Jaakkola saves late penalty as Bristol Rovers earn FA Cup reply with Plymouth

Posted Monday, December 02, 2019 by PA

Bristol Rovers goalkeeper Anssi Jaakkola saved a stoppage-time penalty to earn his side an FA Cup second-round reply following a 1-1 draw with Plymouth at the Memorial Stadium.

Finland international Jaakkola kept out Antoni Sarcevic’s late spot-kick – which was heading for the low centre of goal – to keep 10-man Rovers in the competition.

Plymouth were the better side in the first half, with Sarcevic and Gary Sawyer having early shots blocked as Mayor forced a 22nd-minute save from Jaakkola.

Rovers improved after sending on Tyler Smith to support lone striker Jonson Clarke-Harris for the second half.

The hosts took a 74th-minute lead when Liam Sercombe broke the deadlock with a low 15-yard drive from Luke Leahy’s cross.

Referee Will Finnie judged that Abu Ogogo had brought down Danny Mayor after 84 minutes and Sarcevic made no mistake as he fired the resulting penalty firmly into the bottom left-hand corner.

The visitors then had the chance to win the tie when Rollin Menayese was sent off for bringing down former Rovers player Byron Moore, but this time the spot-kick was too straight and Jaakkola spread himself to save with his legs.