Stoke City 1-1 Sunderland: Defoe Penalty Rescues Black Cats

Sunderland battled for a point at the Britannia as a Jermain Defoe penalty cancelled out Marko Arnautovic’s opener.

The game got off to a quiet start with Sunderland settling well and having the first half chance on 9 minutes. The Black Cats corner wasn’t properly cleared allowing Van Aanholt to shoot from range but his shot flashed wide via a deflection off Defoe.

Stoke’s first chance arrived on 17 minutes as Mannone had to turn Crouch’s header round the post with Arnautovic sliding in late.

Sunderland countered straight after that with Defoe finding Van Aanholt who hit his shot straight at Haugaard when he probably should have used Khazri for the overlap.

The Black Cats were nearly caught on 33 minutes as Arnautovic was found inside the box but his shot blazed over from 12 yards after being pressured by Yedlin.

Stoke took the lead on 49 minutes when Adam’s cross was nodded down to Arnautovic by Crouch who was all over Kaboul and Arnautovic fired home under Mannone.

Sunderland had a chance to get level on 58 minutes when Van Aanholt fed Defoe down the left, he cut inside but his shot went narrowly over.

The Black Cats passing wasn’t good and they were finding it hard to break through the Stoke defence. Defoe had another chance on 77 minutes when Kirchhoff found him 6 yards from goal but the striker’s turn and shot blazed over.

Sunderland got their equaliser with the last kick of the game as Defoe won a penalty after being pushed in the back and he got up to bury his penalty down the middle.  

Stoke City: Haugaard, Cameron, Shawcross, Bardsley, Pieters, Whelan, Adam (Muniesa 86’), Shaqiri (Diouf 78’), Imbula, Arnautovic (Walters 55’), Crouch.

Subs: Bachmann, Muniesa, Joselu, Wollscheid, Bojan, Walters, Diouf.

Goals: Arnautovic (49’)

Sunderland (4-3-3): Mannone, Yedlin, Van Aanholt, Kaboul, Kone, Kirchhoff (Larsson 79’), Cattermole (c), M’Vila, Khazri (Watmore 60’), Borini (N’Doye 59’), Defoe.

Subs: Pickford, Jones, O’Shea, Larsson, Rodwell, Watmore, N’Doye.

Goals: Defoe (90+4)