Three red cards as Wales, N. Ireland draw

CARDIFF, Wales (AP) -- Robert Earnshaw headed the equalizer for Wales as it rallied to draw 2-2 with fiesty nine-man Northern Ireland in a World Cup qualifier on Wednesday that included three red cards.

Both teams were down to ten men after nine minutes at the Millennium Stadium before Jeff Whitely opened the scoring for Northern Ireland.

Whitely scored his first goal in five years moments after Northern Ireland's Michael Hughes and Wales' Robbie Savage had been sent off.

Savage was brought down by Hughes near the halfway line and retaliated. Both players were shown the red card by Italian referee Domenico Messina after players from the two teams scuffled with each other.

While Hughes walked straight off, Savage was in tears, holding his shirt to his face.

"That changed the whole complexion of the game," Wales manager Mark Hughes said. "It was difficult, but I'm pleased with the lads' application in the second half, it was a difficult evening for them but they stuck at it."

Soon after the red cards, Whitely intercepted a clearance by Wales defender James Collins at the edge of the box to volley past goalkeeper Paul Jones.

David Healy doubled the lead in the 20th minute -- then was sent off for excessive celebrations. Healy received a flick on from James Quinn, and when Collins slipped, had only the goalkeeper to beat. He chipped the ball over Jones and then headed the ball into the empty net.

Messina then sent Healy off for two yellow cards -- cautioning him for over-exhuberant goal celebrations and making a gesture to the crowd.

With Northern Ireland down to nine men, Wales pulled a goal back in the 32nd minute through a John Hartson header.

Wales then piled on the pressure, with Danny Gabbidon's curling effort going past the post and Jason Koumas shooting wide, before Earnshaw's 75th minute leveler.

The West Brom striker headed John Oster's cross into the corner of the net.

"We were the better team with a man less thanks to the referee," Northern Ireland manager Lawrie Sanchez said. "Glory to my players but it is only one point. I wish I had the three points tonight and to be fair, the referee took them off us."

Northern Ireland lost its opening Group 6 game 3-0 to Poland on Saturday, while Wales had a tame 1-1 draw with Azerbaijan.

Lineups:

Wales -- Paul Jones, Mark Delaney (Robert Earnshaw, 27th), James Collins, Danny Gabbidon, Ben Thatcher (Paul Parry 63rd), John Oster, Robbie Savage, Gary Speed, Jason Koumas, Craig Bellamy, John Hartson.

Northern Ireland -- Maik Taylor, Aaron Hughes, Colin Murdock, Mark Williams, Tony Capaldi (George McCartney, 90th), Damien Johnson, Mark Clyde, Jeff Whitley, Michael Hughes, David Healy, James Quinn (Andrew Smith 57th -- Paul McVeigh, 88th).

(knr-rjm)