Sunderland Earn Replay With Everton

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Sunderland held on to claim an English FA Cup quarter-final replay against Everton after Tim Cahill cancelled out Phil Bardsley’s opener in a 1-1 draw at Goodison Park on Saturday.

Bardsley fired the Black Cats into an early lead with a superb strike but Everton had the better of the chances throughout and claimed a deserved 24th-minute equaliser through Cahill.

Royston Drenthe, who had a strong penalty appeal turned down early on, hit the woodwork for Everton, while Simon Mignolet made a fine double save to deny John Heitinga and Nikica Jelavic in the closing minutes.

Because of their dreadful recent record against Everton, it was a result Sunderland, without suspended duo Lee Cattermole and Stephane Sessegnon, might have settled for beforehand.

The Black Cats have now not beaten the Merseysiders in 16 games stretching back to 2001.

The cup competition provides a fine opportunity for both clubs this season and that made for a frenetic end-to-end start, although the game slowed and became scrappy in the second period.

Sunderland had an early chance when James McClean glanced a header wide from a Sebastian Larsson free-kick, while Everton were also into their stride quickly as Leon Osman headed over from Seamus Coleman’s cross.

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Everton manager David Moyes was criticised for making six changes for the midweek derby loss at Liverpool but his intentions were clear as he reverted to the side, which beat Tottenham Hotspur last week. His players were keen to attack and Drenthe appealed for a penalty after going down under a challenge from Craig Gardner in the eighth minute.

Bardsley breaks deadlock

Replays suggested the Dutchman may have had a case but referee Andre Marriner was not interested. Sunderland grabbed the lead in the 12th minute with a ferocious low strike from Bardsley from 30 yards.

Everton may have been expecting a cross as Jack Colback prepared to take a free-kick on the right but he played short to Bardsley and the defender fired through a crowded penalty area. The hosts tried to produce a quick response but Osman and Marouane Fellaini both missed the target from distance and Heitinga had a free-kick deflected wide.

Everton got their threatened equaliser as Baines delivered a typically dangerous cross from the left. Jelavic misdirected his header but Cahill followed up with one of his own to beat Mignolet in trademark fashion, although it was only his second goal of the season.

Jelavic threatened another as he raced onto a long ball from deep but could only screw a shot wide under pressure from Wayne Bridge. Sylvain Distin had a better chance after Cahill tested Mignolet with another header which the goalkeeper could only punch off the line.

The ball fell invitingly for Distin but Sunderland escaped as the defender blasted wide from close range. Drenthe was unlucky just before the break as he curled a free-kick against the bar from 30 yards after Coleman was fouled by Bridge. Osman tried another shot from just outside the area but Mignolet gathered easily.

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