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Blackburn supersubs sink Boro
MIDDLESBROUGH, England (AFP) - Blackburn Rovers came back from a goal down to grab a 2-1 win over hosts Middlesbrough at the Riverside on Saturday as Mark Hughes' substitutions made an immediate impact.
Rovers' Paraguay forward Roque Santa Cruz scored in the 63rd minute, two minutes into his debut, coming on after South Africa striker Benni McCarthy collapsed to the ground following a knock to the head.
And home-grown Blackburn striker Matt Derbyshire won the match with 11 minutes to go - scoring just 23 seconds after coming on.
England left winger Stewart Downing had given Boro the lead 31 minutes in with a free kick that flew straight through the wall.
Indeed, Middlesbrough had the upper hand before McCarthy's collapse and Santa Cruz's subsequent introduction.
New striker Jeremie Aliadiere shot wide after being set up by fellow debutant Sanli.
And David Wheater forced USA goalkeeper Brad Friedel into an excellent diving save with a superb downward header.
McCarthy had the ball in the net for Rovers, but his tap-in was ruled out for offside.
Chris Samba's reckless barge on Aiyegbeni Yakubu presented Downing with a chance to shoot from a free-kick.
And his low curling shot left Friedel fuming at his hapless defenders.
An angry Hughes was far from impressed and referee Andre Marriner spoke to the former Wales boss.
In the second half, McCarthy collapsed in an incident which ultimately changed the game.
The forward suffered a blow to the head in a challenge with Boro defender Chris Riggott. He then collapsed as he spoke with Blackburn's physio.
After several minutes of treatment on the pitch, the striker was stretchered off wearing a neck brace.
He was replaced by Roque Santa Cruz in the 60th minute.
The 3.8-million-pound (7.7-million-dollar, 5.6-million-euro) pre-season signing from German giants Bayern Munich, equalised with a powerful header.
He rose above Wheater and Riggott to head in David Bentley's cross from the byline with only his third touch in English football.
But Derbyshire scored a superb goal to outshine him.
Replacing striker Jason Roberts, he collected the ball on the left and cut inside before curling a shot into the top corner that flew past Australia goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer.
Friedel kept out a Wheater header in injury time as Rovers held on for victory, before a scuffle broke out on the pitch with Middlesbrough's George Boateng in the thick of it.
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