Magpies pull off last-gasp draw
Newcastle (England), March 4: Shola Ameobi’s injury-time equaliser rescued a dramatic point for Newcastle in a pulsating 11 draw with local rivals Sunderland at St James’ Park on Sunday.
Ameobi pounced from close range to deny 10-man Sunderland a first win here for more than 11 years and extend his remarkable scoring record in the Tyne-wear derby.
The 30-year-old forward’s seventh career goal against the Black Cats earned a share of the spoils as the hosts avoided a first home defeat of the year after Nicklas Bendtner’s first-half penalty opened the scoring for Sunderland.
Martin O’neill’s side negotiated the last half hour a man down after Stephane Sessegnon earned a straight red for elbowing Cheik Tiote as the pair tussled for possession, though any contact looked light.
Simon Mignolet’s stunning late penalty save had looked like putting a dent in Newcastle’s European aspirations: the Belgium goalkeeper dived low to his left to keep out Demba Ba’s 83rd-minute spot kick, before Ameobi’s intervention.
Alan Pardew’s team remain sixth in the English Premier League, five points clear of Liverpool in seventh but having missed an opportunity to draw level with fifth-placed Chelsea.
In a sign of the times, there was just one Tyneside or Wearside native involved: Jack Colback, Sunderland’s Newcastle-born midfielder who came on as a second-half substitute.
Lee Cattermole set the tone for a predictably spicy 146th derby meeting.
The Sunderland captain was cautioned after just 40 seconds for an ugly challenge on Tiote— a 10th booking of the season earning the midfielder a two-match suspension.
However, that is likely to be extended after Cattermole earned a red card after the final whistle for dissent. Cautions far out-numbered chances before the interval with half a dozen players earning a yellow card, including Sunderland’s James Mcclean and the Magpies’ Danny Simpson.
Referee Mike
Dean awarded Sunderland a disputed penalty midway through the first half, booking Mike Williamson for what appeared to be a harmless piece of shirttugging with Michael Turner.
Bendtner, restored to the starting line-up wearing a mask to protect a facial injury, beat Tim Krul low to the keeper’s right.
Newcastle belatedly came to life as the half drew to a close.
But thanks to some inspirational defending, clear chances for the hosts were kept at a premium, until Ameobi pounced after Williamson had flicked on a cross. — AFP