Sunderland U23 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur U23
Safc.com’s Sam Lightle runs the rule over Sunderland under-23s’ first outing of pre-season against Tottenham Hotspur.
The Black Cats left it late to defeat Spurs with Devner Hume supplying the match-winning strike at Eppleton Colliery Welfare.
Ethan Robson had struck from range to level with a thunderbolt-like effort after Kazaiah Sterling had scored in the first period for the visitors.
But second-half substitute Hume stole the show with a weaving run and then a dragged left-footed finish into the bottom corner. Sunderland win.
OVIEDO BABY
Bryan Oviedo completed a planned 60-minute run out on his return from an ankle injury, and started alongside five other first-team faces. Robbin Ruiter began the evening between the sticks while Donald Love, Jack Rodwell, Papy Djilobodji and Lynden Gooch also featured.
BRY-GHT START
The Costa Rican was assured in his opening to the match, spraying a ball into the feet of Lynden Gooch on the halfway line in his first act. Shilow Tracey, a thorn in the lads’ side last season, was kept quiet by Oviedo who grew into the game with every second that ticked away. Fellow first-team face Djilobodji also caught the eye of as his searching pass picked out Love on the right flank. The full-back immediately crossed towards the head of Gooch but it had a tad too much on it.
RUIT CALL
Ruiter was the busier of the two ‘keepers in the opening 20 minutes, flicking behind Will Miller’s intricate effort from the edge of the box. Spurs’ left-winger shifted the ball onto his right and quickly clipped an effort towards Ruiter’s far post. The Dutchman was alert to the danger and took no chances as he helped it beyond the post. Joe Pritchard then sent a thunderous effort high over Ruiter’s bar as Spurs looked to turn the screw.
GOOCH IMPRESSIVE, SUCKER PUNCH DEALT
As the half wore on, Gooch provided glimpses of quality that almost saw the lads take the lead on two occasions. The American was the victim of a heavy challenge earlier, but reacted by instinctively turning inside the area and floating an effort a fraction over Brandon Austin’s goal. Moments later, it should’ve been 1-0. Gooch was again the instigator and almost the finisher. A simply brilliant turn saw Gooch breeze past three Spurs defenders before Austin was equal to his attempt. But Spurs hit back with real vengeance, swiftly turning the screw for Sterling to slot beyond an on rushing Ruiter with 34 minutes played.
SOMETHING NEUX
Luke Molyneux replaced Gooch at the midway interval as the American clocked some more minutes after his brief spell at Gigg Lane last night. Molyneux moved out to the right with Andrew Nelson moving into the lone striker role. The winger was quiet for the opening 10 minutes as Jack Diamond began to dazzle down the left. The second-year scholar slipped Nelson in and the industrious striker let a thunderous strike fly over Austin’s goal with 50 minutes played. But Molyneux grew into the fixture, a barnstorming run saw him hauled to the deck as he approached the box.
CHANCES APLENTY
From the resultant free-kick Robson smelt blood as he sized up Austin’s goal. The midfielder took aim but saw his goal-bound effort clawed over by the outstretched arm of Austin. Spurs raced down the other end and Miller’s free-kick was almost turned home by the head of Japhet Tanganga whose header smacked the bar. Nelson then had two chances kept out by Austin who continued to preserve Spurs’ slender lead.
GAME CHANGER
Sunderland had to be patient with their efforts and with 69 minutes on the clock they were rewarded when Robson seized possession, drove at Spurs’ backpedalling defence and then arrows a vicious drive beyond Austin. All square. Second-half substitute then Hume stole the show with a weaving run and then a dragged left-footed finish into the bottom corner. Sunderland get off to a winning start.
Sunderland U23 starting XI: Ruiter, Love, Oviedo (Hume, 62), Beadling, Djilobodji, Nelson, Robson, Gooch (Molyneux, 45), Rodwell (Bale, 62), Diamond
Subs: Ledger, Stryjek
Tottenham Hotspur U23 starting XI: Austin, Eyoma, Brown, Skipp, Maghoma, Tanganga, Tracey (Edwards, 73), Pritchard, Sterling (Loft, 73), Duncan, Miller (Bennetts, 66)
Subs: O’Reilly, Shashoua
Attendance: 394