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Chinese star Sun Jihai muffs golden chance
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-10-03 09:55
Chinese star Sun Jihai wasted a great chance to hand Manchester City all
three points as Southampton escaped with a 0-0 draw at St Mary's here yesterday.
Sun
Jihai | The China defender was clean through on
goal 10 minutes before the interval but he screwed his left-foot shot wide
across the goal when he should have tapped in.
The Saints, too, fluffed three good chances to steal a victory in the final
five minutes but failed to beat City keeper David James.
The result increases the pressure on Saints coach Steve Wigley as his side
had only taken two points from six English Premiership matches under his tenure
since Paul Sturrock was sacked.
Both teams defended poorly but the visitors dominated the first half with a
succession of corners and close chances.
Saints twice had David Prutton to thank when he made goal-line clearances as
City went on the attack.
England winger Sean Wright-Phillips crossed for Frenchman Nicolas Anelka who
turned the ball towards the near post but Prutton, on the near post, deflected
the ball over.
City skipper Sylvain Distin then headed an Anelka corner goalwards but
Prutton again cleared the danger.
Jihai started the match due to injuries to Antoine Sibierski, Trevor Sinclair
and Claudio Reyna but City manager Kevin Keegan must have wished one of those
three was available after his glaring miss.
He was played clean through on goal to the right of the penalty spot by Joey
Barton, but with his weaker left foot, he fired his shot well wide of Antti
Niemi's left post.
Southampton had a good opportunity to score against the run of play five
minutes later.
After nine corners for City, Peter Crouch won Saints' first corner and
although the defence cleared the initial cross, the ball fell to Fabrice
Fernandes who played the ball back in for Kevin Phillips.
The former England striker headed powerfully downwards, but it was straight
to James.
Wright-Phillips came close to breaking the stalemate three minutes after the
interval but his shot sailed just across the face of goal.
City were almost caught out five minutes from the end when they were caught
defending far too high up the pitch by Phillips.
The Saints striker charged at Richard Dunne, the only City defender who
stayed back, but Phillips played his pass to Neil McCann a fraction too early
and under pressure from Dunne, the Scotland forward shot wide.
Crouch could also have won it for Saints a minute later but his header went
straight at James.
With almost the last kick of the game, Phillips attempted a chip over James
but his effort was weak and the City keeper made a comfortable save.
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