Barclays Premier League: Stoke City v Wigan Athletic Main Highlights Video, Match Report, Goal Videos
Played at Venue: Britannia Stadium Date: Saturday 12 December
Stoke City v Wigan Athletic Match Report
Thomas Sorensen saved a penalty for the third time in four games to earn Stoke City a point in a thrilling finale against Wigan Athletic at the Britannia Stadium.
The Denmark international was earlier the villain of the peace when he allowed a 55-yard free-kick from Maynor Figueroa to sail over his head and into the net.
But he was certainly the hero a minute from time as he plunged to his right to keep out Hugo Rodallega's poorly directed spot-kick.
The penalty was awarded for Robert Huth's foul on Jordi Gomez and justice was done as the Spanish midfielder was well offside when he crumpled to the turf.
Stoke made a strong start and Dean Whitehead was inches away from his first goal for the club when he fired wide from Rory Delap's pass in the fourth minute.
But Wigan soon settled and Rodallega had already warmed Sorensen's fingers before the visitors took a 14th minute lead.
Sorensen produced a brilliant reflex save to keep out Rodallega's free header from a Jason Koumas free-kick, but the ball looped into the air and Emmerson Boyce followed up to nod home.
Boyce and Sorensen ended up needing lengthy treatment after they collided on the line before both were patched up and able to continue.
Stoke were struggling to build up any momentum without flu victim Liam Lawrence and with strikers James Beattie and Mamady Sidibe only fit enough to be on the bench.
But they got the tonic they desperately needed eight minutes before the break when Tuncay scored his eagerly awaited first goal for the club.
Sorensen's long punt was headed on by Ryan Shawcross and, with the Wigan defence attempting to play offside, Tuncay ran clear from deep.
The Turkey international looked likely to cross the ball from a tight angle, but he chose to crack a fierce low shot which sped just inside Chris Kirkland's near post.
Boyce failed to appear for the second half and his place was taken by Scott Sinclair, with Paul Scharner moved to join Titus Bramble at the heart of Wigan's defence.
But that didn't stop Scharner going close to scoring when his 55th minute header from a Koumas corner flew wide with Sorensen well beaten.
Stoke should have gone ahead two minutes later with Ricardo Fuller pulling his shot off target after escaping Bramble's attentions.
And Tuncay fired narrowly over from a free-kick after Scharner was booked for a late challenge on Matthew Etherington as City increased the tempo.
The pressure continued to build with substitute Glenn Whelan and man of the match Tuncay again going close before Wigan regained the lead in extraordinary fashion 18 minutes from time.
Figueroa scored a stunning free-kick from a yard inside his own half after noticing Sorensen had strayed too far off his line. It was a fantastic piece of quick thinking and execution by the Honduras international.
Stoke levelled again two minutes later when Shawcross headed in Etherington's corner from eight yards as Kirkland failed to battle his way through a crowd of bodies.
And Sorensen had the final say to secure a point that was certainly deserved on the balance of play.
14:44 GOAL - Emmerson Boyce STOKE CITY 0 - 1 WIGAN: The away side take the lead as EMMERSON BOYCE follows in from his initial header to bundle the ball into the net.
36:58 GOAL - Tuncay Sanli STOKE CITY 1 - 1 WIGAN - The home side get themselves back on level terms as TUNCAY beats his man before slotting the ball in from a tight angle
71:35 GOAL - Maynor Figueroa STOKE CITY 1 - 2 WIGAN: The away side take the lead as FIGUEROA fires the ball into the Stoke net from inside his own half. Amazing goal.
73:31 GOAL - Ryan Shawcross STOKE CITY 2 - 2 WIGAN: The home side hit back straight away as SHAWCROSS heads in from six yards out.
Sorenson admits penalty encroachment
Stoke boss Tony Pulis:
"Thomas will get all the plaudits for saving the penalty again.
"Being as good as he is, he should have pushed the ball over the bar for their first goal and not pushed it out.
"Thomas made amends for us with that penalty save. It is five out of six penalty saves now. Fingers crossed he keeps it going for us."
Wigan boss Roberto Martinez:
"I am just focusing on our performance - it was what we wanted.
"It was a real test of character and to not get the three points we deserved is a little disappointing.
"Figueroa has got that quality and you see that he meant it - we will be seeing that goal for a long time."
Played at Venue: Britannia Stadium Date: Saturday 12 December
Thomas Sorensen saved a penalty for the third time in four games to earn Stoke City a point in a thrilling finale against Wigan Athletic at the Britannia Stadium.
Stoke City v Wigan Athletic Match Report
Thomas Sorensen saved a penalty for the third time in four games to earn Stoke City a point in a thrilling finale against Wigan Athletic at the Britannia Stadium.
The Denmark international was earlier the villain of the peace when he allowed a 55-yard free-kick from Maynor Figueroa to sail over his head and into the net.
But he was certainly the hero a minute from time as he plunged to his right to keep out Hugo Rodallega's poorly directed spot-kick.
The penalty was awarded for Robert Huth's foul on Jordi Gomez and justice was done as the Spanish midfielder was well offside when he crumpled to the turf.
Stoke made a strong start and Dean Whitehead was inches away from his first goal for the club when he fired wide from Rory Delap's pass in the fourth minute.
But Wigan soon settled and Rodallega had already warmed Sorensen's fingers before the visitors took a 14th minute lead.
Sorensen produced a brilliant reflex save to keep out Rodallega's free header from a Jason Koumas free-kick, but the ball looped into the air and Emmerson Boyce followed up to nod home.
Boyce and Sorensen ended up needing lengthy treatment after they collided on the line before both were patched up and able to continue.
Stoke were struggling to build up any momentum without flu victim Liam Lawrence and with strikers James Beattie and Mamady Sidibe only fit enough to be on the bench.
But they got the tonic they desperately needed eight minutes before the break when Tuncay scored his eagerly awaited first goal for the club.
Sorensen's long punt was headed on by Ryan Shawcross and, with the Wigan defence attempting to play offside, Tuncay ran clear from deep.
The Turkey international looked likely to cross the ball from a tight angle, but he chose to crack a fierce low shot which sped just inside Chris Kirkland's near post.
Boyce failed to appear for the second half and his place was taken by Scott Sinclair, with Paul Scharner moved to join Titus Bramble at the heart of Wigan's defence.
But that didn't stop Scharner going close to scoring when his 55th minute header from a Koumas corner flew wide with Sorensen well beaten.
Stoke should have gone ahead two minutes later with Ricardo Fuller pulling his shot off target after escaping Bramble's attentions.
And Tuncay fired narrowly over from a free-kick after Scharner was booked for a late challenge on Matthew Etherington as City increased the tempo.
The pressure continued to build with substitute Glenn Whelan and man of the match Tuncay again going close before Wigan regained the lead in extraordinary fashion 18 minutes from time.
Figueroa scored a stunning free-kick from a yard inside his own half after noticing Sorensen had strayed too far off his line. It was a fantastic piece of quick thinking and execution by the Honduras international.
Stoke levelled again two minutes later when Shawcross headed in Etherington's corner from eight yards as Kirkland failed to battle his way through a crowd of bodies.
And Sorensen had the final say to secure a point that was certainly deserved on the balance of play.
14:44 GOAL - Emmerson Boyce STOKE CITY 0 - 1 WIGAN: The away side take the lead as EMMERSON BOYCE follows in from his initial header to bundle the ball into the net.
36:58 GOAL - Tuncay Sanli STOKE CITY 1 - 1 WIGAN - The home side get themselves back on level terms as TUNCAY beats his man before slotting the ball in from a tight angle
71:35 GOAL - Maynor Figueroa STOKE CITY 1 - 2 WIGAN: The away side take the lead as FIGUEROA fires the ball into the Stoke net from inside his own half. Amazing goal.
73:31 GOAL - Ryan Shawcross STOKE CITY 2 - 2 WIGAN: The home side hit back straight away as SHAWCROSS heads in from six yards out.
Sorenson admits penalty encroachment
Stoke boss Tony Pulis:
"Thomas will get all the plaudits for saving the penalty again.
"Being as good as he is, he should have pushed the ball over the bar for their first goal and not pushed it out.
"Thomas made amends for us with that penalty save. It is five out of six penalty saves now. Fingers crossed he keeps it going for us."
Wigan boss Roberto Martinez:
"I am just focusing on our performance - it was what we wanted.
"It was a real test of character and to not get the three points we deserved is a little disappointing.
"Figueroa has got that quality and you see that he meant it - we will be seeing that goal for a long time."
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