Darlington 2-4 Sunderland
Emanuele Giaccherini stole the show as Sunderland began their pre-season campaign with a 4-2 win over Darlington.
Early strikes from Stephen Thompson and Adam Mitchell sent the hosts into a comfortable lead, but Giaccherini’s deft close-range finish halved the deficit at the break.
Danny Graham got Sunderland level eight minutes into the second period, before Connor Wickham sent the Lads ahead after Vito Mannone expertly saved Thompson’s penalty.
Giaccherini then sealed victory in the 70th minute with a superb effort from 20 yards to ensure a winning start to pre-season.
Sacramento 1-0 Sunderland
Sunderland tasted defeat in the first game of their pre-season trip to North America thanks to a second-half goal against Sacramento.
Cameron Iwasa came off the bench to seal victory for the Republic in front of their new coach Paul Buckle.
Steven Fletcher went closest for the Black Cats when his effort smacked off the crossbar in the opening 45 minutes.
CF Pachuca 3-1 Sunderland
Sunderland were undone by Mexican top-flight side CF Pachuca in their second match in Sacramento.
Jack Rodwell had given the Lads an early lead after just four minutes with a low drive, but that was later cancelled out by Ariel Nahuelpan.
With 25 minutes on the clock, Nahuelpan nudged the Mexican side in front before Hirving Lozano added a third midway through the second period.
Toronto FC 1-2 Sunderland
Sunderland rounded off their pre-season tour of North America with a win over Toronto FC.
Jonathan Osorio gave the hosts the lead just after the break, but Jermain Defoe struck back in the 65th minute to score his first of two goals as Sunderland came from behind to win.
Defoe netted his second and the winner four minutes after equalising following a flowing counter-attack.
Transfers
Sunderland made four signings throughout July with Sebastian Coates becoming the first player to put pen to paper at the club.
Adam Matthews followed swiftly afterwards as he joined from Celtic before Jeremain Lens and Younes Kaboul rounded off the club’s spending in July.