"Niemi earned his money and about time. He's had injuries, but he had three games this season and he let seven goals in. He was at fault for some of those goals," Sanchez said.
"Kasey Keller would have been starting but he trained on Friday and then said his arm hurt. He has now got a slight tear of a tendon in his upper arm and could not play.
"I told Niemi he was supposed to be number one at this club, but he hadn't done it so far this year, the first three games were not good enough, but this time he showed he is a good goalkeeper."