Bocanegra earns Fulham point against Villa
AFP
March 3, 2007
LONDON (AFP) - Aston Villa failed to end their four-month wait for an away win when Carlos Bocanegra earned Fulham a point in a 1-1 draw at Craven Cottage on Saturday.
Norwegian international striker John Carew had opened the scoring for Martin O'Neill's side after 21 minutes in controversial circumstances.
Fulham claimed that referee Lee Mason had got in Alexei Smertin's way as he tried to defend an attack allowing Gareth Barry to put Carew in on goal and open the scoring.
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But the Londoners were level two minutes later when Bocanegra headed in a cross from Franck Queudrue.
Fulham were unfortunate not to claim all three points with Michael Brown hitting the post twice and Villa keeper Thomas Sorensen keeping out American striker Brian McBride.
Fulham goalkeeper Antti Niemi returned to the team as did Ian Pearce and Queudrue, while Martin Laursen and Wilfred Bouma were back in the Villa starting line-up.
Niemi had to be alert late in the match when he turned a 90th-minute drive from Carew around the post.
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