Late Johnson goal earns Man City a draw

Mar 14, 2010 - 7:17 PM By CHRIS TUPLING STATS European Football Writer=

LONDON (SE) - Roberto Mancini claimed Manchester City will win the race for the final Champions League place despite needing a last-gasp goal from substitute Adam Johnson to salvage a 1-1 draw at struggling Sunderland.

Boyhood Sunderland fan Johnson's stunning 91st-minute curler earned City a point, which could prove crucial in their pursuit of fourth place.

The visitors looked to be heading for their fifth defeat of the season after Kenwyne Jones' ninth-minute header gave Sunderland the lead.

The draw leaves City two points behind fourth-placed Tottenham with a game in hand and the two sides are still to face each other at Eastlands.

City boss Mancini said: "I am disappointed we have not won today but we have many games. We play Tottenham at home and if we want fourth place it is important we win this game.

"I am happy because we scored right at the end but was not happy with our first performance.

"We started the game very slowly and conceded a goal after nine minutes. In the first half we did not play very well.

"In the second half we played a good game and had six or seven chances to score. This is football and if you don't score you don't win."

City had won their last nine meetings with Sunderland and were looking to build on their memorable 4-2 defeat of Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Mancini's side were dreadful in the first half and found themselves behind early on.

Kieran Richardson floated in a teasing left-wing cross and Jones rose imperiously above a static City defence to plant an unstoppable header beyond Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Shay Given.

The visitors were clearly given a half-time dressing down by Mancini and posed a much greater threat after the re-start.

Sunderland goalkeeper Craig Gordon was named man of the match after pulling of a string of superb saves before Johnson's late leveller, illustrating City's dominance in the final 45 minutes.

Craig Bellamy, Carlos Tevez and Shaun Wright-Phillips were all denied by Gordon but just when it looked like Sunderland would hold on for a win to boost their survival hopes the Scotland international was beaten by Johnson's sensational solo strike.

There appeared to be little danger when Tevez's cross was cleared as far as Johnson on the edge of the penalty are but the England World Cup hopeful picked out Gordon's top right corner with a brilliant curling shot.

Sunderland manager Steve Bruce said losing goal hero Jones to a groin injury at half time was the turning point.

Bruce said: "I think we have to say it was a fair result overall but when you get so close to winning you are obviously disappointed.

"The injury to Kenwyne disrupted us totally. He was a big threat in the first half and we played the ball out to him.

"That is eight to ten points we must have lost in the last few minutes of games this season so it is hard to take."