CHARLTON ATHLETIC v NEWCASTLE UNITED, 2-0 Sun 18 Mar
2007
Zheng Zhi used his head to dramatically improve Charlton Athletic's
chances of staying in the Barclays Premiership.
The China international midfielder headed a 54th-minute goal
against Newcastle United, and won an 88th-minute penalty which
Jerome Thomas converted to turn Addicks home into Happy Valley
again.
Zheng, on loan for the rest of the season from Shandong Luneng, was
on the spot to coolly head into an empty net after Darren Bents
clever free-kick had bounced down off the bar nine minutes after
half-time.
Then as Charlton hung on to their hard-earned advantage, Zheng went
down in the box after a nudge by Nolberto Solano and Thomas sealed
all three points from the spot.
It means Charlton are now just four points behind 17th-placed
Sheffield United, having picked up seven points from their last
three games.
With Sheffield United and Wigan Athletic to play in south London
before the end of the campaign, boss Alan Pardew will believe he
can get his new team out of jail.
Zheng was the star of a vibrant second half which was a total
contrast to the first 45 minutes - but only after he was switched
into attack with Bent when specialist winger Dennis Rommedahl
replaced the injured Marcus Bent at half-time.
Zheng could have easily scored two more goals - but he shot over
after Bents header came back off a post and then saw another
effort blocked by Newcastles Craig Moore, playing for the first
time in 26 matches after a hamstring injury.
For Newcastle, who exited the UEFA Cup at the hands of AZ Alkmaar
on Thursday, the outcome could have been different had Antoine
Sibierski taken an early chance - and also if referee Dermot
Gallagher had awarded a handball by Talal El Karkouri in the
Charlton area early in the second half.
Newcastles former Charlton favourite Scott Parker had the first
shot of the first half when he fired badly wide from 30 yards in
the fourth minute.
Two minutes later Sibierski spurned a great opportunity to add to
his eight goals this season, applying a dismal first touch in the
penalty area to Damien Duffs pass and allowing Charltons
Souleymane Diawara to get across and dispossess him.
A cold, blustery wind did not exactly encourage good football but
Newcastle kept the ball on the ground and had marginally the better
of the scrappy early exchanges.
When Emre clumsily fouled Zheng - making his full debut after three
substitute appearances - five yards outside the area, El Karkouris
well-struck free-kick was only a yard or two wide of the
target.
Only in the closing stages of the opening period did Charlton show
sufficient urgency to match their relegation-fighting task.
The hosts had to remodel their plans when Alex Song, on loan from
Arsenal, hobbled off just before half-time and Marcus Bent failed
to appear for the second half - replaced by winger Rommedahl.
It made all the difference to Charlton and they pummelled the
Newcastle goal - even though goalkeeper Scott Carson was required
to make his one outstanding save of the match from substitute
Charles NZogbia deep in stoppage-time.
However, by then, Zheng and Thomas had both beaten Shay Given to
make sure of three precious points for the home side.