FA Cup - Blackburn edge past Sunderland

Eurosport - Thu, 05 Feb 07:34:00 2009

Blackburn came from behind to beat Sunderland 2-1 after extra-time in their FA Cup fourth round replay at Ewood Park.

Aaron Mokoena v Sunderland, FOOTBALL - 0

David Healy had given the Black Cats the perfect start, latching on to Daryl Murphy"s deflected shot to beat Paul Robinson in the seventh minute.

But Blackburn did not deserve to lose the game and after mounting pressure and numerous missed chances, Rovers equalised through Aaron Mokoena's stunning long-range strike in the 37th minute.

But Sunderland's brave effort was killed off with penalties looming as substitute Benni McCarthy pounced to nod home from five yards, meeting Carlos Villanueva's cross in the 118th minute.

Earlier, Healy had grabbed his opportunity to start the game with a strike which was against the run of play; Murphy's shot was deflected into the striker's path and he made no mistake in finishing past Robinson.

Jason Roberts then brought a fine stop out of Craig Gordan in the 26th minute - after being picked out by Villanueva - who crucially parried his save away from the onrushing Roque Santa Cruz with the striker loitering ominously.

Santa Cruz then squandered a glorious opportunity to equalise ten minutes later, after more impressive wing-play by Villanueva, who drifted in another good cross, with the Paraguay striker somehow heading wide.

But Rovers deservedly cancelled their arrears through a most unlikely source - Mokoena, the combative midfielder, emphatically found the top corner of Gordon's goal from 25 yards to equalise.

Santa Cruz was again the culprit in the 51st minute after Villanueva lofted a 30 yard free-kick into the penalty area, but the striker's header was tipped over the bar by Gordon, who had no right to save from such close range.

A superb curling free-kick from Villanueva then brought a stretching tip over the bar by Gordon, while both managers replaced key players with the weekend's fixtures in mind, beyond the impending extra-time.

Zurab Khizanishvili, who had earlier struck the post, headed over in the dying minutes, while at the other end, Andy Reid failed to convert Carlos Edwards' cross with the ball tramped under his feet at the back post.

Extra-time was largely uneventful as the game drifted towards an inevitable penalty shoot-out, before McCarthy popped up to score the most opportunist of goals to send Rovers into the FA Cup fifth round.

Dan Quarell / Eurosport

Comment 3 - 22 of 22

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  1. Tony you only sing when you're winning and­ you've only got one song the 3 million year old­ Blaydon Races but at least you can string a sentence­ together unlike that cave dweller Mad-gayforfree sorry­ mal-godfrey

    From jack torrance, on Thu 5 Feb 6:24PM

  2. Tony that's not you whineing about injuries is­ it?surley a "big" team like NUFC has a squad­ that can deal with a few pulled hamstrings.There's­ 3 Newcastles in this country you­ know.Newcastle-upon-tyne,Newcastle-under-lyme and­ Newcastle-under-sunderland.

    From jack torrance, on Thu 5 Feb 6:18PM

  3. tony k well if u keep quiet when u have a bad result­ u'll not have much to say for the rest of the­ season

    From heslop448, on Thu 5 Feb 6:06PM

  4. Jack, your first team got a draw against our reserves,­ and it was defo a pen no doubt about it. As for the­ blackburn game dont worry about it at least the big­ plank wont have to buy a trophy cabinet now! Oh, and as­ for keeping quiet when we have a poor result, too right­ i do

    From Tony K, on Thu 5 Feb 3:34PM

  5. notice the usual boring comments from mal-godfrey,he­ gets aroused by typing expletives into the computer.I­ flush more personality down the toilet every morning­ than he's had his whole life,or should that be hole­ of a life?

    From jack torrance, on Thu 5 Feb 1:55PM

  6. The lonely Planet(Tony) as landed.

    The mighty­ blackburn @#$% all over the mackems - I love­ it, just­ love it

    The lonely sad TOXIC Smog, once again returns-­ (hardly suprising because he as no mates apart from the­ one in is Mums shed)

    Anyway Fcukwit it was only the FA­ cup and we fielded our reserve team, incidentally have­ the smogs ever one the FA cup or any other cup come to­ think of it, 120yrs and you have won er! 1 trophy is­ it.
    Like we keep posting on here the true derby is­ between Mackems and Geordies, something which you will­ find, they both actually agree with 100%.

    Toxics=no­ bodies, billy(Tony K)no mates-like the Smogs.

    PS, hope­ your buying Coke a Cola out of your giro, because you­ might be able to get another 3rd rate player­ alledgedly.

    From Paul N, on Thu 5 Feb 12:27PM

  7. tony k just trying to remember the score when u visited­ blackburn recently what was it? oh yes u got thumped­ 3-0 u want to crawl back under ur stone mate cos ur the­ worst team in the north east. hope u like coca cola

    From heslop448, on Thu 5 Feb 8:51AM

  8. comment 11 Geordie boys rule what exactly?the local­ dump or slag heap left over from the 70's?

    From jack torrance, on Thu 5 Feb 8:23AM

  9. Typical response Tony if we'd won you wouldn't­ have come on the site for a week,like after your­ team's asinine display against Man City,where were­ you? we gave them a good game with our second­ string,more than the mags could have managed and­ don't get me going about Taylor's dive that­ saved your blushes at the w/e.

    From jack torrance, on Thu 5 Feb 8:20AM

  10. The mighty blackburn @#$% all over the mackems - I love­ it, just love it

    From Tony K, on Thu 5 Feb 7:32AM

  11. well done blackburn big sams has you heading in right­ direction despite all the moaning from people over his­ appointment

    From paulc1989, on Thu 5 Feb 1:27AM

  12. number 11, funny what the @#$% was the last thing you­ delusioned geordies won? think your a big club due to­ fan base. got news for you all. a big club is a club­ that wins trophies and achieves and you aint done that­ for donkeys years

    From paulc1989, on Thu 5 Feb 1:26AM

  13. looks like you still wont need a trophy room ha ha ha­ geordie boys rule

    From zx ninjas, on Thu 5 Feb 1:20AM

  14. comment 8 u lost all the makems when u said wealthy

    From pamela, on Thu 5 Feb 12:59AM

  15. Coventry next round,big banana skin,sleeping giant.

    From frank a, on Thu 5 Feb 12:54AM

  16. comment 6 i do but you pr!cks keep writing on ours so i­ thought "when in rome" & give you all a­ taste of your ownmedicine - but don't worry i wont­ be coming on here again feel sick - now go & get­ some haplles un horanges of igh street­
    SMBEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEZA

    From pamela, on Wed 4 Feb 11:36PM

  17. Comment 3 you hav nothin to shout about shhhhhhhh get­ behind yer own team

    From anthony h, on Wed 4 Feb 11:33PM

  18. Can't see why big Sam has told Villanueva he can­ go. For me he was man of the match. Was at the heart of­ a lot of attacking moves including both goals. I think­ it's a missed oppertunity to let him go.

    From Stephen, on Wed 4 Feb 11:32PM

  19. oops sorry spelling a little awry coz is p!st listening­ to you lot get beat - sam torrence = @#$%

    From pamela, on Wed 4 Feb 11:31PM

  20. coz of all the @#$% you cnuts come & write on ur­ site froma toon fan HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA­ HA HA HA HA HA HA HA stand up if you hate sun'land­ stand up if you hate sun'land you­ smbeeeeeeeeeeeeeza

    From pamela, on Wed 4 Feb 11:24PM
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