Stoke City vs Sunderland. Premier League.
Bet365 StadiumAttendance27,667.
Sunday 1 May 2016 07:38, UK
Jermain Defoe scored a penalty in the final minute of stoppage-time as relegation-threatened Sunderland salvaged a dramatic 1-1 draw against Stoke on Saturday.
Desperate for points to boost their survival hopes, the Black Cats struggled to create clear-cut chances and it looked like Marko Arnautovic's second-half goal would consign them to defeat.
But, with time running out, Defoe won and calmly converted a penalty after a lengthy delay to keep the Sunderland fans dreaming of survival.
Newcastle's home win over Crystal Palace means Sunderland drop into the bottom three, but they have a game in hand over the Magpies.
Sunderland fielded the same starting line-up for the fifth match in a row while Stoke made five changes, having shipped four goals in each of their three previous games.
Mark Hughes recalled forward Peter Crouch who proved to be the key man in the first half as his aerial prowess caused the Sunderland defence ceaseless problems.
The former England man drew a one-handed save from Vito Mannone with a header before nodding another chance just wide of the post.
But it was top-scorer Arnautovic who squandered the best opportunity of the half, blazing a shot over the crossbar after a Giannelli Imbula pass had put him in on goal with plenty of time to pick his spot.
Worryingly for Sunderland, despite the best efforts of Defoe and the lively Patrick van Aanholt, chances were thin on the ground for the visitors, and they found themselves a goal down five minutes into the second half.
Crouch nodded down a Charlie Adam cross and Arnautovic was far more composed his time, waiting patiently as Lamine Kone failed to cut the ball out before thumping a left-footed shot into the net.
Arnautovic was withdrawn with an injury and the goal sparked some life out of Sunderland, Defoe shooting just over after cutting inside and later trying an acrobatic volley which also went over the top.
But Stoke also had chances to finish the game off, Mannone doing well to bravely foil Crouch after substitute Jon Walters had nodded the ball into the danger area.
The hosts had an even better chance in stoppage-time, a lovely Crouch flick and a neat Walters pass putting Imbula through, but the midfielder was somewhat slow to move forward and, when he eventually got a shot away, it was just wide of the post.
Sunderland's race appeared to be run at this point however, and it did not look like the wasted chance would prove costly, but Defoe had other ideas.
With just seconds remaining, the experienced forward twisted and turned in the box, before going down under pressure from Geoff Cameron.
Referee Craig Pawson pointed to the spot and, despite a delay before the kick could be taken, Defoe confidently found the right-hand corner as Jakob Haugaard flung himself in the opposite direction.
The Black Cats and their travelling army celebrated the point jubilantly and they move on to play host to Chelsea next Saturday.
Soccer Saturday verdict - Matt Le Tissier
I don't think I ever took a penalty so late at such a crucial stage of the season. It is butterflies-in-the-stomach time, but fair play to Defoe, who looked cool, calm and collected when it was given. The finish was very good, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way. There was no question about the penalty award, for me.
I thought Stoke were the better side in terms of quality and Sunderland looked nervous which is understandable at this stage of the season. Fair play to them for digging in. Big Sam [Allardyce] made some substitutions and they got the break in the end with the penalty.
Player ratings:
Stoke: Haugaard (6), Cameron (5), Shawcross (6), Bardsley (6), Pieters (6), Imbula (6), Whelan (6), Adam (7), Shaqiri (6), Arnautovic (6), Crouch (7)
Subs: Diouf (6), Walters (7), Muniesa (6)
Sunderland: Mannone (7), Kaboul (6), Kone (6), Yedlin (6), Van Aanholt (7), Cattermole (6), Khazri, (6), M'Vila (5), Kirchhoff (6), Borinin (5), Defoe (7)
Subs: Watmore (6), Larsson (6), N'Doye (5)
Star man: Jermain Defoe
