Sunderland 1 Tottenham 0
Sunderland super-sub Michael Chopra marked Roy Keane's debut in a Premier League dugout with a dramatic injury-time winner against Tottenham at the Stadium of Light.
Chopra, a 71st minute replacement for Anthony Stokes, pounced on a deep Ross Wallace cross to sweep the ball past a despairing Paul Robinson and get Keane's top-flight opener off to a flyer with a 1-0 win.
It was a rich reward for the way in which Keane's men had gone about their return to the Premier League, with Dickson Etuhu also having had a match-winning chance moments earlier.
In contrast, Spurs' multi-million pound strikeforce appeared toothless and the usually inspirational Dimitar Berbatov was shackled superbly by Paul McShane throughout.
Berbatov had a half-hearted penalty appeal turned down in the first half and lofted a free-kick over the bar in the second half, but otherwise the chances fell Sunderland's way.
Craig Gordon, one of four summer signings named in Keane's starting line-up, could hardly have wished for a more low-key start to life as Britain's most expensive goalkeeper.
As one would expect from a side managed by Keane, the Black Cats had started confidently, with Carlos Edwards making good early progress down the right flank.
Spurs, whose boss Martin Jol preferred not to ring the changes and started with £16.5million man Darren Bent on the bench, had their first chance in the 11th minute when Jermaine Jenas shot wide.
Sunderland were looking bright and inventive going forward, and Stokes was only narrowly caught offside in the 14th minute when he sought to get on the end of a Wallace cross.
At the other end, Malbranque sent a superbly-weighted cross into the home box which a stretching Keane just failed to reach at the far post.
Keane had the first on-target effort of the afternoon in the 25th minute, when he drilled a low shot which Gordon gathered with ease.
But the game belatedly sprang to life in the final seven minutes of the half, beginning with Daryl Murphy spurning a golden chance to give the home side the lead.
Spurs defender Paul Stalteri failed to deal with a Wallace cross and the ball fell invitingly for Murphy, whose angle was narrowed by the advancing Robinson, who saved his low shot well.
Two minutes later Berbatov sprang the Sunderland offside trap and rounded the onrushing Gordon, before McShane got in with a crucial interception despite Spurs' appeals for a penalty.
Referee Alan Wiley waved away penalty claims and the home side roared straight to the other end of the pitch, where Edwards set up Etuhu to sweep a low shot inches wide.
Lacking spark in front of goal, it was no surprise to see Jol finally introduce Bent in the 58th minute in place of Tainio, but still the Black Cats defence held firm.
It spoke volumes that the visitors' best second-half chance came via a set-piece on the edge of the Sunderland box, which Berbatov lofted inches over the bar.
Berbatov was plainly unhappy to be replaced by Jermain Defoe in the 77th minute, but the Bulgarian could have no complaints about the way he had been handled by McShane.
Sunderland continued pressing and Etuhu almost won it in the final minute when poor defending presented him with a point-blank chance which Robinson superbly palmed away.
But Keane's men were not done yet and when Wallace crossed deep again, Chopra turned and pounced to send the Stadium of Light wild with his side's last touch of the match.
Michael Chopra hopes he has won over the Sunderland fans after his heroic injury-time strike got their Premier League campaign off to a winning start at home to Tottenham.
Former Newcastle youngster Chopra, a 71st minute replacement for Anthony Stokes, fired the ball home from a Ross Wallace cross to give the Black Cats a deserved victory.
Dickson Etuhu had seen a point-blank effort turned away by Paul Robinson moments earlier, while faltering Tottenham's only second half chance of note was a Dimitar Berbatov free-kick.
Chopra told Sky Sports 1: 'I was disappointed not to start but I was desperate to get on the pitch and get a goal.
'It's always pleasing to score on your debut and I managed to do that.
'I was desperate to do that, especially being a Geordie from Newcastle coming to Sunderland. I was desperate to get a goal and show the Sunderland fans I want to be here.
'I think they love me now,' he joked.
Having seen his side win in his first match as a top-flight manager, Roy Keane was understandably buoyant.
'The fact is we played extremely well and I thought the better team won,' he told Sky Sports.
'It was a late goal, we got plenty of them last season and I hope there are more to come. It was down to the players, and that desire not to settle for a draw.
'The players deserve all the credit, they were fantastic. Winning football matches is the best feeling in the world.
'I've got great faith in them. The new lads, like Chops (Chopra), have settled in well.'
The impressive Nyron Nosworthy added: 'It's important to come off with a win and we can push on from that.
'We've been working defensively hard. The Premier League has top-class players but we restricted them (Spurs) perfectly and that's just what we've been working for.'
Chopra, a 71st minute replacement for Anthony Stokes, pounced on a deep Ross Wallace cross to sweep the ball past a despairing Paul Robinson and get Keane's top-flight opener off to a flyer with a 1-0 win.
It was a rich reward for the way in which Keane's men had gone about their return to the Premier League, with Dickson Etuhu also having had a match-winning chance moments earlier.
In contrast, Spurs' multi-million pound strikeforce appeared toothless and the usually inspirational Dimitar Berbatov was shackled superbly by Paul McShane throughout.
Berbatov had a half-hearted penalty appeal turned down in the first half and lofted a free-kick over the bar in the second half, but otherwise the chances fell Sunderland's way.
Craig Gordon, one of four summer signings named in Keane's starting line-up, could hardly have wished for a more low-key start to life as Britain's most expensive goalkeeper.
As one would expect from a side managed by Keane, the Black Cats had started confidently, with Carlos Edwards making good early progress down the right flank.
Spurs, whose boss Martin Jol preferred not to ring the changes and started with £16.5million man Darren Bent on the bench, had their first chance in the 11th minute when Jermaine Jenas shot wide.
Sunderland were looking bright and inventive going forward, and Stokes was only narrowly caught offside in the 14th minute when he sought to get on the end of a Wallace cross.
At the other end, Malbranque sent a superbly-weighted cross into the home box which a stretching Keane just failed to reach at the far post.
Keane had the first on-target effort of the afternoon in the 25th minute, when he drilled a low shot which Gordon gathered with ease.
But the game belatedly sprang to life in the final seven minutes of the half, beginning with Daryl Murphy spurning a golden chance to give the home side the lead.
Spurs defender Paul Stalteri failed to deal with a Wallace cross and the ball fell invitingly for Murphy, whose angle was narrowed by the advancing Robinson, who saved his low shot well.
Two minutes later Berbatov sprang the Sunderland offside trap and rounded the onrushing Gordon, before McShane got in with a crucial interception despite Spurs' appeals for a penalty.
Referee Alan Wiley waved away penalty claims and the home side roared straight to the other end of the pitch, where Edwards set up Etuhu to sweep a low shot inches wide.
Lacking spark in front of goal, it was no surprise to see Jol finally introduce Bent in the 58th minute in place of Tainio, but still the Black Cats defence held firm.
It spoke volumes that the visitors' best second-half chance came via a set-piece on the edge of the Sunderland box, which Berbatov lofted inches over the bar.
Berbatov was plainly unhappy to be replaced by Jermain Defoe in the 77th minute, but the Bulgarian could have no complaints about the way he had been handled by McShane.
Sunderland continued pressing and Etuhu almost won it in the final minute when poor defending presented him with a point-blank chance which Robinson superbly palmed away.
But Keane's men were not done yet and when Wallace crossed deep again, Chopra turned and pounced to send the Stadium of Light wild with his side's last touch of the match.
Michael Chopra hopes he has won over the Sunderland fans after his heroic injury-time strike got their Premier League campaign off to a winning start at home to Tottenham.
Former Newcastle youngster Chopra, a 71st minute replacement for Anthony Stokes, fired the ball home from a Ross Wallace cross to give the Black Cats a deserved victory.
Dickson Etuhu had seen a point-blank effort turned away by Paul Robinson moments earlier, while faltering Tottenham's only second half chance of note was a Dimitar Berbatov free-kick.
Chopra told Sky Sports 1: 'I was disappointed not to start but I was desperate to get on the pitch and get a goal.
'It's always pleasing to score on your debut and I managed to do that.
'I was desperate to do that, especially being a Geordie from Newcastle coming to Sunderland. I was desperate to get a goal and show the Sunderland fans I want to be here.
'I think they love me now,' he joked.
Having seen his side win in his first match as a top-flight manager, Roy Keane was understandably buoyant.
'The fact is we played extremely well and I thought the better team won,' he told Sky Sports.
'It was a late goal, we got plenty of them last season and I hope there are more to come. It was down to the players, and that desire not to settle for a draw.
'The players deserve all the credit, they were fantastic. Winning football matches is the best feeling in the world.
'I've got great faith in them. The new lads, like Chops (Chopra), have settled in well.'
The impressive Nyron Nosworthy added: 'It's important to come off with a win and we can push on from that.
'We've been working defensively hard. The Premier League has top-class players but we restricted them (Spurs) perfectly and that's just what we've been working for.'
posted by dgarden at 12:46 pm
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