Southampton vs Sunderland. Premier League.
St. Mary's StadiumAttendance30,152.
Southampton 1-1 Sunderland: Rodriguez earns point for Southampton
Sunday 28 August 2016 00:45, UK
David Moyes was denied his first win as Sunderland manager after Jay Rodriguez's late strike gave Southampton a 1-1 draw at St Mary's.
The Black Cats looked to be heading for three points after Jermain Defoe hammered in a penalty in the closing stages.
But substitute Rodriguez scored his first top-flight goal since March 2014 when he equalised six minutes from time after his shot went under the body of Jordan Pickford, who was deputising for the injured Vito Mannone.
Saints will feel they deserved a point after creating a string of chances and were the brighter side in the opening stages with Dusan Tadic firing a shot inches over, while Charlie Austin's fierce strike from outside the box was beaten away by Pickford.
Austin was then flagged offside after scuffing a shot from close range which was saved by the goalkeeper.
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The Black Cats improved in the closing stages of the half and spurned a glorious opportunity when Lamine Kone headed wide from close range. In the build-up Sunderland felt they should have been awarded a penalty when Fabio Borini appeared to be pushed from behind by Jose Fonte.
Pickford continued to be at his best in the second half, diving at full stretch to parry Shane Long's low strike from distance before keeping out Redmond's shot at his near post.
The visitors broke the deadlock on 79 minutes through a penalty when Defoe was brought down by the trailing leg of Fonte and the striker lashed the ball into net with his spot kick.
But their lead lasted just six minutes with Rodriguez, who has battled back from serious knee trouble, saw his low shot from around 20 yards sneak under Pickford.
Moyes' side clung on for their first point of the season while Southampton make it two points from their first league games.
Player ratings
Southampton: Forster (5), Cedric (6), van Dijk (6), Fonte (5), Targett (5), Hojbjerg (6), Davis (6), Redmond (7), Tadic (6), Romeu (5), Austin (5).
Subs used: Long (6), Rodriguez (7), Ward-Prowse (5).
Sunderland: Pickford (7), Manquillo (5), Djilobodji (5), Kone (5), van Aanholt (6), Rodwell (5), Pienaar (5), Gooch (5), Borini (5), Januzaj (6), Defoe (7).
Subs used: Watmore (5), Lens (5), Love (5).
Man of the Match: Jermain Defoe
