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Neil Etheridge was all smiles as the Azkals' shot-stopper saved Cardiff City a valuable point on their home debut. Premier League
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MANILA -- After making Filipino footballing history on his Premier League bow, Neil Etheridge finally kept his clean sheet in his home debut in the most dramatic of circumstances, as his Cardiff and ten-man Newcastle battled to a goalless stalemate Saturday in South Wales.
The Azkals' top shot-stopper saved a penalty yet again on his second PL appearance for the Bluebirds after he palmed away Kenedy's last-ditch effort with just three seconds left on stoppage time, sealing his first points in the Premier League in the most cardiac way possible against the Magpies.
The prospect of Cardiff getting a result seemed positive when Isaac Hayden was directly sent off by referee Craig Pawson in the 66th minute when he fouled on Josh Murphy's back.
However, the Bluebirds' four-year wait for a home tiff in the Premier League almost hit a snag when captain Sean Morrison was caught handling Yoshinori Muto's cross from inside the box.
But the Philippines stalwart denied the Brazilian winger on loan from Chelsea all three points to save the blushes of the 30,720 who trooped to the Cardiff City Stadium.
With that, Etheridge became the first goalkeeper to save a penalty in consecutive PL apps since Stoke's Thomas Sorensen in December 2009, where he stopped Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas and Wigan's Hugo Rodallega from 12 yards, according to the Sky Sports match report.
Also, the former Fulham player will give Tottenham's Erik Thorstvedt company after 26 years, as they saved a penalty in both of their first two Premier League starts.
Follow him on Twitter: @KevinLEstrada2 - Neil Etheridge is only the second goalkeeper to save a penalty in both of his first two Premier League appearances, after Erik Thorstvedt for Tottenham in August 1992. Stopper. pic.twitter.com/1F6sZZRRHj— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) August 18, 2018
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