Skip to Content. Skip to Navigation.
Football

Match Report

Sunderland 1 : Wigan 2

Sunderland 1 : Wigan 2

11/26/2011 06:27:55 PM

Wigan Athletic broke a run of nine winless games, with a 2-1 win away at Sunderland to climb off the bottom of the Premier League table.

Latics manager Roberto Martinez seemed content with a point as his side defended resolutely in the second half, but his late introduction of striker Franco Di Santo proved decisive, as the Argentine struck in injury time to seal the three points.

Sebastian Larsson opened the scoring for the home side early, but Wigan pegged back before the interval to bring the score level at half via a Jodi Gomez penalty, before Di Santo's late strike won it for Wigan.

After a brief melee inside the eight-yard box, Larsson slammed the ball into the Wigan net to give the home side a 1-0 lead through eight minutes.

On 14 minutes, former Manchester United teammates combined as John O'Shea sent Kieran Richardson through to fire near-post, but the Wigan keeper Ali Al-Habsi redeemed himself with the save.

The home side continued to control most of the possession throughout the first half, but they were unable to double their lead despite their ascendency.

Phil Bardsley missed a gilt-edged chance on 39 minutes after more slick passing from the Black Cats opened up Wigan's left side, allowing Richardson to get in behind and pass square to the wide-open left-back Bardsley, only for him to sky his shot over the bar from close range.

Wigan equalised just before half-time. Victor Moses moved past O'Shea, and a recovering Larsson nicked his heels.

The Nigerian went down and referee Kevin Friend pointed to the spot despite wild Sunderland protests.

The replays vindicated the referee's decision, and Gomez coolly slotted the spot kick low and right as Sunderland stand-in 'keeper Kieran Westwood dived the other way.

Spurned chances turned out to haunt Sunderland cruelly when Wigan nabbed all three points at the death.

A punted clearance seemed to be controlled by the Sunderland defence, but Brown was overly casual with his goalie's pass, allowing Di Santo to plunder the spoils by slotting into an open net.

With the victory, Wigan move clear of bottom into 19th place as Blackburn Rovers lost 3-1 at Stoke.

 
Photograph Copyright : Getty Images

You Might Also Like

Most Read Articles

Cold tyres almost cost Webber dearly
Cold tyres almost cost Webber dearly
Motorsport
05/27/2012 10:46:36 PM
Monaco Grand Prix winner Mark Webber described the end of Sunday's race as 'very strange' ...
 
 
Freo's failure comes down to talent
AFL
05/27/2012 11:02:27 PM
 
Gritty Tigers do Sheens proud
League
05/27/2012 10:01:48 PM
 
Alarm bells ringing for Dockers
AFL
05/27/2012 09:24:16 PM
 
Thrilling IPL final goes to Kolkata
Cricket
05/27/2012 09:28:04 PM
 
Lewis angry at losing captaincy
League
05/27/2012 08:28:17 AM
 
Eagles smash Freo in derby
AFL
05/27/2012 09:16:51 AM
 
Wests Tigers make it five in a row
League
05/27/2012 06:59:57 AM
 
 
 

Your Say

Our Say

Cup double might not save Di Matteo
Cup double might not save Di Matteo
Iain Strachan
Imagine being shown the door by your employer just weeks after reaching the pinnacle of ...more
Luck was due for Chelsea
Luck was due for Chelsea
Ben Sutton
Chelsea will go down as one of the luckiest teams to have ever won the Champions League, ...more