West Bromwich Albion 1-1 Watford: Ismaila Sarr scores from within his own half then misses the penalty

Ismaila Sarr has been linked with a move back to the Premier League this summer

Ismaila Sarr scored a spectacular David Beckham-style chip from his own half but was then able to save a late penalty as Watford drew against West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns.

Despite being second-best for most of the game, Watford took a sensational lead in the 12th minute when Senegalese striker Sarr scored a free-kick, chipped the ball away from under his feet and coolly lifted it over the stranded David Button from almost 60 metres.

That came against the flow of play as Watford keeper Daniel Bachmann was already busy, with a great save from Darnell Furlong’s volley and two from Karlan Grant – and more were to follow as new man Jed Wallace once again showed his class.

But Albion equalized two minutes after injury time in the first half when Grady Diangana’s fine lofted pass found Grant, who brought the ball down superbly before finishing with a right foot from close range.

Watford stayed on the backfoot for most of the second half but came closest to victory when Sarr went down easily under pressure from Semi Ajayi in the Albion box.

But Sarr’s free-kick was tame, hitting far too weakly to Button’s left – and the Albion keeper lunged to save.

It leaves Rob Edwards’ Watford with four points from two games and goes into their next game – when they host another side with four points from two games – Vincent Kompany’s Burnley on Friday at Vicarage Road.

They both have an early chance to overtake Blackburn Rovers, the only side with a 100 per cent record in the Championship after two games.

By contrast, Steve Bruce’s Albion have lost just three of their last 14 league games – and although they’ve only drawn their first two games, the Baggies have fallen behind in both.

And although they were hampered by losing the big bucks in January when Daryl Dike was signed with a hamstring injury, they should still have plenty of reason to feel positive heading to Blackburn on Sunday.

From the sarr-blime to the ridiculous…

Sarr stole the show and made all the headlines when he unleashed his early goal of the season contender with such devastatingly audacious audacity – a miracle shot unequaled by any other goal in this very limited genre.

A young Beckham’s appearance on the big football stage with that amazing performance at Selhurst Park in August 1996 is perhaps the crowning glory.

Just ahead of similar feats from the likes of Xavi Alonso, Charlie Adam, Wayne Rooney or Nayim (from the halfway line) for Real Zaragoza, who cost Arsenal the 1995 European Cup Winners’ Cup.

But none of them, who netted from nearly 60 yards, then went ahead and missed from 12 yards in the same play.

Just as Sarr’s goal was great, his missed penalty bordered on the ridiculous – a poor penalty.

“A Brilliant Moment”

West Bromwich Albion boss Steve Bruce told ` Sport:

“Sometimes you don’t always get what you deserve but this is as good as I’ve seen us play and doing it against such a good side made it even better.

“It’s very frustrating that we didn’t win, but it was still a tremendous reaction from the players after conceding such a miracle goal against the flow of play.

“It is devastating news that we lost Daryl Dike in training with a hamstring injury. He really wants to play for his country at the World Cup, he’s a popular kid and he knew it as soon as he did it.”

Watford manager Rob Edwards told ` Sport:

“It was an incredible shot from Sarr. As soon as he left his foot I knew he was in.

“A brilliant moment. It’s something special when you see a goal like that – and against the flow of the game.

“It would have been quite unfair if we had scored that second goal from the penalty spot because Albion wanted it and they were clearly the better team. But I would have taken it.”

lineups

West Brom

formation 4-2-3-1

1button

2furlong6ajayi4O’Shea3townsend

14Molumby8thlivermore

17J Wallace19Quickly11Kangana

18Grant

• 1button
• 2furlongBooked at 69 minutesReplaced byPhillipsat 90+1′protocol
• 6ajayi
• 4O’Shea
• 3townsend
• 14Molumby45 minutes booked
• 8thlivermoreReplaced byYokusluat 78′protocol
• 17J Wallace
• 19Quickly
• 11kanganaReplaced byReachat 88′protocol
• 18Grant

substitute

• 5Bartley
• 7Robinson
• 10Phillips
• 20Reach
• 24palmers
• 27mowatt
• 35Yokuslu

Watford

formation 3-4-1-2

1Bachman

27gossip31Sierrafifteencat cart

14camera8thClever39kayembe12sema

10João Pedro

23Sarr25Dennis

• 1Bachman
• 27gossipBooked at 74 minutes
• 31SierraReplaced byTroost-Ekongat 83′protocol
• fifteencat cart
• 14cameraReplaced byPerez Martinezat 77′protocol
• 8thClever
• 39kayembe
• 12sema
• 10João Pedro
• 23SarrReplaced bygoslingat 90+5′protocol
• 25DennisReplaced byManajat 83′protocol

substitute

• 3Perez Martinez
• 5Troost-Ekong
• 9Manaj
• 16gosling
• 18wood chips
• 20which one
• 26hamer

Referee: Tim Robinson

Number of visitors: 22,365

live text

1. Game ends, West Bromwich Albion 1, Watford 1.

2. Second half ends, West Bromwich Albion 1, Watford 1.

3. Substitution Watford. Dan Gosling replaces Ismaila Sarr.

4. Corner, West Bromwich Albion. Goal conceded by João Pedro.

5. Okay Yokuslu (West Bromwich Albion) wins a free kick on the left wing.

6. Foul by Rey Manage (Watford).

7. Substitution, West Bromwich Albion. Matt Phillips replaces Darnell Furlong.

8. Dara O’Shea (West Bromwich Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

9. Foul by Rey Manage (Watford).

10. Conor Townsend (West Bromwich Albion) wins a free kick on the left wing.

11. Foul by Rey Manage (Watford).

12. Substitution, West Bromwich Albion. Adam Reach replaces Grady Diangana due to injury.

13. attempt failed. Semi Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion) header from very close range goes too high. Assisted by Jed Wallace with a cross from a corner.

14. Corner, West Bromwich Albion. Cashed in by William Troost-Ekong.

15. Substitution Watford. Rey Manaj replaces Emmanuel Dennis.

16. Substitution Watford. William Troost-Ekong replaces Francisco Sierralta through injury.

17. Substitution, West Bromwich Albion. Okay, Yokuslu replaces Jake Livermore.

18. Karlan Grant (West Bromwich Albion) wins a free kick on the left wing.

19. Foul by Christian Kabasele (Watford).

20. Substitution Watford. Mario Gaspar replaces Hassane Kamara.