The youngest team to ever compete in a second-tier playoff final produced a performance that will live forever in the memories of all involved. Their victory at Wembley on May 24th ended eight years of hurt outside the Premier League. But now Sunderland are back where they belong. It wasn’t easy, those eight years had everything from despair, hope, tears, joy, and the most dramatic scenes seen on a football pitch.
Sunderland’s return to the Premier League really is a story you could not write and may not believe if you had not seen it.
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Sunderland’s Return to the Premier League: You Couldn’t Write This Story
Two Relegations in a Row
Let’s go back a little, Sunderland lost their Premier League status in 2017 under David Moyes. One year on, they were relegated again and under huge financial strain. A change in ownership, staff, and squad helped the club recover a little but a Football League Trophy and a League One Playoff Final defeat followed plus an extra three years in England’s third tier and more playoff heartache.
However, during this time, the Black Cats ended their run of defeats at Wembley, changed ownership again, and finally got promoted back to the Championship via the playoffs in what was a memorable day at Wembley backed by over 45,000 fans.
Eight Years Away
For a club the size of Sunderland, eight years away from the Premier League is a long time. Once they got themselves back into the Championship, the task was a simple but tough one, get back to where they belonged.
Under the guidance of Tony Mowbray, they got into the playoffs in their first season but fell at the semifinal stage. A year on, the Black Cats were on the back of a poor season and got managerial changes badly wrong.
However, last summer they recruited Frenchman Regis Le Bris as head coach and things only got better.
Lost Five in a Row
Le Bris, an unknown Frenchman with no experience in England guided his new team to a guaranteed playoff place with several games to go but heading into those playoff semifinals, the wheels apparently fell off and the Black Cats lost five games in a row. Fans were rightly concerned and many had the club to fail again at their attempts to return to England’s top division.
Enter the most dramatic finishes to two football games ever seen.
Dan Ballard vs Coventry City
Defender Dan Ballard had been missing due to injury but made his return to the starting eleven for the first leg of the playoff semifinals away against Coventry City. A man-of-the-match display helped Sunderland secure a narrow 2-1 victory and with the second game being at home, fans were beginning to believe again.
A sold-out Stadium of Light with fans in full voice gave their all to help their team. However, a second-half goal by Coventry levelled the game on aggregate and took the tie into extra time. No one would have predicted what was about to happen.
Both teams had chances to score but as extra time wore on Sunderland appeared to have more energy and in the last minute of time added on, Sunderland broke and earned a corner. There were seconds left and the crowd were preparing themselves for a penalty shoot-out to decide the game.
The resulting corner was met by Dan Ballard who had once again put in a man-of-the-match performance, to head the ball off the underside of the crossbar and over the line. The goal time? 121:59. One second before the game was due to finish.
The goal produce scenes few will have ever seen. You can watch the goal here:
Wembley Takeover
Thousands of fans descended on London and Wembley, fans who have had more than their fair share of misery, painted London City red and white with their shirts, flags, flares, and songs. Wembley Way and inside the home of football, the Black Cats fans were in full voice creating an excellent display as their team walked out ahead of the game.
Sunderland fans at Wembley
Sunderland fans at Wembley for the playoff final against Sheffield United.
Photo taken by Barry Dixon
Anthony Patterson’s World-Class Save but Luke O’Nien Injured
As the game kicked off, Sheffield United’s expensively assembled team attacked Sunderland and almost took the lead within two minutes. A header from striker Kieffer Moore looked to be heading into the bottom corner but Black Cats goalkeeper Anthony Patterson somehow clawed the ball away from goal after diving low to his left. It was one of several saves that earned him the man-of-the-match award.
However, club captain Luke O’Nien and a player many call “Mr. Sunderland” was injured as he battled with Kieffer Moore seconds before Patterson’s save. A dislocated shoulder meant he was unable to continue. The injury and United’s start to the game had many fans fearing the worst.
These fears got worse as United took the lead and then scored a second. However, VAR advised that the referee should take a look at the goal. After watching the replay several times, the official ruled the goal out and it was met with a roar from the Sunderland fans usually reserved for a goal. It was the turning point in the game.
Eliezer Mayenda and Tommy Watson
As the game wore on, Sunderland became the better team. Chances were being created but without troubling the United keeper, enter substitute Patrick Roberts with a defence-splitting pass. His through ball was perfect for Eliezer Mayenda who fired the ball high into the net to make the game 1-1 on 76 minutes.
The game looked sure to be heading into extra time despite Sunderland looking the better team and fans were getting themselves ready for another stressful extra time. That was until a misplaced pass from United on 95 minutes that let youngster Tommy Watson run at their defence. As he approached the Blades goal, most were expecting him to pass but he kept his cool and cooly passed the ball into the bottom corner.
Wembley has witnessed some extraordinary finishes and scenes in the stands, but few will equal this.
‘Til The End’
Til the end has become Sunderland’s motto in recent seasons as fans have backed their club and team until the bitter end no matter what and this time they had witnessed history. Sunderland fans have been long-suffering and no matter how low the club goes or they feel, they drag it back time and time again.
Sunderland is their life and the many who lost their voice and hugged fellow fans at Wembley that they may have never met before made a massive difference against United, Coventry, and countless others, and will be fans no matter what. For now, it is a time to look forward and enjoy. And if any set of fans deserve it, they do.
The Premier League is coming again and Sunderland is coming for it. There will be ups and downs and no doubt with many in the media they will be favourites to be relegated. However, with their City behind them, recruitment in the right areas, and the determination and spirit that has seen them get this far, anything is possible.
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