Stoppage-time strike robs Sunderland of victory

12 December 2009 17:02
YOUNES Kaboul's stoppage-time strike robbed Sunderland of two points as Portsmouth claimed a spirited 1-1 draw at the Stadium of Light.[LNB] Kaboul, a former Black Cats transfer target, scrambled the ball home after Jamie O'Hara's corner had caused chaos in the home side's six-yard box.[LNB] Frederic Piquionne stabbed the ball back across the area, and while Nyron Nosworthy attempted to make a last-ditch challenge, Kaboul was on hand to stab the ball home.[LNB] The dramatic late strike deprived Sunderland of a sixth home win of the campaign, and cancelled out Darren Bent's tenth goal of the season.[LNB] Bent has proved prolific since joining Sunderland in a £10m move from Spurs, and the striker moved into double figures for the season in the 23rd minute.[LNB] Jordan Henderson was the provider, nutmegging Marc Wilson before crossing from the right, and after Andy Reid headed the ball back across goal, Bent hooked in a firm finish from eight yards.[LNB] With Sunderland passing the ball around crisply in midfield, Henderson almost added a second five minutes later when he curled narrowly past the left-hand post following a pull back from Nyron Nosworthy.[LNB] Portsmouth's only first-half effort was a long-range Jamie O'Hara shot that failed to trouble Marton Fulop, but the Spurs loanee asked more questions of the Sunderland shot-stopper at the start of the second half with a curled free-kick from 20 yards.[LNB] The Black Cats failed to find much rhythm in the second half, but Reid came within inches of doubling their lead with a 25-yard free-kick that hit the top of the crossbar. However, there was a late sting in the tail, with Kaboul levelling before being dismissed for a second yellow card for removing his shirt in celebration.[LNB] SUNDERLAND (4-4-2): Fulop; Nosworthy, Da Silva, Turner, McCartney; Campbell, Cana, Henderson, Reid; Jones (Murphy 85), Bent (Malbranque 90).[LNB] Subs: Carson (gk), Anderson, Meyler, Malbranque.[LNB] PORTSMOUTH (4-5-1): James; Ben Haim, Wilson, Kaboul, Hreidarsson; Yebda (Webber 77), Brown (Diop 83), O'Hara, Hughes, Dindane; Kanu (Piquionne 62).[LNB] Subs (not used): Begovic (gk), Belladj, Finnan, Mokoena.[LNB]

Source: Northern_Echo