Sunderland under-23s suffered penalty heartache on Wearside this evening as they exited the Premier League International Cup.
THE WRAP
Sunderland under-23s are out of the International Cup after being beaten 11-10 on penalties by Newcastle United at the Stadium of Light. The visitors were second-best throughout the initial 90 minutes, but they opened the scoring when Curtis Good headed home before the half-hour mark, with Lynden Gooch leveling from the spot ten minutes later after being fouled in the box. The Black Cats continued to dominate, and they were rewarded midway through the second period, as Gooch’s second looked to have sealed a place in the last four. But there was a late twist in the tale, as Callum Roberts’ 35-yard stoppage-time free-kick forced an additional 30 minutes, during which Max Stryjek a penalty. A marathon penalty shootout was required but Newcastle came out on top, with Jake Hackett missing the decisive spot kick.
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Here’s what was said post-match…
ELLIOTT DICKMAN SAYS
Out of the cup…
“We are all devastated to go out in the way we have done, but the fact that we have had three under-18s on the pitch at the end was great for us. They were terrific and if the lads continue to develop like they are then they have a bright future ahead of them."
Giving it all you’ve got…
“The effort of the players was fantastic. They approached it in the right way but it wasn’t a nice way to go out.”
Right to the end…
“Tonight, was the real us. You saw a dogged, gritty and determined side. You feel gutted because we felt we did enough to get through.”
LYNDEN GOOCH SAYS
