Mika Biereth rescues late Motherwell point against St Johnstone

By Sports Desk December 09, 2023

Mika Biereth netted an injury-time equaliser as Motherwell claimed a share of the spoils in a 1-1 cinch Premiership draw against St Johnstone at Fir Park.

Biereth powered home a header in the final seconds to level proceedings, though Well boss Stuart Kettlewell remained under pressure, having seen his side extend their winless run to 13 matches.

A goalkeeping error from Liam Kelly led to Bevis Mugabi turning Graham Carey’s free-kick into his own net early in the second half and it looked like the hosts were heading for another dismal afternoon until they came up with a late response.

Saints have slipped into the relegation play-off position, trailing Motherwell on goal difference having played one game fewer.

Kettlewell made three changes in an effort to end his side’s search for a first victory since September. Georgie Gent made his first start for the club while Davor Zdravkovski and Jon Obika were both handed starting roles.

Craig Levein was without Max Kucheriavyi – who sustained a concussion during Saints’ 1-0 victory over St Mirren in midweek – and he was replaced by Chris Kane.

There was little to excite supporters of either side during an error-strewn opening 20 minutes.

The hosts looked to have a case for a foul when Brodie Spencer hit the deck following a challenge just inside his own penalty area, but when the referee waved play on, Kelly parried Anthony Gallacher’s shot before grasping an effort from Carey.

Gent forced a good stop from Dimitar Mitov after 27 minutes with a low drive that took a deflection off Matt Smith – the first time the St Johnstone goalkeeper had been called into action.

Having almost broken the deadlock, Motherwell were clearly lifted and began to pose much more of an attacking threat.

Obika had a weak shot gathered comfortably then a neat passing move concluded with Blair Spittal firing a powerful effort at Mitov that the Bulgarian turned away.

Callum Slattery saw his long-range drive saved shortly after half-time, though the home side would find themselves behind after 53 minutes.

It was a disaster for Kelly who got nowhere near to collecting Smith’s curling free-kick and Mugabi could only divert the ball into his own goal.

The mood had noticeably shifted inside Fir Park and the Steelmen almost found themselves two down when Diallang Jaiyesimi released Kane, who blasted against the legs of Kelly with the goal at his mercy.

Kettlewell introduced Oli Shaw in place of Obika with 20 minutes left on the clock, however, it was the visitors who continued to look the more likely.

After Zdravkovski had hacked down Carey, the Saints man dusted himself off to bend the resulting free-kick beyond the helpless Well goalkeeper but against the crossbar.

Spencer blazed an effort high and wide as Motherwell desperately searched for a way back into an encounter that was slipping away from them at pace.

In bringing on Theo Bair and Conor Wilkinson for Spencer and Zdravkovski they would have four strikers on the field for the final 10 minutes.

The changes almost paid off instantly as Bair got in behind the Saints defence before heading into the arms of Mitov, while Beireth then looped a header that crept wide of the target with the aid of a deflection.

It appeared that it was almost time up for Kettlewell, but his side would strike deep into added time as Beireth bulleted the ball high into the net after connecting with Bair’s pin-point cross.

Related items

  • Plymouth Argyle 2-2 Watford: Two-goal Gray rescues point for Rooney's side Plymouth Argyle 2-2 Watford: Two-goal Gray rescues point for Rooney's side

    Andre Gray scored twice against his former club to salvage a point for struggling Plymouth Argyle as they drew 2-2 with Watford on Friday. 

    Gray curled in an equaliser in the sixth minute of second-half stoppage time to seal a crucial point for Wayne Rooney's side in their bid for survival in the Championship. 

    The visitors made a quick start at Home Park when Ivorian striker Vakoun Bayo bundled in a cross from Yasser Larouci only eight minutes in. 

    Plymouth did, however, equalise against the run of play in the 23rd minute when Lewis Gibson's long ball into the box was met with a spectacular volley from Gray. 

    Watford regained the lead before the break when Imran Louza's free-kick was knocked back by Mattie Pollock, with centre-back Ryan Porteous on hand to steer the ball home. 

    But just as it looked like Watford would go home with all three points, Gray picked up the ball on the edge of the area and fired home a stunning effort beyond Daniel Bachmann. 

    Tom Cleverley's Watford sit in fifth place and trail leaders Sunderland by five points, while Plymouth are 17th with 17 points from 16 matches. 

  • Paris Saint-Germain 3-0 Toulouse: Neves stars in comfortable home win Paris Saint-Germain 3-0 Toulouse: Neves stars in comfortable home win

    Paris Saint-Germain maintained their unbeaten start to the Ligue 1 season with a comfortable 3-0 win over Toulouse on Friday.

    Following Monaco's 3-2 win over Brest earlier in the day, Luis Enrique's side responded emphatically to stay five points clear at the top of the table. 

    After a dominant start, PSG got themselves ahead in stunning fashion when Achraf Hakimi's cross was brilliantly driven first-time into the bottom corner by Joao Neves. 

    But Toulouse provided a threat after the break and should have drawn level in the 70th minute through Shavy Babicka, but he fired over with only Matvey Safonov to beat. 

    That mistake ultimately proved costly with the hosts doubling their advantage eight minutes from time when Beraldo took advantage of some poor defending to finish inside the box.

    The triumph was sealed in the first minute of second-half stoppage time through substitute Vitinha, who danced into the box before finishing high into the corner from close range.

    Luis Enrique's side will now turn their attentions to the Champions League, with a daunting trip to the Allianz Arena to face Bayern Munich awaiting on Tuesday. 

    Data Debrief: Party in Paris

    PSG's dominance in Ligue 1 continued on Friday, with Luis Enrique's side now having lost just one of their last 41 matches in the top-flight (W30 D10). 

    Neves was a particular standout for the hosts, winning more duels (nine), registering the joint-most shots on target (two) and the joint-most final third entries (seven) during the game.

    Despite the scoreline, PSG were perhaps fortunate to emerge victorious. Though Luis Enrique's side accumulated 17 shots to Toulouse's 11, it was the visitors who ended the contest with a higher expected goals (xG) total, managing 1.39 to the Parisiens' 1.35. 

  • Bayern Munich 3-0 Augsburg: Hat-trick hero Kane smashes Bundesliga record Bayern Munich 3-0 Augsburg: Hat-trick hero Kane smashes Bundesliga record

    Harry Kane scored a hat-trick to become the quickest player to score 50 Bundesliga goals as Bayern Munich comfortably dispatched Augsburg 3-0 on Friday. 

    Kane opened the scoring in the 63rd with a penalty before netting a quickfire double in second-half stoppage time to smash the record previously held by Erling Haaland. 

    Despite controlling the early possession, Bayern were unable to make their dominance count, with Nediljko Labrovic rarely troubled in the opening 45 minutes. 

    The hosts maintained their dominance after the interval, with Leon Goretzka's looped header grazing the crossbar before Jamal Musiala went close soon after. 

    However, Bayern were awarded a penalty after a lengthy VAR review saw Mads Pedersen penalised for handling the ball, with Kane stepping up to score from 12 yards. 

    The England captain grabbed his second of the game in the third-minute of stoppage time following another VAR review which saw Keven Schlotterbeck sent off after tripping Kane inside the box. 

    Kane sent Labrovic the wrong way but was not to be denied a fourth treble of the season, brilliantly taking down Goretzka's searching ball before heading the ball home. 

    Data Debrief: HurriKane

    Kane has now scored 50 Bundesliga goals in 43 matches. Before him, Haaland was the quickest player to reach 50 Bundesliga goals, having done so in 50 appearances in the competition for Borussia Dortmund.

    He is also the quickest to reach that total for Bayern by some distance. Kane has reached that tally quicker than the likes of Gerd Muller (83 games), Mario Gomez (71 games), Roy Makaay (67 games) and Robert Lewandowski (64 games). 

    10 of Kane’s goals have come from penalties, while 32 of them have been with his right foot, nine with his left and nine with his head.

© 2024 SportsMaxTV All Rights Reserved.