Villa left stunned by Stoke fightback
Ryan Shawcross netted Stoke's first goal on 88 minutes
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Sunday, 01, Mar 2009 08:43
Stoke City scored two goals in the last two minutes to draw 2-2 with Aston Villa at Villa Park.
Stiliyan Petrov and substitute John Carew netted for the home side, before Ryan Shawcross and Glenn Whelan snatched a point for the Potters.
The draw moves Villa six points clear of Arsenal in the battle for fourth spot, while Stoke stay in 19th.
After several players were rested in the Uefa Cup on Thursday, Villa came out firing with Gabriel Agbonlahor denied by keeper Thomas Sorensen diving at his feet while Emile Heskey was inches away from connecting with a low cross from Gareth Barry.
Minutes later, Zat Knight's header landed on the roof of the net from James Milner's cross.
And the home side's possession was rewarded on the stroke of half-time when Petrov hammered a shot from the edge of the box that deceived Sorensen and flew into the corner.
Stoke improved after the break as they pushed for an equaliser. Ricardo Fuller, on his return from dislocating his shoulder three weeks ago, went close with a shot on the turn.
Villa were then dealt a blow when Heskey limped off and had to be replaced by John Carew. But the Norweigan made an instant impact when with his back to goal, his side-footed volley went over the keeper.
Minutes after Whelan struck the post with a 25-yard effort, Shawcross began the comeback with a header from James Beattie's cross on 88 minutes.
And they completed the fightback in stoppage time when Whelan thumped a half-volley past Brad Friedel into the net, resulting in Villa being booed off at the final whistle.