Sport

McCarthy strikes late for Blackburn

SOCCER ENGLISH FA CUP FOURTH ROUND REPLAYS: Blackburn Rovers 2 Sunderland 1 ( After extra time

Thu Feb 05 2009 - 00:00

SOCCER ENGLISH FA CUP FOURTH ROUND REPLAYS: Blackburn Rovers 2 Sunderland 1( After extra time. 1-1 after 90 minutes) BENNI McCARTHY stepped off the bench to steer Blackburn into the fifth round of the FA Cup last night. The South African striker struck deep into extra-time to break Sunderland's spirit and set up a home meeting with Coventry a week on Saturday.

McCarthy headed home with three minutes remaining following a free-kick from Carlos Villanueva. Villanueva should have scored himself just beforehand but sent his effort wide of the target from close range. It was a dramatic end to a game that seemed to be heading for a penalty shoot-out. David Healy had opened the scoring for Sunderland in the seventh minute only for Aaron Mokoena to pull Blackburn level 30 minutes later.

The home side almost took the lead as early as the third minute when Zurab Khizanishvili’s effort came back off the inside of the post. Sunderland again found themselves on the back foot a minute later and Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon did well to push away a shot from David Dunn.

The visitors, however, took the lead in their first attack in the seventh minute through Healy. The Northern Ireland striker, making only his third start, was the first to react when Daryl Murphy’s shot spun off Ryan Nelsen.

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It was a cool finish by Healy and his second goal for Sunderland, his only other strike coming against Nottingham Forest in the League Cup in August.

Blackburn regrouped and drew level in the 37th minute. Mokoena sent a 25-yard thunderbolt into the corner, leaving Gordon stranded, after Villanueva’s effort had been blocked.There was little to choose between the sides paving the way for the dramatic finish in extra-time.

BLACKBURN: Robinson, Simpson, Khizanishvili, Nelsen (Ooijer 87), Givet, Villanueva, Mokoena, Dunn (Kerimoglu 61), Treacy, Roque Santa Cruz (McCarthy 72), Roberts. Subs not used: Bunn, Pedersen, Olsson, Doran. Booked: Simpson, Treacy, Mokoena. Goals: Mokoena 37, McCarthy 118.

SUNDERLAND: Gordon, Kay (Bardsley 56), Ferdinand, Collins, McCartney (Luscombe 106), Edwards, Leadbitter, Reid, Malbranque (Yorke 76), Healy, Murphy. Subs not used: Colgan, Whitehead, Richardson, Colback. Booked: Kay, Leadbitter. Goal: Healy 7.

Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire).