Geovanni wonder goal stuns Arsenal as Hull win
Sunday, 28 Sep 2008 08:26
Geovanni's screamer helped Hull City win 2-1 away at Arsenal
A Daniel Cousin header and a stunning drive from Geovanni helped Hull City to a shock 2-1 win away at Arsenal.
A Paul McShane own goal had given Arsene Wenger's men the lead at the Emirates Stadium after sustained Arsenal pressure, but the Brazilian's goal of the season contender brought City on level terms.
And Cousin's well-placed header gave the northern side the surprise victory of the year, as Arsenal rued their missed opportunities.
Hull manager Phil Brown had opted for an attacking formation to face Wenger's free-flowing side, with Geovanni playing behind Marlon King and Daniel Cousin.
Cesc Fabregas had wasted a good chance to put the Gunners ahead before Adebayor had a goal disallowed after the Togo frontman was adjudged to have fouled Hull's Paul McShane.
And another superb opportunity went begging on the half-hour, with Theo Walcott's touch letting him down only eight yards from goal after an Emmanuel Eboue cross.
The tale of near-misses continued through the first 45 minutes, with Arsenal's first-team showing far more reluctance to shoot than their younger team-mates given a run-out in the Carling Cup this week.
Hull came close as the second half kicked off, with Fabregas getting in the way of a George Boateng shot before McShane turned Walcott's cross into his own net.
Arsenal chances for Eboue, Robin Van Persie and Adebayor came and went before former Manchester City player Geovanni shocked the Emirates crowd with a glorious long-range shot having beaten a man and drifted in from the left.
The newly-promoted side soon grew in confidence and just five minutes later Daniel Cousin leapt to head Andy Dawson's corner past Manuel Almunia.
Brown's men had their hearts in their mouths at the close as Carlos Vela failed to slot the ball home from two yards after a William Gallas header had hit the bar.
The superb Boaz Myhill then tipped a searing Fabregas drive over the bar one-handed to complete a shock Hull win.