Jack Diamond’s late penalty was not enough to salvage a point as Sunderland Under-23s lost out 3-1 to Leeds United Under-23s in the Premier League 2.
Sam Greenwood put the visitors ahead early on, but the Lads almost had an instant response when Sam Wilding’s header was somehow kept out by the Leeds stopper at full stretch.
Sunderland were made to rue the miss when Greenwood grabbed his second with a fine free-kick after the break and he completed his hat-trick with 20 minutes remaining, firing home from inside the area.
Diamond won and scored a penalty in second-half injury time, but it was to no avail as Leeds came away from the Academy of Light with all three points.
Elliott Dickman included George Dobson in his starting XI while he remains suspended from first-team duties after his red card against Bristol Rovers.
While Arbenit Xhemajli and Jack Diamond were also involved from the off after being in Phil Parkinson’s squad on Saturday.
Leeds took the lead with near enough their first attack of the game on Wearside.
Greenwood raced in behind and latched onto a pinpoint through ball before poking past Anthony Patterson.
Sunderland ventured forward soon after in search of an equaliser and went closest through Sam Wilding on his first home outing for the Black Cats.
Xhemajli met a deep free-kick and nodded towards Wilding, but his effort was somehow kept out at full stretch.
The Lads again went close when Cieran Dunne flew down the left and fired goalwards, only to see his effort well blocked.
Leeds started the second period in the same fashion they did the first and started to create numerous golden opportunities.
Patterson made a great block from point-blank range to deny Joe Gelhardt and Robbie Gotts went close too.
Soon after though, Leeds did have their second when Greenwood curled a fine free-kick into the top corner.
And 15 minutes from time Greenwood grabbed his and his side’s third, firing home from close-range.
The Lads ventured forward late on in search of a consolation, as substitute Josh Hawkes went close from distance.
In injury time though, Sunderland did get their consolation when Diamond won and scored a penalty, but it was too little too late as Leeds came away with all three points.
Sunderland: Patterson, Wilding, Dunne, Hackett, Taylor, Xhemajli, Diamond, Dobson, Curry, Neil, Wearne
Subs: Wombwell, Bond, Harris, Beaumont, Hawkes
Leeds: Caprice, Drameh, Davis, Casey, Cresswell, Hosannah, Bogusz, Shackleton, Greenwood, Gelhardt, McKinstrey
Subs: Van Den Hevver, Jenkins, Struijk, Gotts, Summerville