Premier League - Fabregas saves Arsenal
Cesc Fabregas' injury-time header earned Arsenal a 1-1 draw with Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.
Substitute Grant Leadbitter's stunning 86th minute strike had given the hosts the lead but the Spanish midfielder nipped in, three minutes into stoppage time, to nod home Robin Van Persie.
A third League defeat of the season would have been tough on the Gunners who had a seemingly legitimiate goal disallowed in the second-half when the assistant referee adjudged that Theo Walcott had taken the ball out of play before pulling it ball back for Van Persie to tap home.
Sunderland keeper Craig Gordon was at fault for the equaliser as he flapped badly at the set-piece but had earlier made a superb save from Van Persie.
Sub Nicklas Bendtner chipped through to the Dutchman but his well struck volley from ten yards was superbly saved by Gordon's outstretched left hand.
Just four minutes later Leadbitter sent the home crowd into raptures with a superb goal, just two minutes after coming on.
He wrestled possession from Alexandre Song and then unleashed a swerving shot that beat Manuel Almunia and went in off the underside of the crossbar.
Almunia had spared Walcott's blushes early on with a fine save after a woefully short backpass from the teenager had put his side in trouble only for the Spanish custodian to off his line quickly to smother Djibril Cisse's shot.
Almunia was called into action again to tip Cisse's 25-yard stinging diagonal drive over the crossbar as Sunderland started brightly with only a superb tackle by Kolo Toure preventing Dean Whitehead from reaching an astute pass by Steed Malbranque.
Arsenal improved as the half went on and Fabregas' long-range drive was well held by Gordon and the Scottish keeper also clawed away Walcott's fierce centre across the six-yard box.
Walcott and Denilson also screwed 25-yard shots wide of the far post while Andy Reid was unable to capitalise after finding space at the back post with Cisse's cross just a little too high for the Irish midfielder to control first time.
After the controversially disallowed goal on 56 minutes, Arsenal continued to press and Emmanuel Adebayor's volley was fumbled by Gordon only for Anton Ferdinand to clear before Kieran Richardson stung Almunia's palms with a 30-yard drive.
But a game that saw six yellow cards only exploded in the final stages with Fabregas' first goal of the season saving his team. |
發表於 2008-10-5 12:10 AM
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