Soccer
Penalty redemption for Enzo Le Fee as he earns Sunderland a draw at Brentford
Enzo Le Fee scored a late penalty to rescue a point for Sunderland in a lively 1-1 draw against Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium.
It was a moment of redemption for the midfielder, who embarrassed himself with a botched panenka spot-kick on this ground last season.
Regis Le Bris’ side were comfortably beaten that day in January but here they bullishly refused to go down easily after falling behind to Vitaly Janelt’s half-volley early in the second half.
At that stage, they looked like paying the price for failing to take advantage of a first half they had dominated, a contentious and highly drawn-out VAR check chalking off a goal from Dan Ballard whilst Le Fee struck a post and Brentford clung on more by luck than by design.
Keith Andrews suffered the misfortune of losing his captain Nathan Collins inside 20 minutes, then having gone behind, gambled on three half-time changes that looked to have paid off in the shape of Janelt’s strike and three points.
Then, in the 82nd minute, substitute Wilson Isidor went down with Keane Lewis-Potter’s hands on him. A penalty was the decision and there was catharsis for Le Fee as he got it right from 12 yards.
Sunderland were excellent in the first half. Ballard finished smartly into the bottom corner after eight minutes before a VAR check determined Kevin Danso, on his debut, had strayed offside and blocked goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher’s view.
Collins was forced off after clashing with Noah Sadiki. Deprived of their captain, Brentford were inches away from falling behind moments later when Le Fee struck the post with a powerful shot from 10 yards.
Thomas Meunier ought to have done better when firing a first-time effort straight at substitute Jannik Schuster.
The home side were struggling with Sunderland’s physicality and directness, particularly the runs in behind by Meunier and Nilson Angulo, and the unyielding midfield stewardship of Granit Xhaka.
Brentford could count themselves lucky to be level at the break and Andrews responded with three changes, which did the trick.
Suddenly it was Sunderland who had no outlet, no means of escaping their own half, and just before the hour the hosts led.
Nordi Mukiele did well to adjust and head away a dangerous cross, but no team-mate in blue was there to help him and finish the job, with Janelt allowed to stride onto the ball 15 yards out and strike it sweetly into the top corner.
Lewis-Potter should have settled it but miscued a volley into the ground and over, then Anthony put the ball in the net but was penalised for taking the ball from the hands of goalkeeper Robin Roefs.
Kelleher got down well to keep out Isidor’s free-kick, but with 10 minutes to go Sunderland levelled.
Lewis-Potter had his hands on Isidor but the award of a penalty appeared generous. However, Le Fee sent the goalkeeper the wrong way to earn a point and make amends for his profligacy here at the start of the year.
