Sunderland U23s 2-0 Leicester City U23s
Sunderland’s under-23s clinched their place in the Premier League International Cup knockout stages thanks to a 2-0 win over Leicester City at the Stadium of Light.
After a heavy defeat to Chelsea last time out, Elliott Dickman’s side dusted themselves down and goals from Lee Connelly and Elliot Embleton were enough to see off the Foxes.
The result ensured the Black Cats top Group B, as Leicester finish as runners-up.
TEAM KONE
Lamine Kone ended a two-month stint in the treatment room with a start at the Stadium of Light as Dickman named an otherwise inexperienced side. Connelly led the line flanked by Benji Kimpioka and Jack Diamond, but there were also starts for Max Stryjek, who returned from a loan at Accrington Stanley last week, and Elliot Embleton as Chris Coleman and his coaching team watched on at the SoL.
LEE LEE LEE
The opening half-hour was a scrappy affair as both sides failed to enjoy any periods of sustained dominance. Marshalled by Kone, the Black Cats were relatively untroubled as Embleton and Diamond saw efforts from range come and go at the opposite end. The game needed a goal and with 36 minutes played Dickman’s side opened the scoring, as Connelly latched onto a long ball over the Leicester defence before curling a fine finish into the corner. And the club’s youngsters continued in their ascendancy as confidence filled their veins and they went in search of a second.
DOUBLING UP
On 43 minutes, it arrived. The Foxes backed off and Embleton pounced, with the midfield bending a sumptuous 20-yard strike beyond Daniel Iversen to ensure a commanding advantage at the interval. Leicester responded following the restart and Sunderland were forced to weather the brewing storm, but they refused to be breached and when called upon Stryjek stepped up. After Kone came off with 60 minutes in the tank, Steve Beaglehole’s almost snatched a route back into the game but Trialist’s thumping effort cannoned off the post.
YOU SHALL NOT PASS
Layton Ndukwu forced the next scare as the Foxes continued to push forward but the striker was unable to connect with an inviting cross to the back post, with Brandon Taylor standing up to Josh Eppiah in close quarters before producing an excellent block soon after. Eppiah then lost his man but was unable to steer his effort on target after a cracking cross from Hamza Choudhury. And that proved to be that despite both sides trading blows in the latter stages, as the Black Cats clinched a fine win.
Sunderland: Stryjek, J Robson, Hume, Gamble, Taylor, Kone (Storey 60), Diamond, Embleton, Connelly, Kimpioka (Kokolo 86), Hackett (Allan 67)
Subs: Woud, Young, Greenwood, Brotherton.
Leicester City: Iversen, Johnson, Wood, Duesbury-Hall, Knight, Hughes, Thomas, Choudhury, Eppiah, Ndukwu, Gordon (Martis 79).
Subs: Ughelumba, Bramley, Watts, Touray, Debayo.