Crystal Palace 2-2 Aston Villa
Petrov scored a late goal for Villa
Sunday, 14, Feb 2010 05:43
By Darren Estwick.
A late goal by Stiliyan Petrov earned Aston Villa a 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park in the FA Cup fifth round.
Petrov stole in at the near post to level the scores after a thunderbolt free kick by Darren Ambrose had threatened to create the shock of the round.
At half time the scores were level from two headers from set pieces. An opening goal by Ertl had been cancelled out by James Collins.
In a quiet opening Villa had a claim for a penalty rejected after Ashley Young went down in the penalty area after a challenge by a Palace defender but the referee rejected the boisterous appeals from the away side.
The game was sparked into life by a Palace goal. A corner whipped into the box from the left was headed into the net by Johnny Ertl who out jumped Brad Friedel from just inside the six yard box.
The home side continued with their new found impetus. Neil Danns managed to control the ball outside the area, before unleashing a shot that was parried by Friedel. The importance of that save was further emphasised five minutes later when Villa equalised.
Stewart Downing delivered a free kick from virtually the corner kick grid, straight onto the head of Collins to bring Villa back on level terms.
The goal however failed to dent the confidence of a Palace team prepared to battle to the death for their manager Neil Warnock and it was the home team who created the more decent openings.
Firstly an extended scramble in the Villa box resulted in a Lee shot drifting wide from close range and then a warning of things to come via a thunderous free kick by Darren Ambrose, which took a slight deflection, forcing Brad Friedel into a magnificent reflex save.
If at first you don't succeed, Ambrose tried again in the second half with joyous results.
The free kick was at least 35 yards out from goal, but this did not deter Ambrose who hit a shot every bit as powerful as the previous attempt but this time the direction saw the ball bend and find the right hand corner leaving a defeated Friedel grasping thin air.
A minute later Ambrose flicked a looping header over Friedel once again but saw the crossbar come to Villa's rescue.
Crystal Palace now lead in a typical FA Cup tie between David and Goliath, but now had to try and repel the wrath of the giant.
First the giant like forward, John Carew directed a looping header towards goal which was tipped over by Speroni. From the resulting corner Collins saw his shot cleared off the line.
With three minutes remaining Ashley Young broke down the left and delivered a curling cross that was headed by Milner but saved from close range by the Palace keeper. But the pressure finally told from the corner kick which was converted by a determined Petrov for the equalising goal.