Fight!
Middlesbrough 2 Sunderland 2 - Match Report
Fight!
By Betting Zone
September 22 2007
Substitute Liam Miller snatched a precious point for Sunderland with a last-minute equaliser as Middlesbrough were made to pay for missed chances. Miller struck with seconds remaining just as it looked as though Stewart Downing's 67th-minute piledriver had won the day.
Fight!
September 22 2007
Substitute Liam Miller snatched a precious point for Sunderland with a last-minute equaliser as Middlesbrough were made to pay for missed chances. Miller struck with seconds remaining just as it looked as though Stewart Downing's 67th-minute piledriver had won the day.
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Grant Leadbitter had opened the scoring for the Black Cats after just 45 seconds, but Julio Arca, who was later carried off, levelled against his former club on 14 minutes. Julio Arca tasted both the joy and pain of derby day as Middlesbrough fought back against his former club Sunderland. The Argentinian gave the ball away to allow Grant Leadbitter to open the scoring with just 75 seconds gone, but levelled with a 14th-minute header before being carried off with what looked like a serious knee injury. In an eventful first half, Boro, who also lost striker Tuncay Sanli to injury, just about shaded it with David Wheater and home debutant Gary O'Neil both going close. Boro were behind with just 75 seconds on the clock when Julio Arca, who scored for the Black Cats on their last visit to the Riverside two seasons ago, conceded possession to Grant Leadbitter on halfway to put his side under pressure. Leadbitter surged towards the penalty area before picking out Michael Chopra on the left, but continued his run and when the striker's shot hit him, he controlled and slotted low past Mark Schwarzer. Boro's response was swift, O'Neill seeing penalty appeals for handball against Danny Collins waved away before David Wheater's well-struck shot was deflected just wide by Danny Higginbotham. Boro's problems deepened with just 10 minutes gone when Tuncay limped off to be replaced by Dong-Gook Lee. However, they were almost back on terms three minutes later when Stewart Downing laid the ball into the path of Fabio Rochemback, and he made his way into the box before smashing a shot inches wide of Craig Gordon's far post. The equaliser arrived within a minute when Arca atoned for his earlier error by thumping a header past Gordon from O'Neil's right-wing cross. In a frantic start to the game, the visitors pinned their hosts back inside their own penalty area, but could not work Schwarzer. But referee Howard Webb infuriated the home supporters on 20 minutes when he failed to point to the spot after Higginbotham blocked Luke Young's ball into the box with his hand. The Teessiders were enjoying little good fortune, and they were forced to make a second change when Arca limped off in some discomfort after receiving lengthy treatment on the pitch and was eventually carried back to the dressing room on a stretcher. Skipper Boateng replaced him with 27 minutes gone, but in the meantime, O'Neil had tested Gordon's reactions with a smartly-struck effort from the edge of the box and Wheater maintained his concentration to block Kenwyne Jones' left-foot drive at the other end. Boateng announced his arrival in uncompromising fashion with an untidy challenge on Ross Wallace which earned him a booking, and Southgate looked on uneasily three minutes later when he clattered into Jones and was penalised once again. There was no let-up in the space of the game, although both sides were increasingly careless in possession with Lee and Chopra particularly guilty. O'Neil was presented with a glorious opportunity to open his Boro account when Downing's shot was blocked to him at the far post by Paul McShane, but he lifted his volley high over. Higginbotham bravely threw himself into the path of Lee's goal-bound 40th-minute header as the home side pressed once again. Southgate prepared to make his final change with five minutes of the first half still to go as Mido nursed a tight hamstring, but the Egyptian waved him away with Lee Cattermole already stripped. HT: Middlesbrough 1 Sunderland 1 The home side started the brighter after the break with Downing to the fore, although it was Sunderland who were first to muster an attempt on goal. Chopra did well to hold off Jonathan Woodgate to lay the ball off for Jones, but the £6million man sliced his right-footed shot well wide. However, Boro were back on the attack on 49 minutes when Lee did well to recycle Downing's deep cross beyond the far post and find O'Neil, although the midfielder scuffed his effort straight at Gordon. But the £9million goalkeeper was in trouble a minute later after Mido did well to pick out Lee, 25 yards from goal. The South Korea international took his time before bending a right-footed shot past Gordon's despairing dive, but agonisingly wide of the post. Sunderland were appealing in vain for a penalty on 55 minutes after Woodgate's arm made contact with the ball, and they went close to regaining the lead seconds later when Ross Wallace smashed a left-footed shot across the face of goal from Leadbitter's cross. There was an uncomfortable moment for Schwarzer on the hour when he came to claim Wallace's free-kick, but under pressure from Jones, could only parry it to Halford, who was quickly closed down. The game erupted on 62 minutes when Cattermole, who had replaced Mido four minutes earlier, clashed with Leadbitter, sparking a 15-man melee with the two protagonists receiving yellow cards for their pains. Boro might have gone in front two minutes later when Downing's cross was cleared to O'Neil, who tried to pick his spot, but side-footed wide from the edge of the area. But they were ahead on 67 minutes when Downing's viciously swerving right-footed shot wrong-footed Gordon and screamed into the net. FT Middlesbrough 2 Sunderland 2 The visitors desperately tried to force their way back into the game, but chances were few and far between and Leadbitter failed to trouble Schwarzer from distance on 71 minutes. Halford could do no better when, after cleverly slipping past Downing seven minutes later, he sliced his left-foot shot horribly wide. O'Neil might have left his mark on the game with an 80th-minute header, but could not hit the target. The Teessiders were made to pay with a minute remaining when substitute Liam Miller drilled a left-footed volley past Schwarzer to snatch a point, although Cattermole shot just wide in injury-time.
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