In this series, we take a look at classic matches from the last decade that will be sure to live long in the memory of Sunderland fans.
In today’s feature, we go back to New Year’s Day 2012, when the Lads hosted Premier League leaders Manchester City in front of over 40,000 Wearsiders at the Stadium of Light.
Martin O’Neill’s side came into the clash on the back of a 1-1 draw with Everton just 48 hours earlier, while the visitors looked to bounce back from a stalemate with West Brom and extend their lead at the top of the table.
Team News
Midfield duo Craig Gardner and Jack Colback were deployed as makeshift full-backs, with injuries keeping out Phil Bardsley and Kieran Richardson.
Simon Mignolet deputised for Keiren Westwood between the sticks, after the Republic of Ireland international was ruled out through illness.
Roberto Mancini made six changes to the side that was held at West Brom, and crucially opted to start key pair Sergio Aguero and David Silva on the substitutes bench.
Sunderland: Mignolet, Gardner, O’Shea, Brown (Kilgallon 26), Colback, McClean, Cattermole, Vaughan (Elmohamady 82), Larsson, Bendtner (Ji 78), Sessegnon
Subs not used: Carson, Meyler, Noble, Laing
Manchester City: Hart, Zabaleta, Lescott, Kompany, Kolarov (Richards 67), Johnson, De Jong (Aguero 46), Yaya Toure, Barry, Nasri (Silva 55), Dzeko
Subs not used: Pantilimon, Clichy, Savic, Milner
Sunderland started the brightest of the sides and really should have been ahead inside 10 minutes.
Nicklas Bendtner spurned a glorious opportunity when his touch let him down as he raced in on goal, and full debutant James McLean saw a right footed drive parried by Joe Hart moments later.
But it was backs to the wall soon after for O’Neill’s side as City began to dominate.
The returning Mignolet rushed out to make a smart block from Edin Dzeko on the 30-minute mark, and less than five minutes later, the Bosnian skimmed an attempt off the crossbar.
The City onslaught continued after the break as Mancini sent on Aguero at half-time and David Silva within 10 minutes of the restart, but the visitors couldn’t find a way past a determined Sunderland rear-guard.
In the closing stages, Mignolet produced a moment of magic to somehow keep out Silva’s effort and Micah Richards headed the rebound off the bar.
And just as Sunderland thought they had claimed a point, things got even better.
Sebastian Larsson trudged cautiously from his own half after the Black Cats cleared City’s 10th corner, and offloaded the ball to Stephane Sessegnon.
The forward oozed class and left two defenders in his wake, before slipping in Ji, who rounded Hart and slotted into an empty net with virtually the last kick of the game to seal a famous victory.
Moment of the Match
There could only be one.
Ji Dong-won’s 93rd minute winner wrote his name into Sunderland folklore and sparked wild celebrations on Wearside on what was, truly, a New Year’s Day to remember.
It was to be one of only two goals in red & white for the South Korean, but it was certainly one that will live long in the memory.