Newcastle scores late to draw 2-2 with Wigan

Posted Sunday, October 17, 2010 by YAHOO Sport

NEWCASTLE, England (AP)—Fabricio Coloccini headed a goal in the fourth minute of added time to salvage a 2-2 draw for Newcastle against Wigan at St. James’ Park.

Charles N’Zogbia scored two goals in two first-half minutes against his former club to put Wigan in control.

The France winger, who left Newcastle last year, headed in Franco di Santo’s deflected cross on 22 minutes before sending a fierce drive into the top corner from outside the box a minute later.

Newcastle got one back through substitute Shola Ameobi’s header from Jonas Gutierrez’s 72nd-minute cross, and equalized seconds before the final whistle when Coloccini headed in after Gutierrez’s corner.

Before Coloccini’s late intervention, Newcastle were heading for a third straight defeat after making an encouraging start on its return to the Premier League.

Manager Chris Hughton restored striker Andy Carroll to his starting lineup as he sought an upturn in the club’s home form. Having not been defeated at St. James’ Park in the second tier last season, Newcastle had lost two of their first three home games before Saturday.

The trend looked like continuing when N’Zogbia answered the boos from Newcastle fans still upset by his departure with a quickfire double.

Newcastle struggled to create anything of note in the first half, but finally showed signs of life before half time when Carroll had a header cleared off the line by Wigan defender Emmerson Boyce.

There was little sign of a Newcastle recovery at the start of the second half but Ameobi’s header gave the hosts hope.

Carroll had already headed a good chance wide when he flicked on Gutierrez’s cross for Coloccini to score at the death.