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Blackburn, Liverpool drew 2-2 at Ewood
Blackburn and Liverpool shared an entertaining 2-2 draw at Ewood Park. David Dunn put the home side ahead, but a sublime volleyed goal by Danny Murphy squared m
- Indo-Asian News Service
- Updated: February 25, 2007 08:28 AM IST
Read Time:2 min
Blackburn, England:
Blackburn and Liverpool shared an entertaining 2-2 draw at Ewood Park. David Dunn put the home side ahead, but a sublime volleyed goal by Danny Murphy squared matters before half time. A header from Norwegian midfielder John Arne Riise after 77 minutes looked to have given Gerard Houllier's side all three points, before Corrado Grabbi dramatically levelled the scores just moments after coming on as substitute. Three points for Liverpool at Blackburn would have seen Gerard Houllier's side hit the top of the English Premiership after three games. But a low-key opening period at Ewood Park was suddenly illuminated when David Dunn slammed home the opening goal after 16 minutes. Dwight Yorke dummied Damien Duff's cross, allowing the young midfielder to touch the ball onto his left foot and drill an unstoppable shot past goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek. A shell-shocked Liverpool almost conceded a second moments later when Blackburn striker Andy Cole slipped past Stephane Henchoz, but his effort was repelled by Dudek. However, on the half hour mark, Danny Murphy brilliantly crafted an equalizer for Liverpool. First, the England midfielder back-heeled the ball into space for Abel Xavier to size up a cross. Then Murphy raced into the penalty area to latch onto the defender's return ball, rasping the net with a fearsome first time volley. At the beginning of the second half Liverpool almost edged ahead when, after a patient build-up, Steven Gerrard fired a dangerous low ball across the Rovers box that John Arne Riise almost turned in. Damien Duff was a constant menace to the Liverpool back line and was nearly put through for the home side -- but Stephane Henchoz stepped in with a perfectly timed last ditch tackle. An entertaining game was just beginning to lull until, in the 77th minute, John Arne Riise popped up with a second for Gerard Houllier's men. Vladimir Smicer sent in a looping cross to the far post where the unmarked Norwegian lofted a header just over Rovers' goalkeeper Brad Friedel's outstretched arm. But Blackburn refused to give up the chase and just five minutes later Corrado Grabbi, a substitute, ghosted into the area and despatched a bullet header from Dunn's centre that gave Dudek no chance. Rovers' boss Graeme Souness was dismissed from the touchline after arguing with referee Steve Bennett before the final whistle, but the gruff Scotsman will have been happy to see his side snatch a deserved point from his former club. (AP)Topics mentioned in this article
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