FC Stade Nyonnais 0-2 Sunderland
David Moyes began his Sunderland tenure with a win as the Black Cats eased past Swiss side Stade Nyonnais.
The Black Cats impressed throughout dominating large spells of the game in the searing heat, but it took 37 minutes for them to find a breakthrough as Duncan Watmore netted from the spot.
Eight minutes later the youngster scored his second penalty with the Lads leading 2-0 at the break, and although they didn’t add to their tally it was another stellar workout for the team and a third win from three in pre-season.
The new Sunderland boss was a keen observer during Saturday’s victory over Rotherham United, but he opted to rest many of the Lads’ big guns with a youthful starting XI taking to the field.
Vito Mannone, Billy Jones, Jack Rodwell and Lee Cattermole provided a backbone of experience, with Michael Ledger, Ethan Robson, Rees Greenwood and a host of other under-23 players also in action.
Sunderland started strongly with a swagger in their play and it didn’t take long for them to threaten.
Greenwood was the orchestrator driving to the byline and pulling a cross into the path of Watmore, but the Roadrunner was unable to direct his effort on goal, blazing over the crossbar.
Seconds later George Honeyman crafted an excellent opening but the ‘keeper was alert and palmed his attempted cross to safety.
But despite their early dominance Nyonnais fired an early warning sign with Mannone stretching to turn a 30-yard strike over the crossbar.
Nyonnais stopper, Mutumbo Osni, continued to impress diving off his line for a second time to deny Gooch following excellent work from Greenwood, but the Black Cats remained undeterred and with Cattermole and Robson bossing the midfield Nyonnais became increasingly under the cosh.
With 37 minutes on the clock the game burst into life with a rogue defensive header looping over Mannone whose fingertips turned it onto the crossbar, and it proved to be the catalyst for Sunderland as Watmore broke and won a penalty.
The 21-year-old dusted himself down and coolly dispatched the spot kick.
Eight minutes later the referee was once again pointing to the spot as Honeyman was tripped in the box, and the end result was the same as Watmore sent the keeper the wrong way to make it 2-0 at the break.
Cattermole and Rodwell were replaced at the interval with Charles N’Zogbia and Josh Robson entering the fray, but Sunderland continued to dominate the game with Gooch heading narrowly wide from a tight angle.
With 65 minutes on the clock Joel Asoro came off the bench to make his first-team debut, and the young striker showed signs of promise displaying flair on the ball and a confidence beyond his years.
Mannone was rarely tested during the early stages of second period but he was alert to a number of half-chances, with the Italian denying Bunjaku Genthan while also commanding his box and clearing a number of balls into the box.
However, seven changes from the home side during the latter stages added a new vigour to the game and Mannone was once again at his best to turn Salihaj Besnik’s powerful 20-yard strike to safety.
Wahbi Khazri, Jeremain Lens and Fabio Borini were introduced with 15 minutes remaining, but Sunderland were unable to add to the scoreline and it ended 2-0.
Sunderland: Mannone, Jones, Rodwell (J Robson 46), Ledger, T Robson, Cattermole (N’Zogbia 46), E Robson, Honeyman, Greenwood, Gooch, Watmore (Asoro 63).