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match-reports
Sun 25 Oct 2009, City of Mcr. StadiumReferee: Kevin Friend
Manchester City
 
 Team Lineup 
1
Given
2
Richards
28
Toure
  
(90)
19
Lescott
3
Bridge
34
De Jong
(72)
18
Barry
17
Petrov
  
(67)
39
Bellamy
25
Adebayor
32
Tevez
Substitutes
6
Johnson
7
Ireland
(72)
33
Kompany
(90)
8
Wright-Phillips
(67)
12
Taylor
40
Weiss
16
Sylvinho
 
 Match Quotes
Manchester City manager Mark Hughes
"We were 2-0 to the good and we should have seen the game out but unfortunately we allowed them back in the game and given them a lift. Then it was how we dealt with balls into the box and a guy in Dempsey who is acknowledged as good in the air - and we haven't dealt with it."

- Mark Hughes

 
Manchester City 2
Fulham 2
Scorer: Lescott (53)
Scorer: Petrov (60)
Scorer: Duff (62)
Scorer: Dempsey (67)
Attendance: 44,906 FT (17:56)

 

Clint Dempsey capped a storming Fulham recovery as Mark Hughes' shell-shocked Manchester City were forced to settle for their third straight Barclays Premier League draw.

Hughes' men were cruising home when Martin Petrov fired home their second on the hour, seven minutes after Joleon Lescott had knocked home the opener.

But eight minutes later the visitors were back on level terms when first Damien Duff then Dempsey fired past Shay Given to lend another twist to an action-packed match.

It could have been worse for City as Bobby Zamora brought a late save out of Given as memories inevitably flicked back to Fulham's 'great escape' from relegation with a 3-2 win at Eastlands in 2008.

Earlier, Micah Richards had had a first-half effort ruled out while Zamora and Diomansy Kamara were both guilty of misses as the action swung from end to end.

City had brought back Craig Bellamy after missing out last week with a groin strain but Petrov had the first chance for the home side when he shot over the bar on 12 minutes.

Even in the early stages the visitors showed plenty of threat on the counter-attack with Zamora looking lively and a Dempsey run reined in by an alert Richards.

timely reminder

Tevez came close on 17 minutes when Adebayor laid back the ball to the edge of the box and the Argentinian scuffed a low shot which bobbled just past Mark Schwarzer's left post.

But one minute later the home side were almost caught out when Kamara burst clean through - only to seem so surprised by the lack of an offside flag that he dribbled his first touch to Given.

City reacted well, Adebayor seeing penalty claims turned down after tumbling under Kelly's challenge, Kolo Toure heading over and Nigel De Jong forcing a diving save from Schwarzer.

But the visitors were intent on building on their fine recent record at City, with Jonathan Greening serving a timely reminder by shooting inches wide on the half-hour.

Tevez came closest for the home side in the 33rd minute when he rose unchallenged to meet Petrov's corner from the right but flashed his header onto the top of the net.

Adebayor also missed by inches four minutes from the break and moments later Richards headed home a Petrov corner - only for referee Kevin Friend to blow for a foul by Barry on Chris Baird.

Zamora had a chance on 47 minutes when Dempsey's initial shot was parried by Given and the striker screwed the rebound over the bar from six yards.

bizarre twist

City responded by going in front in the 53rd minute when Barry nudged a Bellamy corner across to Adebayor and his weak shot was helped over the line by Lescott.

When City grabbed their second on the hour it seemed like plain sailing, Bridge feeding Petrov from the right and the midfielder curling an excellent effort past Schwarzer.

But Roy Hodgson's men were far from sunk and they struck back just two minutes later when Zamora chested down a ball from Stephen Kelly and Duff shot home from the edge of the box.

A remarkable match took its further bizarre twist in the 67th minute when Dempsey fired Fulham level after finding space to meet Greening's free-kick in the box.

For a time it seemed Fulham were set to repeat their comeback heroics of 2008 with Zamora shooting just wide then bringing another save from Given.

City ended the match looking more likely with Barry heading just wide, but even five extra minutes of injury time could not provide Hughes with the win he desperately wanted.

 

 Fantasy Player Pick
Clint Dempsey of Fulham

Clint Dempsey

(Fulham)
Striker scored the equaliser to rescue a point for the Whites.
 IKTS Snapshot
2 per cent
Only two per cent of IKTS players correctly predicted a 2-2 draw at Eastlands.
Please note: Fixtures are subject to change. Reproduced under licence from Football DataCo Limited. All rights reserved. Licence no. NEWMEDIA/PREMLGEGE/FDCED0910/118839.
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 Team Lineup 
1
Schwarzer
4
Pantsil
   
5
Hangeland
   
18
Hughes
2
Kelly
16
Duff
27
Greening
6
Baird
23
Dempsey
15
Kamara
(90)
25
Zamora
Substitutes
21
Johnson
17
Riise
26
Smalling
11
Gera
10
Nevland
19
Zuberbuhler
7
Seol
(90)
 
 Match Quotes
Fulham manager Roy Hodgson
"After their goals we got ourselves back on track and started playing how we had for the 60 minutes. We have players injured at the moment so it was a sterling effort for the players to earn a point. We battled hard against a good side, defended well throughout, and the character of the team is outstanding."

- Roy Hodgson

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