The Hindu : Sport / Football : Late equaliser gets Man City a draw

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Oct 22, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Sport

Sport - Football

Late equaliser gets Man City a draw

FOOTBALL / Ireland’s effort helps Magpies climb out of relegation zone

— PHOTO: AFP

SIZZLING STRIKE: Manchester City’s Stephen Ireland (second from right) scores from close range to make it 2-2 against Newcastle United.

NEWCASTLE: Stephen Ireland’s 86th-minute equaliser gave Manchester City a 2-2 draw against 10-man Newcastle on Monday and stopped the Magpies climbing out of the Premier League’s relegation zone.

Newcastle was reduced to 10 men after Habib Beye had been sent off in the 12th minute, but still rallied after Robinho had put City ahead from the penalty spot in the 14th.

Shola Ameobi’s close-range strike and Richard Dunne’s own-goal in the 63rd gave Newcastle a 2-1 lead and Joe Kinnear’s team appeared on course to climb out of the last three until Ireland equalised four minutes from the end.

The draw meant that Newcastle remained next to last with six points from eight games but City moved up one place to 10th. Tottenham remained last with only two points after losing 2-1 at Stoke on Sunday.

Newcastle was forced to start with Obafemi Martins and Ameobi in attack with Michael Owen ruled out, Martins rushed back into the line-up after being sidelined for three weeks with a knee injury.

Robinho gave the visitor the lead from the penalty spot with his third goal in a City shirt after Beye was judged to have brought the Brazilian down in the area. Beye was sent off for the foul although TV replays suggested that he touched the ball before Robinho went down. Newcastle players pleaded with referee Rob Styles to consult his linesman who had not flagged for a foul but he awarded the spot-kick.

Newcastle hit back with an equaliser in the final minute of the first half. Richard Dunne’s attempted clearance struck Newcastle midfielder Damien Duff and the ball rolled to Ameobi who scored with a close range shot

Newcastle went ahead in the 63rd when Dunne tried to clear Geremi’s corner and sliced the ball into his own net.

Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given pushed away a volley from Ireland seven minutes from the end but was beaten three minutes later when the midfielder collected Robinho’s through ball and scored from close range. — AP

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport