Reflections on Sunderland 2-2 Arsenal
Sunderland ran out 7-1 winners over Athletic Bilbao in their second Premier League International Cup game
Dennis Cirkin stepped up his Sunderland comeback with a goal and an assist in a thumping win for the U21s over Athletic Bilbao in the Premier League International Cup.
Having played 45 minutes in his first game since the play-off final win at Wembley on Friday, the left back played an hour in this game and showed signs that he is nearing full match fitness as Graeme Murty’s side swept to a 7-1 win.
Dan Neil and Luke O’Nien played 90 minutes in front of head coach Régis Le Bris, with the former joining Cirkin on the scoresheet. Though the goalkeeper may feel he should have saved that effort, it was more than deserved reward for a dominant midfield display from Neil. Aside from one five-minute spell in the second half when he twice lost the ball, the midfielder barely misplaced a pass or lost the ball. O’Nien too was able to top up his match fitness, though on this occasion the opposition was visibly inferior to the Anderlecht side who had played here a fortnight ago.
Cirkin had produced an assist inside the first two minutes of the game, released down the left flank by O'Nien. The left back cut inside and found striker Jake Waters, who took one touch before firing in a good finish to the top corner.
Though the visiting Athletic side did see a fair amount of possession through the first half, they were cut open with ease by Sunderland on multiple occasions and the four-goal lead that the hosts established at the break in no way flattered them. Jaydon Jones, called into the XI at the last minute due to an injury, had already cracked one effort off the crossbar when he pounced on a loose pass from Athletic defender Alex Torres, racing through on goal and scoring an easy finish. A superb team move saw Sunderland score their third with only fifteen minutes played, Timur Tutierov's effort deflected past the goalkeeper from the edge of the area. The move had been started by Cirkin passing nicely through the lines, with the left back a persistent attacking threat throughout the first half as he drifted infield to see more of the ball.
A rare lapse from the home defence gave Athletic a lifeline as Jesus Vizcay capitalised on a failed clearance from O'Nien and Cirkin inside the box, but Sunderland's three-goal lead was almost immediately reestablished. After a relatively quiet start Neil had begun to dominate the midfield battle, winning the vast majority of his duels. He was able to take full advantage when he spotted an opportunity to press deep in the Athletic half, winning back the ball and carrying it to the edge of the area. His effort perhaps wasn't quite good enough to beat Iker Pagazartundia, but the goalkeeper could only palm over the line. Ironically, Neil's effort when he did almost exactly the same thing minutes later was far stronger, but this time the goalkeeper made the save.
Sunderland added their fifth with another lovely team move in stoppage time, Waters getting his second after nice work from midfielder Ben Middlemas.
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The Black Cats began the second half again in complete control of the box, though some improved defensive resilience from the visitors meant that clear chances were less frequent than they had been before the interval. The sixth goal felt like something of an inevitability nevertheless and came from Cirkin himself, who was rewarded for another strong run into the final third. When a pass from Tutierov, again excellent throughout, was deflected into his path inside the box he shifted the ball onto his weaker right foot and found the far corner with a good finish.
Though Blondy Nna Noukeu had to be alert to make one smart stop high to his right from a deflected effort, Athletic were unable to muster much in the way of a meaningful response. Sunderland were able to manage the closing stages of the game with relative ease, adding a seventh as Middlemas pounced on yet another loose pass form the Bilbao defence before running through and firing confidently in the bottom corner.
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