Blackburn 3 Sunderland 3
Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke came to Blackburn's rescue in a dramatic FA Cup game at Ewood Park today.
Cole weighed in with two goals while Yorke forced a fourth round replay with a dramatic equaliser in stoppage time.
Sunderland looked in control for long spells but squandered a two-goal lead. After struggling to
score goals all season they took the lead after 70 seconds.
Michael Gray picked the ball up in the middle of the park and fed Michael Proctor on the left.
He quickly delivered a cross into the penalty area and Marcus Stewart swept a shot beyond goalkeeper Brad Friedel.
Blackburn were rattled and Friedel was tested again when Phil Babb got in a header at the back post following a corner from Julio Arca.
Then Kevin Phillips headed narrowly wide of the post following another good delivery by Arca. Blackburn were all over the place at the back in the opening stages of the game.
Phillips almost ahead a second for Sunderland in the 13th minute but Friedel made a good block from his effort.
Blackburn shook off their lethargy and equalised a minute later through Cole. He got on the end of a cross from Lucas Neill to steer a shot into the bottom corner.
Both sides were playing with a great deal of freedom and the game was wide open.
Sunderland may be struggling in the league but they certainly looked to have the taste for this game.
Phillips set up Proctor but he dragged his shot from a good position across the face of the goal.
Play switched back down the other end and Sorensen did well to boot away David Thompson's rasping effort after he had been set up by Cole.
Blackburn were finding it hard to pin down Arca, who was constantly shifting positions. He again
found space to release Gavin McCann but his finish was well wide of the target.
Blackburn boss Souness switched things around at half time bringing on Keith Gillespie for Jansen.
Sunderland began the second half like they did the first and Phillips weaved his way into the box, only to be crowded out.
However Blackburn hit back and Cole showed neat footwork to make space for himself when Neill played the ball in.
Just over 14,000 supporters watched the game, well down on Blackburn's average in the league. Sunderland regained the lead in the 51st minute after a mistake by defender Andy Todd.
He failed to cut out Phillips through ball and Proctor latched on to it to get their second goal.
Sunderland appealed for a penalty in the 56th minute when Neill deflected Kilbane's shot with his arm but referee David Elleray waved play on.
Souness decided to sacrifice a defender, Jon Douglas, for a striker, Egil Ostenstad, in a bid to get back in the game.
Sunderland, though, continued to look dangerous on the break and Friedel did well to clear a shot from Stewart.
Sunderland extended their lead in the 69th minute when Phillips scored after a clever back-heel from Jody Craddock unhinged the Blackburn defence.
Cole got his second goal of the game in the 73rd minute when he took a pass from Dwight Yorke in his stride to throw Blackburn a lifeline.
The former Manchester United striker then broke away only to over-run the ball and Sorensen was able to clear.
Sorensen blocked a shot from sub Nils-Eric Johansson before Proctor hit the bar for Sunderland.
Blackburn drew level in stoppage time and forced a replay following a clinical finish from Yorke after a long ball from Neill.