Charlton Athletic 3 - 2 Sheffield Wednesday

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Saturday Aug 25 2007 03:00

Charlton Athletic gained their first Championship victory of the season in sensational style at The Valley as they fought back from a two goal half-time deficit to beat Sheffield Wednesday.

Charlton's second-half hero was their giant striker Chris Iwelumo - signed in the summer from Colchester United - who scored two of the goals with the other one coming from skipper Andy Reid.

It was a shattering result for Wednesday, who raced into a two-goal lead after only 15 minutes with Charlton defending poorly and unable to make any impression, although they had the first chance of the game when Jerome Thomas shot just wide.

It was the visitors who took the lead when Charlton failed to clear a corner and Burton O'Brien scored with a well-struck effort.

There was worse to follow for the home side as Tommy Spurr was left unmarked from another corner to head past Nicky Weaver.

The home side, who had to replace defender Ben Thatcher just before the break, were booed off at half-time.

However, an interval rocket from manager Alan Pardew transformed the home side as they took complete charge of the game and pulled a goal back after 51 minutes when Reid scored with a right-foot volley after good work from Darren Ambrose.

There was one scare for the Addicks as Richard Wood's header was scrambled away, but Charlton generally laid siege to the visiting goal and got the equaliser on 67 minutes.

China international Zheng Zhi, who had come on as a substitute, threaded the ball through the Wednesday defence and Iwelumo, holding off a challenge, took his goal well to level the scores.

The South Yorkshire side were now under severe pressure and barely got out of their own half and goalkeeper Lee Grant did well to tip over Reid's free-kick.

But with time running out, Iwelumo scored his second goal of the game after beating two men with his strength before slotting the ball past the visiting goalkeeper to settle an entertaining match.

  • 90
    The ref has blown his whistle for full time.
  • 88
    Charlton are replacing Madjid Bougherra with Amady Faye.
  • 87
    Goal!! Charlton have scored with Chris Iwelumo putting it in the back of the net.
  • 79
    Tommy Spurr is replaced by Peter Gilbert.
  • 77
    The referee has booked Lee Grant.
  • 73
    Tommy Spurr is booked for unsporting behaviour.
  • 67
    Goal!! Charlton have scored with Chris Iwelumo putting it in the back of the net.
  • 63
    The referee has booked Burton O'Brien.
  • 56
    Jermaine Johnson is being taken off, Yoann Folly has come on in his place.
  • 51
    Goal!! Andy Reid scores for Charlton.
  • 46
    The second half is under way with the score currently at 0 v 2.
  • 46
    Sheff Wed are replacing Leon Clarke with Marcus Tudgay.
  • 46
    Marcus Bent is being taken off, Svetoslav Todorov has come on in his place.
  • 45
    Half time whistle is blown by K Friend
  • 45
    Ben Thatcher is replaced by Zhi Zheng.
  • 34
    Patrick McCarthy is booked for unsporting behaviour.
  • 15
    Goal!! Sheff Wed have scored with Tommy Spurr putting it in the back of the net.
  • 6
    Goal!! Burton O'Brien scores for Sheff Wed.
  • 0
    The ref has blown his whistle and the match has started.

Statistics

Charlton Athletic
Shots on target 12
Shots off target 14
Shots off bar/post 0
Fouls 10
Offsides 2
Corners 5

Sheffield Wednesday
Shots on target 5
Shots off target 5
Shots off bar/post 0
Fouls 17
Offsides 0
Corners 5

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