adminOxford United earn dramatic 1-1 draw at Norwich City
Oxford United pulled off a late equaliser to earn a 1-1 draw against Norwich City at the bottom of the Championship.
Substitute Filip Krastev’s 95th-minute strike cancelled out Jovon Makama’s first-half opener to make sure United did not go back to OX4 empty handed.
The U’s kicked the game off and started fairly positively with Mark Harris fizzing an early low ball into the box which is not met by any of his teammates.
It was Norwich who forced the first saves of the game, though, as Josh Sargent headed the ball down into the palms of Jamie Cumming from close range.
The cleared ball was volleyed back at goal by Kellen Fisher who could only find the grasp of the United goalkeeper.
A first real chance for Gary Rowett’s men came when Tyler Goodrham turned his man impressively, running into space down the left flank before giving it inside to Brian De Keersmaecker whose shot from range looped over after a deflection.
The U’s kept up a bit of pressure and forced a great save from Vladan Kovacevic as a result. A lofted ball into the box following a free kick was headed at goal by Ciaron Brown but the Canaries keeper did well to tip it over the bar.
Momentum flipped the hosts’ way after that. Jovon Makama forced a good save from a tight angle not long before he opened the scoring.
Finding the net in the 29th minute, the 21-year-old managed to bring down a headed ball into the box under no pressure and find the top right corner emphatically.
A Mark Harris header wide was an attempt at a response by the U’s and the final clear opportunity for either side before the break.
Looking to get back in the game, the visitors had the first sighter of the second period as Tyler Goodrham put a weak strike from the edge of the box tamely into the hands of Kovacevic.
The U’s were almost punished for their missed chance shortly after as Sargent volleyed a wonderful dinked ball into the area straight at Cumming; a big let off of Oxford.
Another big chance for the hosts was spurned later as Makama blazed a shot drastically over the bar from close range.
A bullet from De Keersmaecker followed which flew just wide of the mark before Cumming pulled off a terrific save as an unmarked Oscar Schwartau volleyed at goal from the back post, the U’s keeper sticking a paw out to prevent it from going in.
The Norwich onslaught persisted, Emiliano Marcondes having a shot from space in the box blocked by Brown who flung himself in the way.
A Will Vaulks curler was put wide as Oxford attempted to nick something from the game with around a quarter of an hour to play.
The life of the game seemed all but gone until the U’s found a late, late winner.
Sam Long cut the ball back for a completely unmarked Filip Krastev to sweep home into the bottom right corner.
The goal made it a second 1-1 draw in a row ahead of Friday night’s welcoming of Ipswich Town to the Kassam.
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