The Premier League match between Sunderland and Liverpool at the Stadium of Light on Saturday, Oct 17 2009.
Liverpool's Premier League title challenge suffered another debilitating blow today – this time courtesy of a big red beach ball.
In what will go down as one of the most bizarre goals since the league was launched in 1992, Darren Bent's shot was helped in by a Liverpool-branded inflatable released by fans congre! gated behind the visitors' goal.
The beach ball diverted Bent's low shot away from Pepe Reina who seemed to have the effort covered and just inside his right-hand post of who reacted in furious fashion with his indignation directed in particular at one of referee Mike Jones' assistants.
Really the Spaniard should have been berating left wing-back Fabio Aurelio whose hesitancy allowed Andy Reid to dance past him, destabilising his three-man defence of Jamie Carragher, Martin Skrtel and Daniel Agger, to such an extent that Bent was allowed a free pop at goal following Steed Malbranque's cross.
Somewhat fittingly, Liverpool, runners-up last term despite losing just twice, quickly bounced back but Sunderland's goal led a charmed life following the shaky Michael Turner's slip but without big-hitters Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard the visitors lacked a finishing touch.
Liverpool, with ! Jay Spearing starting in midfield as the jet-lagged Javier ! Maschera no watched from the substitutes, were, though, restricted to long-range efforts for much of the first half as Sunderland goalkeeper Craig Gordon was hardly troubled.
Indeed, Sunderland looked more potent as an attacking force and Darren Bent wasted good chances to take his tally for the season to nine either side of the break.
Former Liverpool midfielder Bolo Zenden was handed a debut by Bruce when combative midfielder Lee Cattermole was stretchered off and Sunderland grew in stature with Bent striking a post from an acute angle after getting the better of Reina.
Dirk Kuyt, Yossi Benayoun and Andriy Voronin wasted half-chances but otherwise Liverpool offered little offensively despite dominating possession and despite seeing Kenwyne Jones stretchered off, Malbranque should have made Benítez's side pay by puttin! g the game beyond the visitors but was denied by Carragher.
The luck almost evened itself out in the closing stages as Glen Johnson's in-swinging left-footed cross seemed certain to beat Gordon but the Scottish international pushed his shot' over before home fans groaned with the announcement that seven minutes of nerve-shredding added time would be played, allowing Gordon the chance to be a hero with a double save to deny Agger and Ngog.
The outcome put Liverpool on course for their fourth league defeat this season and enabled Steve Bruce's Sunderland to leapfrog visitors who have now slipped to eighth place in the table with a potentially critical Champions League match against Lyons on Tuesday now looming large.
