Sunderland AFC U21s 1-1 Brighton U21s
Ten-man Sunderland Under-21s held on to earn a well-earned point against Brighton and Hove Albion in the Premier League 2.
Caylan Vickers opened the scoring for the Albion with a low effort at the end of the first-half. Tom Chiabi found the leveller with a long-range effort with 25 minutes to play. Luke Bell was sent off with 15 minutes to play and Adam Richardson saved a spot-kick to cement a 1-1 draw.
On his first start in the PL2, Trey Ogunsuyi went the closest in the opening stages to grabbing the opener. An acute ball round the corner from Harrison Jones after ten minutes found the frontman who saw a strong effort blocked.
It was Ogunsuyi involved again ten minutes before the break. A brilliant touch around the corner set away Timur Tutierov but his effort glanced just past the post.
Against the run of play, the visitors took the lead on the 38th minute. Noel Atom ran through before playing Vickers to finish beyond Adam Richardson.
The Black Cats dominated the opening proceedings of the second-half and nearly had an equaliser on 54 minutes. Tutierov turned away from his man with a brilliant bit of skill before firing just wide of the mark.
With 30 minutes to play, Graeme Murty's side were denied an equaliser from the offside flag. Ben Middlesmas' free-kick was volleyed home by Bell but the assistant referee ruled it out.
Just five minutes later and the Lads were level. Chiabi picked up the ball on the edge of the area before finding the top corner with a deflected effort.
Graeme Murty’s side were reduced to ten men on 75 minutes. Louis Fowler ran through on goal before being dragged down by Bell to receive his second yellow.
The resulting penalty was excellently saved by Richardson to his right-hand side!
The Lads defended well in the final proceedings to earn a hard-fought point.
Sunderland AFC: Richardson, J.Jones, Bell, Fieldson, Bainbridge, Chiabi, H.Jones, Middlemas, Ryder, Tutierov, Ogunsuyi.
Unused substitutes: Cameron, Beattie, Sekete, Jaydon Jones, Whittaker.