 Striker Ji Dong-won, left, of Korea, celebrates his goal with his teammates during their English Premier League match against Manchester City at the Stadium of Light, Sunderland, England, Monday (KST). / AP-Yonhap |
By Cho Mu-hyun
Korea international Ji Dong-won scored a last-gasp winner for Sunderland against Premier League leaders Manchester City, Monday (KST).
The 20-year-old striker rounded goalkeeper Joe Hart to score in the 93rd minute for a surprising 1-0 win against City at the Stadium of Light.
It was his second goal, the first coming against Chelsea in September, when he also struck in the last minute.
“They are one of the best teams in the league and to score the winning goal in the final minute is special,” said Ji, in an interview posted on Sunderland’s official website. “All the fans and my teammates were so happy and that is number one for me.”
He added, “I have scored our first goal for 2012 so hopefully things can carry on going well in the coming year.”
Manager Martin O’Neill was overjoyed with the victory, his third in five fixtures since he took over last month, saying “it was sensational, fantastic, and it was shared by 40,000 of us.”
The 59-year-old went on to commend the team and thanked the fans, saying: “I really couldn’t speak any higher of these lads. Their effort was fantastic; the crowd’s was too,” and added “when Ji came on to score that goal, icing on the cake seems to spring to mind!”
The three points see the Black Cats rise to 13th in the table, six points clear of the relegation zone and denied City the chance to capitalize on the 3-2 loss by joint leaders Manchester United against Blackburn on Saturday.
The two Manchester sides remain level on points at the top of the Premier League, with City ahead on goal difference. This was the Citizen’s second loss of the season that saw them go undefeated in the first 15 games and will encourage third place Tottenham Hotspur, now six points back but with a game in hand.
Danish striker Nicklas Bendtner had a good chance to give the home side an lead early in the first half, but was thwarted by Hart and Roberto Mancini’s side grew to dominate the match.
Despite 25 goal attempts, Sunderland’s defense withheld the onslaught thanks to full-backs Jack Colback and Craig Gardner’s indefatigable efforts.
Edin Dzeko and Micah Richards both hit the woodwork, leaving the visitors lamenting multiple missed opportunities.
Sunderland visit Wigan and City will meet Liverpool at home Wednesday while United face Newcastle a day later.
