West Bromwich Albion drew 3-3 against Cardiff City at the Hawthorns on Saturday as the hosts let a 2-0 lead slip and then a 3-2 lead in the fifth minute of stoppage time, in a incredible relegation battle.
Morgan Almafitano scored a stunning opener, then Graham Dorrans doubled West Brom’s advantage after just nine minutes to leave Cardiff reeling. However, Ole Gunnar Solksjaer’s men regrouped to launch a stunning comeback, as Jordon Mutch lobbed home before half time, then Steven Caulker headed in an equalizer with just over 15 minutes to go to make it 2-2.
Late on Cardiff pushed hard for a winner, but the Baggies went ahead in stoppage time courtesy of Thievy... But just when West Brom fans thought they’d stolen all three points, Mats Moller Dæhli popped up to smash in a dramatic equalizer with the last kick of the game in front of the delirious Cardiff fans.
Incredible late drama at the Hawthorns, as a tremendous relegation battle saw sensational late drama play out, as both teams are still embroiled in a scrap for survival. With the point, West Brom stay in 17th place, three points and one place ahead of Cardiff in 18th.
Games like this don’t come along that often, this is what the PL is all about.
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West Bromwich Albion got off to a flying start at the Hawthorns, as Almafitano sent a sensational lob over David Marshall and into the top corner to give the Baggies the lead in just the 2nd minute. Cardiff were stunned and within 10 minutes they were 2-0 down, as Dorrans made a superb late run into the box and finished superbly to hand West Brom a commanding lead.
The Bluebirds tried to get things going after a desperately poor start in a massive relegation clash. Ole Gunnar Solksjaer stood shell-shocked on the sidelines, as Baggies boss Pepe Mel was in dreamland with his side stroking the ball around wonderfully well.
In the 18th minute a teasing cross from the left almost saw Cardiff pull a goal back, but Fraizer Campbell couldn’t quite get in on the end of it. For the rest of the first half the Bluebirds pushed hard, and in the 30th minute Mutch pulled out a moment of genius to get them back into the game. Was it genius or luck? Who knows. But the Cardiff midfielder curled a lob, which looked like a cross, into the top corner and over a lumbering Ben Foster in goal for the Baggies.
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West Brom regrouped well and had some decent long-range efforts that Marshall thwarted before the break, but initial euphoria around the Hawthorns had been replaced by nervous tension by the time the half time whistle blew.
James Morrison spurned a glorious chance early on in the second half, as the midfielder blazed over after the ball broke to him in the box and Marshall was blocked out. West Brom started much better, and Stephane Sessegnon also went close as the Baggies took the game to Cardiff. Solksjaer urged his side to attack throughout the second half, as Cardiff’s manager saw his side drop deeper and deeper as the Baggies pushed forward relentlessly.
The pulsating clash saw Cardiff regain momentum, as Campbell ran towards goal and hammered an effort that Foster parried away and the Bluebirds couldn’t capitalize on the rebound. Cardiff went for broke and threw the kitchen sink at West Brom, with Bellamy, Campbell and substitute Wilfried Zaha all running at pace.
All of that pressure finally told for Cardiff, as Caulker rose highest in the 73rd minute to loop a head home to send the traveling fans wild. The Cardiff skipper has now scored five goals from central defense this season, as West Brom blew their 2-0 lead and Cardiff were growing in confidence as the final 10 minutes arrived.
Cardiff substitute Dæhli ran through but hit his shot straight at Foster, as the Bluebirds brought on Kenwyne Jones late in the game to try and seal a sensational winner. But it was West Brom who went ahead in the 92nd minute, as Berahino ran down the right and his deflected cross found Thievy who slotted home to send the home fans wild.
But in the 95th minute Dæhli broke the Baggies hearts and grabbed a point for Cardiff, as the Norwegian pounced on a lose ball and saw his effort clip off the post and in with the last kick of the game.
Stunning finish to a sensational battle.
LINEUPS
West Bromwich Albion: Foster, Reid, McAuley, Dawson, Ridgewell, Morrison, Mulumbu, Dorrans, Amalfitano Berahino (72'), Sessegnon, Vydra (Thievy, 78')
Goals: Amalfitano (2'), Dorrans (9'), (Thievy, 90+2')
Cardiff City: Marshall; Fabio (Zaha, 36'), Turner, Caulker, Theophile-Catherine, Taylor; Medel, Mutch, Gunnarsson (Dæhli, 45'); Bellamy, Campbell
Goals: Mutch (30'), Caulker (73'), Dæhli (90+5')