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Onyewu scores late equalizer for Sporting in League Cup draw

Onyewu (Getty Images)

With Sporting Lisbon staring at the possibility of a League Cup slip-up against Rio Ave, Oguchi Onyewu came to the rescue.

Onyewu pushed forward and got involved in a late attack, scoring an 88th-minute equalizer by finishing off a low cross to give Sporting a 1-1 draw in a League Cup game on Monday. The match was Sporting's first of three in the cup's group stage, in which the winners of the four four-team groups advance to the semifinals.

The goal was the third for Onyewu this season, all of which have either tied the score or given Sporting the lead.

It also marked the second time that he burned Rio Ave with a late goal this season, after doing so in a league game on Sept. 19 to snap a 2-2 tie.

Highlights from the match are after the jump (Onyewu's goal sequence starts at 1:34):

Comments

  1. Right now, Gooch has the most experience and is probably in the best form of any US center half.

    He is the best all around center half the USMNT has.

    Reply
  2. SAF has done this with Rio in the past as well. Same way that Chris Samba gets used at Blackburn late in contest and on Free Kicks.

    He was also used like this at Milan when the Rossoneri were needing a goal after 85′

    The formula:

    Big Body + knock down header = Opportunity

    Launch to Onyewu -> knock down to Zlatan = G O A L!

    Reply
  3. Wish I could have seen the build up to track his movement. Nice run to “peel” away from the defender who was half-way marking him.

    Nice Finish with the Left too.

    Also … none of those girls interest me. I don’t get titillated over girls that look that pixelated

    Reply
  4. How’s he been playing on defense though? Goals are great and all, but his job is to play defense, and I haven’t had a chance to watch him this season. IS he back in the USMNT starting picture?

    Reply
  5. That is a nice shot and was not easy. Love seeing Gooch happy and successful. Klinsmann likes to play defenders up high and if Gooch can keep playing like this he could end up being a major force in the USMNT’s World Cup qualification process. Here’s hoping he can stay healthy.

    Reply
  6. That girl seems to be gone now. However, you can buy her shoes in the space left over for her possible reappearance later in the day.

    Reply
  7. A lot of times he gets moved up to a more forward role towards the end of games for this exact reason. More likely for his aerial prowess than anything else…but his feet did the work this time.

    I’ve seen Sir Alex do it w/ Phil Jones this year as well.

    Reply

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