Sun Jihai creats penalty to seal win in UEFA Cup ( 2003-09-25 09:19) (Football Master, UK)
Robbie Fowler spearheaded a Manchester City
revival as Kevin Keegan's men came from behind to win this UEFA Cup first round
first leg tie at the City of Manchester Stadium today.
Sun was unfortunately involved in another
mix-up with old Seaman.
But the double away
strike by Lokeren leaves the tie still wide open and once again City's veteran
England goalkeeper, David Seaman, found himself involved in another embarrassing
mix-up.
City went ahead through Antoine Sibierski's free-kick before Patrick Zoundi
capitalised on Seaman's error to level the match.
Worse for City, Lokeren were 2-1 up at the break through Runar Kristinsson
before Fowler and strike partner Nicolas Anelka – from the penalty spot – sealed
the outcome of a see-saw contest.
Sibierski gave City the lead in spectacular style with a 20-yard curling
effort after Anelka had been fouled.
City might then have gone 2-0 up but Sylvain Distain saw his header cleared
off the line.
The long-suffering home fans have often seen their club gift the opposition a
goal and it happened again.
Chinese international Sun Jihai's looping, mistimed header towards Seaman was
not the most impressive way of dealing with a punt upfield.
Sun then slowed down as Seaman raised his hand to signal to the defender that
he had the situation under control, but he was slow coming off his line and
Zoundi raced in to nick the ball and score.
City's fans mockingly cheered nearly every one of Seaman's subsequent
touches.
The English side's position worsened when Lokeren took the lead with a goal
that was no fault of Seaman's.
This time, instead of him letting down his defence, the players in front of
him failed to give the former England 'keeper the protection he had a right to
expect.
City failed to close Zoundi on the right and statically ball-watched his
cross come into the area with Distin failing to intercept.
But from 12 yards out Kristinsson's first-time shot gave Seaman no chance.
After the break, City continued to press forward with Shaun Wright-Phillips
coming off the bench to add to the hosts' attacking options.
But they drew level in scrappy fashion when Fowler, desperate for a goal,
grabbed his first of the season from a 77th minute mis-kick.
At that stage though both he and City were past worrying about how a goal
would arrive. And two minutes later they sealed victory.
Sun Jihai was fouled by Michael Van Hoey and Anelka made no mistake from the
spot.