The Black Cats came from behind to earn a place back in the Premier League after a hard-fought 2–1 win over Sheffield United in the Saturday’s Championship playoff final at Wembley.
Sunderland had a horrible first 45 minutes and were not in the game most of the time. They kicked off in the 25th minute when Sheffield United forward Tyrese Campbell concluded a lightning-fast counterattack. But VAR, who the Blades almost doubled the lead through Harrison Burrows, disallowed the goal due to offside interference.
Sunderland had the first chance on target in the first-half stoppage time, before Régis Le Bris’s team was visibly lacking ideas and fell back. However, they entered the second part of the match very positive.
Eliezer Mayenda, as a 76th-minute substitute, scored the fabulous redemptive goal which gave Sunderland the spark to pursue the win. Later, deep into injury time, it was Tommy Watson who came out as the savior. Despite the controversy surrounding his expected move to Brighton, the youngster justified the move with an amazing match-winning goal to complete the turnaround.
The outcome signals the end of Sunderland’s eight-year Premier League absence and also inaugurates a successful chapter under Le Bris who guides the side back to the Premier League.
