They kept coming and coming and coming, but it looked like they’d never break through. Finally, two minutes into extra time, Manchester City broke through to secure one point in a 1-1 draw with Sunderland at The Stadium of Light. For 91 minutes, Sunderland keeper Craig Gordon was the star of the match as he denied the Citizens time and time again and he earned himself Man of the Match honors for his work, but Adam Johnson earned the title of hero with a brilliant goal in the 92nd.
Kenwyne Jones has made a name for himself in large part for his ability to finish in the air and that was the manner in which he got Sunderland their goal. Nine minutes after kick off, Steed Malbranque cut in from the left and played a perfect cross right onto Jones’ head at the penalty spot. There, Jones rose and powered it past Shay Given, who had no chance.
The rest of the first half was devoid of many opportunities from either side. Gareth Barry missed the frame from in close, but on a difficult angle and there was a penalty shout from Sunderland when Joleon Lescott went sliding in on Frazier Campbell just before the break, but that was the extent of the chances in the first 45 minutes.
After the break, Manchester City just came forward in waves. In a span of two minutes early in the second half, Gordon came through with three key saves from in close. Later, Carlos Tevez thought he leveled when he got on the end of a Craig Bellamy cross, but Gordon was there to deny him and shock Tevez. Gordon robbed Bellamy as well when Bellamy beat the defense and was in on Gordon, but Gordon’s best save was his last. Bellamy let a shot go from 20 yards out and traffic in front of goal. The shot was deflected and Gordon was wrong footed, but he still managed to block it with his leg and deny the Citizens.
After so many chances, City finally found the netting when a corner kick went through to Johnson on the right edge of the box. Johnson dribbled back to the corner of the box and put a left-footed curler perfectly into the top corner of the net, inches over the head a leaping defender.
The point puts City two points behind Tottenham for fourth place in the Premier League with a match in hand. Sunderland is on 31 points, seven clear of the drop zone, but in 14th place and nowhere near European contention.
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