Elliot Embleton completed a planned 45 minutes, as braces from Benji Kimpioka and Josh Hawkes helped Sunderland U23s clinch a victory over Fulham U23s earlier today.
Hawkes opened the scoring early on, before the visitors responded with a goal from Tyrese Francois and a brace from Ryan De Havilland.
On the stroke of half time, Kimpioka brought the Black Cats back into it with a neat finish and Patrick Almond fired the Lads level on the hour mark.
Hawkes grabbed his second 10 minutes from time and it was quickly followed up by Kimpioka’s strike, as Sunderland ran out winners at the Academy of Light.
Elliot Embleton was included in Elliott Dickman’s starting XI, as the midfielder continued his return to full fitness.
Sunderland raced out of the stalls and went ahead after 10 minutes when Embleton thread an inch-perfect through ball to Hawkes, who did the rest and fired under the ‘keeper.
The visitors responded though, and were level when Francois tapped home two minutes later.
Midway through the half, De Havilland grabbed a quickfire double to give Fulham a two-goal advantage, with two well-taken strikes.
The Lads continued to pose a threat offensively and pulled one back on the stroke of half time when Kimpioka intercepted a poor back-pass and slotted home.
After the break, centre-back Patrick Almond struck home a loose ball to level proceedings and then the momentum started to change.
With less than 10 minutes left, Hawkes calmly slotted home a penalty and Kimpioka completed the scoring with a powerful finish from inside the area.
The win is Sunderland U23s’ second of the Premier League 2 season and takes them to 11th in the table.
Sunderland: Patterson, Trialist, Almond, Younger, Wearne, Neil, Wilding, Dunne (Steels 89) , Embleton (Curry 45), Kimpioka, Hawkes (Hackett 87).
Subs not used: Basey, Taylor