Post by Roy Keane on Sept 16, 2008 0:05:27 GMT 1
*Sunderland's Bastian Zurich celebrates the club's first goal with debutant Gus van der Vaart*
Sunderland 2-2 Liverpool
The Stadium of Light last night hosted Sunderland's first ever Manage It match - a friendly match where the Mackems played host to Liverpool.
The match itself was an entertaining affair to say the least.
The home crowd were silenced just 8 minutes in, when a fantastic Liverpool move - started by Sunderland old-boy Oscar Wardwell - saw Veron float a cross in to Sunderland's penalty area. The cross met the head of Colado, who managed to better debutant van der Vaart, but his effort was well saved by Craig Smith.
The rebound fell back to Colado, but he unselfishly passed the ball to Bianco, who grasped his opportunity, thrashing the ball past the recovering Smith to make it 0-1 to the visitors.
Sunderland fought valiantly to find an answer, and their prayers were almost met when Ogara steered the ball through to Leroy Kipp, who was unable to beat Liverpool defender Constantin, and the danger was cleared.
The calls were soon met on 40 minutes, when Veron - the architect of Liverpool's opener - lost the ball to Sunderland skipper Ronnie Hedges. Hedges went on the run, and crossed the ball right into the danger zone, and straight into the path of Bastian Zurich, who beat the offside and wasted no time in equalizing the score at 1-1.
The second half began cautiously, but a Sunderland attack led to Liverpool defender Pantsil committing a foul, and Zurich was again on hand to dispatch the free-kick, and send the home crowd into a frenzy as he put the hosts 2-1 up on 51 minutes.
Sunderland could easily have made it 3-1, but the heroics of Pantsil - redeeming himself for his earlier foul - prevented Silva from going any further, and Liverpool cleared the immediate threat.
The score looked as though it would remain, but with just 8 minutes left Liverpool broke through and Billy Flynn hit a 25 yard screamer to equalize for the visitors.
The game ended at 2-2, and certainly ensured Sunderland fans should have a feast of entertainment this coming season, and Liverpool fans will most likely be pleased with the result.
A record crowd of 10 attended the first half, though by the start of the 2nd half the stadium had filled up to its capacity.
Sunderland's next game is another friendly against Chelsea - and one manager Keane will look to as a springboard going into their first competitive match - at home to Duff Warriors next weekend.
*Pictured: Sunderland's record attendence of 10. The game was only marred by the fan to the far left of the picture being removed and arrested for streaking throughout the stadium during the second half.*
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![[Liverpool FC] Guilha Avatar](http://soccerlens.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/liverpool-fc-crest.jpg)
good arcticle...
