Sunderland were holding their own, though, until Phil Bardsley felled Nico Kranjcar and Defoe scored the penalty.
Bardsley was soon involved further upfield as Van Nistelrooy almost gave United the lead in stunning fashion.
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Carragher produced an excellent cross to the back post and Crouch rose above Phil Bardsley to head past Gordon.
BBC: Crouch's goal was only his second in the league this season
Bardsley shot just wide and Dean Whitehead's header was comfortably collected by Green.
Defenders Anton Ferdinand and Phil Bardsley might also have left the field had their three substitutions not already been used.
Phil Bardsley's left-foot cross found Cisse at the back post and he was again unable to direct his effort on goal.
Phil Bardsley was yellow-carded for almost rugby-tackling Stewart Downing and from the resultant free-kick Rochemback unleashed a fierce drive from 25 yards.
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Crouch was denied a second when his acrobatic volley was well saved, before Bardsley cleared his header off the line from Gerrard's corner.
BBC: Crouch's goal was only his second in the league this season
Kalou twice almost got in on goal while a superb last-ditch block tackle by Phil Bardsley denied the Ivorian his second goal in two games.
Sunderland right-back Phil Bardsley was making his international debut and it was from that position that the cross came for the first chance after the break.
However, the match was decided by Bardsley's foul on Kranjcar, the Croatian bamboozling the Sunderland full-back before tumbling over his leg and Defoe dispatched the penalty with aplomb.
Johan Djourou needed to be alert to clear a low Jordan Henderson cross with Asamoah Gyan ready to pounce, while Phil Bardsley drilled narrowly wide from 20 yards.
Alert Steed Malbranque ran round the back of slumbering marker Carlos Cuellar but, though Bardsley's deep cross cleared the Spaniard, the Black Cats midfielder steered his back-post header wide.
And they were thankful to goalkeeper Karen Bardsley to deny Sarah Gregorius after a mix-up in Team GB's defense offered the Football Fearns a glorious late chance to equalize.
But they deservedly bagged an equaliser when Bardsley made up for his earlier error with an incisive ball into the box and veteran midfielder Berger cleverly guided it past Brad Friedel, who was making his 108th consecutive Rovers appearance.
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