Leeds United U21 1-3 Sunderland AFC U21
Sunderland AFC Under-21s sealed a comfortable three points in the Premier League 2 with a 3-1 victory over Leeds United.
Harrison Jones grabbed the opener from Timothée Pembélé’s cutback on 16 minutes. Nazariy Rusyn slotted away the second of the evening finding the bottom corner just moments later. Rusyn had his second and the Black Cats’ third just before the break, rounding the keeper and finishing into an open net.
It was the hosts who created the opening opportunity just seven minutes in. Charlie Crew dinked inside before forcing Nathan Bishop to save the effort down low.
The Lads took the lead just 10 minutes later as Caden Kelly played the ball through for Pembélé who was able to get to the by-line and square it across for Jones to finish.
The second came a third of the way through the game with Rusyn grabbing his first of the evening. Kelly once again involved playing in Rusyn who was able to cut in onto his right foot and finish beyond Harry Christy.
It was the Kelly-Rusyn show once again just before the break. The midfielder with some brilliant trickery before playing in the Ukrainian to round the ‘keeper and put away his second of the night.
The Whites found their feet at the start of the second half and pulled one back through Luca Thomas. The forward’s effort took a deflection before finding the net.
20 minutes from the end, Mayenda drove down the right-side to play in Rusyn, but the forward was denied his hat-trick by the offside flag.
Despite the late Leeds pressure, Graeme Murty’s side held on to claim all three points and climb up to fifth in the Premier League 2 table.
Sunderland AFC: Bishop, Pembele, Triantis, Crompton (Johnson 20), Bainbridge, Rigg, Jones, Middlemas, Kelly (Chiabi 65), Mayenda, Rusyn.
Unused substitutes: Cameron, Fieldson, Ryder.