Tommy Watson’s stoppage-time winner against Sheffield United on Saturday secured a dramatic 2-1 win in the Championship play-off final, which Underland won after eight years of being unemployed.
Regis Le Bris’ side conceded a first-half goal to Tyrese Campbell at Wembley, but Eliezer Mayenda equalized in the closing stages before Watson delivered the priceless winner.
Sunderland’s recovery from a slow start led to an astonishing turnaround in the single richest game of football, which generated an estimated £200 million ($270 million) in increased revenue.
With the return of hostilities with vengeful rivals Newcastle next season, Watson’s champagne moment made things happen for Sunderland fans.
“This victory shows how resilient and disciplined we were this season,” the team said. Le Bris remarked, “We tried various options, and finally we came up with the solution.
Sunderland’s first-ever Premier League appearance since 2017 comes after a gloomy four-season break in the third tier.
The Black Cats advanced to the top of the standings in the most impressive way despite going through five straight defeats.
In the semi-final second leg against Coventry, Dan Ballard scored the last-gasp extra-time header just seconds after a penalty shootout.
With only 14 minutes left at Wembley before the stunning defeat, they looked down and out once more.
Le Bris, a 49-year-old Frenchman who left Ligue 1 with Lorient last year after enduring relegation, was promoted to the Stadium of Light, which was an impressive achievement.
United have lost four Championship final defeats in ten failed attempts to advance to the play-offs, including one win at Wembley in 100 years.
Read more about the Five Dramatic CAF Champions League Finals here.
Farewell gift
SUNDERLAND AFC are the premier league team! pic. twitter.com/XNetaXn8Og
In the second minute, Sunderland keeper Anthony Patterson deflected Kieffer Moore’s header past the post.
Sunderland captain Luke O’Nien was forced to leave with a dislocated shoulder that made him writhed in pain while attempting to stop Moore’s header.
Jim Montgomery’s incredible save helped Sunderland shock Leeds in the 1973 FA Cup final, which came to mind when Patterson’s stop was played.
However, United did not disappoint in the 25th minute when they won.
With a skillfully weighted pass to Campbell, who guided a composed finish over Patterson from 12 yards, Ben Hamer demonstrated why he won the title of Championship Player of the Year.
Nine minutes later, Harrison Burrows thought he had doubled United’s lead, but after a VAR check, his strike was flagged as offside against Vini Souza.
After the break, United’s substitute Andre Brooks drilled through on goal, but Patterson made a superb save.
With only their second shot on target in the 76th minute, Mayenda scored to bring Sunderland level.
Mayenda was hit with a fierce finish into the roof of the net by Patrick Roberts’ pin-point pass just inside the area.
O’Nien waved his only healthy arm in jubilation as he sprinted off the bench, shoulder in hand, and embraced Mayenda.
That joy only served as a prelude to the exuberant scenes that Watson sparked just five minutes into stoppage-time.
After squandering a loose pass from Moore, Watson headed toward the United States and curled a low shot past Michael Cooper’s fatally slow dive.
Watson’s thrilling winner, which was the perfect farewell gift, ensures Sunderland joins the 19-year-old among English football’s elite. Brighton will join Watson in the close-season.
“It’s unbelievable. When I left the bench, the story was written. Watson said, “I couldn’t have imagined it any better.”
“We’ll see each other again in a big way next year” promises the promise!
Source: Channels TV
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