No English Premier League club has ties to Toronto FC like Sunderland. After nine years away, the Mackems are back in the Premier League.
Sunderland pulled off a sensational comeback to defeat Sheffield United 2-1 in the Championship playoff final, securing their long-awaited return to the Premier League.
Substitute Tom Watson’s 95th-minute winner at Wembley sealed victory in what is often called “football’s richest game,” estimated to be worth £200 million (CAD $371.8 million) to the winners.
It was the 2015 swap deal that sent Jermain Defoe to Sunderland in exchange for Jozy Altidore, that changed the trajectory of TFC’s fortunes for half a decade. Sunderland lost 2-1 to TFC in a friendly that summer at BMO Field. Former Toronto FC captains Danny Dichio and Steven Caldwell also played for the Black Cats before their time in Toronto, and it was in Sunderland’s Academy, where former TFC boss John Herdman first earned his coaching stripes before he moved to New Zealand in 2001.
On Saturday at Wembley, Sheffield United had led for much of the contest, with Tyrese Campbell opening the scoring in the 25th minute after a brilliant counterattack led by Gus Hamer. Sunderland struggled to create clear chances, but they stayed in the match thanks to key saves from goalkeeper Anthony Patterson, who denied Kieffer Moore’s early header and later kept out Andre Brooks.
Sunderland’s breakthrough came in the 76th minute, when Eliezer Mayenda rifled home an equalizer following a pinpoint pass from Patrick Roberts. The drama reached its peak deep into stoppage time when 19-year-old Watson, set to join Brighton this summer, picked up a loose ball from Moore, surged forward, and curled a precise finish into the bottom corner.
The victory marks a remarkable turnaround for Régis Le Bris’ side, who had lost their last five Championship matches and finished fourth, 14 points behind third-placed Sheffield United. Sunderland, who were in League One as recently as 2022, will now return to the top flight after an eight-year absence.
For Sheffield United, the heartbreak continues. This defeat marks their 10th playoff failure and extends their winless run at Wembley to eight games, stretching back to 1925—a bitter pill to swallow after they appeared in control for much of the match.
For Sunderland, who had spiralled to the third tier of English football and seemed they might never make it back to the Premier League, it could put the Northeasterners back in the transfer market for Canadian players.