Penalty king Sorensen saves Stoke again

Stoke goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen enhanced his reputation as the Premier League’s penalty king by saving Hugo Rodallega’s late spot-kick to rescue a 2-2 draw against Wigan on Saturday.

Sorensen has now saved penalties in three of his last four matches, but none were as vital as his last minute stop at the Britannia Stadium.

Wigan had taken the lead through Emmerson Boyce’s early header, but Tuncay Sanli’s first goal since his move from Middlesbrough brought the hosts level.

A sensational goal from Maynor Figueroa, who beat Sorensen with a perfectly-placed dipping strike from inside his own half, restored Wigan’s lead.

Ryan Shawcross equalised for Stoke moments later but a remarkable match featured one last piece of drama as Sorensen denied Columbia striker Rodallega from the spot.

Wigan had snatched the lead in the 15th minute with a well-worked set-piece.

Rodallega’s header from a Jason Koumas free-kick was superbly saved by Sorensen, but Boyce was perfectly placed to dive in and head home as the Stoke goalkeeper laid prone on the turf.

Boyce was kicked in the head by Salif Diao in the process and then collided with Sorensen. Confusion briefly reigned as referee Mike Dean waved on the physios before finally signalling that he had allowed the goal.

Stoke equalised in the 37th minute when Shawcross flicked Sorensen’s kick on to Tuncay on the left of the penalty area and he slotted past Chris Kirkland from a narrow angle as the Wigan defence backed off.

Wigan matched Stoke well in the second half and went in front with a brilliant piece of quick thinking from Figueroa in the 72nd minute.

Robert Huth fouled Scott Sinclair two yards in the Latics own half and, with no Stoke player standing over the ball, the Honduran left-back launched the free-kick goalwards and it sailed over Sorensen and into the top corner from 61 yards.

Wigan’s lead lasted just two minutes as Shawcross outjumped Figueroa at the other end to head in Matthew Etherington’s corner with Kirkland caught in no man’s land.

James Beattie, who fell out with Stoke boss Tony Pulis last week after a dressing room row over the club’s Christmas party, came on for the final minutes.

It was Wigan who finished stronger though. In the 89th minute Huth brought down Jordi Gomez, who was clearly offside, and Dean awarded the penalty.

Rodallega’s nerve failed him as he fired his spot-kick straight at Sorensen, who has now conceded just one of the last six penalties he has faced in the Premier League.