nicky Butt.
The searchlights slicing the ice-black skies above the Stadium of Light before kick-off might have symbolised the growing fears of Sunderland's supporters that the Premiership season was about to turn against them.
A five-goal mauling at Everton had shaken fans who have hardly dared to revel in their unexpectedly successful return to the Premiership, and even a convenient statistical absurdity or two - Sunderland had not lost at home to Manchester United for 15 years - did little to allay fears.
Yet misgivings do not gather around any side managed by Peter Reid, and Sunderland immediately sent their doubting fans delirious by scoring twice in the first 14 minutes.
The prime source, as it has been all season, was the aerial supremacy of Niall Quinn, who gave his initial marker, Mickael Silvestre, the run-around. By the time that Jaap Stam was deputised to take care of Quinn, the Irishman had left United with a colossal task.
Sunderland scored from their first attack: Quinn flicked Michael Gray's free-kick from deep on the left and Gavin McCann arrived on cue to poke the opportunity low inside Mark Bosnich's right-hand post.
When Quinn again won a header, with Silvestre begging at his shoulder like an attentive dog hoping for a hand-me-down, Butler failed to steady himself and blazed an inviting chance high.
Sunderland's second goal, however, was not long delayed. Quinn, stretching for Stefan Schwarz's cross from the left, contrived to divert it over Bosnich and in off the underside of the bar. He is having the season of his life and little will have matched the glory of his opening quarter-hour last night.
It was Roy Keane, by example and, when that failed, by torrents of abuse, who demanded that United steady themselves. It was Keane, too, who pulled a goal back after 27 minutes, finishing clinically after Andy Cole had freed him on the right of the area.
Keane, a towering presence, might have equalised by halftime as United grasped the initiative. He tore to the near post to meet Beckham's corner but his header struck McCann on the line. Cole and Stam came equally close to levelling as Sunderland reached half-time with relief.
And it was Cole on 62 minutes who almost broke free after Keane and Giggs linked well, but Chris Makin was able to shepherd the ball back to Sorensen.
The Dane pulled off a fine save five minutes later when Cole ran on to Yorke's pass and shot across him, and although Sorensen could not hold it, Giggs was unable to recycle the loose ball to any great effect.
Ferguson gambled by replacing Irwin with Teddy Sheringham on 77 minutes and Giggs responded by going on a mazy run four minutes later only to fire high over.
However, the visitors drew level with just four minutes remaining when Butt sent a bobbling shot from the edge of the area past Sorensen.
Sunderland: Sorensen, Makin, Butler, Bould, Gray, Summerbee, Rae (Williams 61), McCann, Schwarz, Kilbane (Reddy 89), Quinn. Subs Not Used: Oster, Roy, Marriott. Booked: Rae, Makin, Schwarz. Goals: McCann 2, Quinn 13.
Man Utd: Bosnich, G Neville, Stam, Silvestre, Irwin (Sheringham 77), Beckham (Solskjaer 84), Butt, Keane, Giggs, Yorke, Cole (P Neville 87). Subs Not Used: Berg, Van Der Gouw. Booked: Stam, Giggs. Goals: Keane 27, Butt 86.
Referee: J Winter (Stockton-on-Tees).
