Rochdale 1-1 Sunderland - Dale win 4-2 on penalties
A spirited display from a youthful Sunderland side ended in heartache as Rochdale won on penalties in the Checkatrade Trophy on Tuesday evening.
Unsurprisingly Dale started on the front foot and fashioned the game’s first opening as Peter Vincenti saw his back-post header save by Max Stryjek.
Josh Maja was then denied by the linesman’s offside flag before Ian Henderson’s right foot gave Sunderland an early warning as his fierce drive arrowed into the side netting.
The Black Cats struck back at the end of the first period through George Honeyman and Jan Kirchhoff, and that head of steam saw the Lads race into an early lead after the restart through Elliot Embleton.
The 17-year-old fired home a delightful strike, his first of the season, from the edge of the post to silence a vocal home crowd.
However, Sunderland’s lead didn’t last long as Henderson’s experience paid dividends as he was well-placed to tap home a free-kick which flashed across goal.
Rochdale continued to plug away but Sunderland were resilient until the end and forced the game to a penalty shootout.
Misses from Honeyman and Tommy Robson handed the hosts the initiative before Max Stryjek gave Sunderland a glimmer of hope following a fine save from Harrison McGahey’s spot-kick.
Rees Greenwood then netted his penalty but Stryjek was unable to reproduce his heroics and Samni Odelusi converted his to win it for the hosts.
Sunderland travelled to the North West on Tuesday evening with high hopes ahead of their maiden appearance in the Checkatrade Trophy.
Following a Football League revamp, the Black Cats were placed in Group F and that saw them drawn against Rochdale, Hartlepool United and Notts County.
Kirchhoff returned to the starting line-up after recovering from a hamstring injury while deadline-day signing Jason Denayer gained his first taste of life in red and white as he was named alongside Michael Ledger in the heart of the defence.
As expected the hosts started on the front foot and fashion numerous openings through Scott Tanser who darted forward from left back at every chance.
Vincenti tested Stryjek with a cushioned header which looked set to sneak into the bottom corner while Callum Camps’ lung-bursting run through the middle of the park saw Denayer stand his ground to make a decisive block, as the hosts looked to stamp their authority on the tie.
At the other end, Greenwood and Honeyman’s pace caused the League One outfit problems before Maja thought he had given Sunderland the lead when he poked home from close range on 14 minutes, only for his effort to be chalked off for offside.
Eight minutes later Henderson was presented with Dale’s first real opening, however, his attempt lacked composure and it thundered into the side netting as Sunderland breathed a huge sigh of relief.
Rochdale continued to plug away, Vincenti headed wide from a corner while Stryjek was left scrambling back to his own goal as a deflected strike bounced inches wide.
But the lads grew into the game in the closing stages of the half, Honeyman forced Josh Lillis to turn the ball over the crossbar before Kirchhoff met the resultant corner with a deft header which went wide.
Sunderland exploded out the traps in the second period and into an early lead on 50 minutes, Embleton unleashed a rasping drive which flew past a helpless Lillis following a fine lay-off from Maja on the edge of the box.
To the hosts’ credit they responded well and within seven minutes they were back on level terms as Henderson got a toe on a drilled free-kick which was played in low and into a goal mouth scramble.
The next five minutes saw Sunderland hanging by a thread, Vincenti’s powered header required strong hands from Stryjek before a free-flowing break forced full-back Robson to make a last ditch clearance off the line.
Denayer and Kirchhoff’s experience helped the Black Cats steady the ship as their short passes and keep ball ethos took the sting out of Rochdale’s momentum.
But Dale hit back as Nathaniel Mendez-Laing’s thunderous strike was blocked by Ledger and then Henderson’s sweet strike smacked the post and into the path of Jamie Allen who was adjudged to be offside position when he tapped home.
Wave after wave of attack laid siege to the Black Cats’ goal in the final quarter of an hour, but Sunderland held firm and the game went to a penalty shootout.
Unfortunately for the Black Cats, heartbreak was suffered as Honeyman and (T) Robson handed Rochdale the early initiative with a 3-1 advantage.
While Stryjek gave Sunderland a glimmer of hope when he saved McGahey’s attempt, the Polish stopper was unable to reproduce his heroics next time round and Odelusi netted his attempt to win it for the hosts.
Sunderland starting XI: Stryjek, J Robson, T Robson, Ledger, Denayer, E Robson, Kirchhoff, Embleton (Molyneux, 84), Honeyman, Greenwood, Maja (Nelson, 73).
Unused subs: Pain, Beadling, Brady, Casey, Wright.
Rochdale starting XI: Lillis, Rafferty, Tanser, Canavan, McGahey, Vincenti (Davies, 67), Lund (Mendez-Laing, 67), Camps, Allen, Bunney, Henderson (Odelusi, 82).
Unused subs: McNulty, McDermott, Keane, Logan