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England: Gera stuns Sunderland [Sun Sep 18th, 2005]
Sunderland (AFP) - Sunderland's hopes of securing their first victory of the season were dashed in the dying minute of the match as they were held 1-1 by West Brom.
A header by Hungarian international Zoltan Gera broke Sunderland's hearts who had looked set to move above north east rivals Newcastle at the foot of the table when former Ireland international defender Gary Breen scored early in the first half.
It would have been only Sunderland's first victory in their last 20 Premiership matches, but Gera's lifesaver halted West Brom's run of three successive defeats.
Breen, a member of the Ireland side that reached the second round of the 2002 World Cup before going out to Spain on penalties, headed home brilliantly from Dean Whitehead's corner in the seventh minute to give his struggling side a much-needed boost.
The visitors were almost back on level terms 10 minutes later when Gera unleashed a fierce right-footed shot from the edge of the penalty area which was well caught by Kelvin Davis.
Sunderland, though, had more of the attacking play and Julio Arca and Whitehead both had shots on goal before the half hour mark but the first was blocked by Andy Johnson and the second was saved by Davis.
West Brom had little to offer in attack, though, they had the last shot of the half when Welsh international Robert Earnshaw volleyed wide from inside the box when well-placed to score.
Davis, though, had to be at his best in the 62nd minute to save brilliantly Jonathan Greening's corner.
However, Davis' heroics were matched by his West Brom opposite number Chris Kirkland in the 69th minute as he saved brilliantly from Whitehead's goalbound effort.
Kirkland was left stranded a few minutes later as a bit of Arca wizardry down the left wing saw him cut inside and let fly with a fine curling effort which had the on-loan keeper rooted to the spot - but fortunately for West Brom, the ball went wide of the post.
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