Sunderland 0 Aston Villa 0 Villa win 31 on pens: match report

27 October 2009 22:41
Martin O'Neill, the Aston Villa manager, hit the proverbial roof at the Stadium of Light on Tuesday night as his team teetered on the brink of Carling Cup elimination thanks to a dubiously awarded penalty. [LNB]O'Neill flew into a fury on the touchline when Carlos Cuéllar was harshly penalised for a handball as he tried to cut out Andy Reid's cross late on but a poorly taken spot-kick by Kenwyne Jones kept his team's hopes alive. [LNB] Related ArticlesHeskey set for rare Villa startPremier League moves from Fab Four to Magnificent SevenBeach ball fan reveals anguish over death threatsCattermole out for three monthsRafael Benítez backs 'beach ball' refereeSport on televisionEngland striker Emile Heskey, handed a rare starting slot instead of John Carew, almost vindicated Martin O'Neill's selection early on when he flicked the ball narrowly wide of Craig Gordon's goal from close range. [LNB]Despite pitting his wits against the seasoned Nigel Reo-Coker, making his first start since a training ground bust-up with O'Neill, teenager Jordan Henderson excelled in the midfield trenches as Sunderland gained the upper hand after that early scare. [LNB]Henderson, 19, tested Brad Friedel's stand-in, Brad Guzan, from distance and then sent a low shot zipping just wide of the post before loud appeals for a penalty were ignored by Phil Dowd when he went down under Richard Dunne's late challenge. [LNB]Trouble is, though, a penalty would probably have been missed because if none of their set pieces had been up to scratch then Sunderland might have capitalised on first-half superiority, but Kieran Richardson wasted their most favourable set-plays. [LNB]It was no wonder that manager Steve Bruce hung his head and let out a deep sigh as Richardson tried his luck from an overly ambitious 35 yards only to see the ball sail wide of the target. [LNB]If only Richardson was as accurate as Henderson who was denied a breakthrough goal in first-half stoppage time when he brilliantly belted a volley goalwards from the edge of the penalty box following Dunne's header only to see Guzan superbly prove equal to his endeavours by pushing the ball over. [LNB]Villa finally got into their counter-attacking stride after half-time to excite those fans who had travelled to Wearside on 34 coaches provided free-of charge by the club. [LNB]James Milner and Gabriel Agbonlahor were at the forefront of their attacks but there was no finishing touch to match their good approach play. [LNB]At the other end, the effervescent Henderson maintained his duel with Guzan and curled a shot narrowly wide of the American's goal from 20 yards. [LNB]Gordon came to his side's rescue in the 75th minute when he repelled Agbonlahor's shot with his body after Ashley Young sent his colleague scampering clear of the back four. [LNB]Jones had a glorious chance to put his team into the fifth round but his effort lacked power or precision and Guzan saved easily to ensure justice was done in the 85th minute and prevent O'Neill from getting himself into trouble as the game moved into extra time. [LNB]Villa started the extra period on the front foot with Cuellar shooting wide from 15 yards. [LNB]Milner did likewise six minutes later although Sunderland did offer a threat through a Richardson drive on the turn which was also off target. Sunderland had the better of the second half although a succession of crosses into the Villa box came to nought. [LNB]O'Neill made his final substitution with five minutes to go, bringing off a clearly unhappy Stiliyan Petrov and replacing him with Sidwell. [LNB]Sunderland had another wonderful chance to win it with time almost up. Warnock lost possession on the halfway line, allowing Richardson to run clean through but with no Villa defender within 30 yards, he could only hit his shot straight at Guzan. [LNB]The American continued his heroics in the shoot-out by saving Sunderland's first two efforts, from Reid and Lorik Cana. [LNB]Agbonlahor also missed but Guzan promptly denied Henderson to leave Young with the chance to score the winner. [LNB]Match details[LNB]Sunderland (4-5-1): Gordon; Da Silva, Nosworthy, Turner, McCartney (Ferdinand 79); Campbell, Henderson, Cana, Richardson, Murphy (Reid 73); Jones. Subs: Fulop (g), Healy, Meyler, Reid, Malbranque. Booked: Ferdinand Aston Villa (4-4-2): Guzan; Cuéllar, Collins, Dunne, Warnock; Milner, Petrov, Reo-Coker, Young; Heskey (Carew 78), Agbonlahor. Subs: Friedel (g), Young, Sidwell, Delph, Shorey, Beye. Booked: Warnock, Petrov Referee: P Dowd (Staffs) [LNB]

Source: Telegraph