Inspired Schwarzer frustrates Sunderland

Posted Sunday, November 20, 2011 by YAHOO Sport

Australian goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer earned Fulham a 0-0 draw at Sunderland with a superb save in stoppage time at the Stadium of Light on Saturday.

Schwarzer ensured the Cottagers returned to London with a point when he managed to block Stephane Sessegnon's goal-bound shot with his leg despite being sent the wrong way by a wicked deflection.

The former Middlesbrough star's heroics were tough on Sunderland, who had earlier hit the woodwork through Kieran Richardson and Jack Colback.

Sunderland have now won only two of their 12 Premier League games this season and, like Fulham, they remain just two points above the relegation zone.

The Black Cats might have gone in at the break two goals to the good, but equally could have headed for the dressing room trailing by the same margin after a half in which both sides created chances.

Richardson was the unlucky man with nine minutes gone when he met Sessegnon's left-wing cross with a header which wrong-footed Schwarzer, but clipped the top of the crossbar.

Seven minutes later, it was Colback who was left cursing the frame of the goal when he blocked Damien Duff's attempted clearance before spinning and drilling a left-foot shot against it.

Fulham striker Moussa Dembele had earlier forced a fine reaction save from Keiren Westwood after skipping past Lee Cattermole and Michael Turner on the edge of the penalty area.

Phil Bardsley helped Bobby Zamora's header out for a corner and then, when Sunderland old boy Dickson Etuhu met Duff's set-piece, Cattermole cleared off the line to ensure the sides remained locked together.

It took a good save by Westwood to deny Chris Baird after he had drilled in a low drive from Zamora's clever 51st-minute free-kick.

However, it took an even more stunning stop from Schwarzer to keep out Sessegnon's goal-bound effort after it had clipped Philippe Senderos with just seconds remaining.