San Antonio FC 1-3 Sunderland AFC
Sunderland AFC started their pre-season tour of the USA with a 3-1 win over San Antonio FC at Toyota Field.
Chris Rigg and Hemir both found the net for the Black Cats in the first half, either side of PC’s long-range free-kick before Jewison Bennette wrapped it up in second-half stoppage time.
Tony Mowbray handed Rigg his first senior start and it was the 16-year-old who opened the scoring on as many minutes, latching onto a brilliant pass from Abdoullah Ba and slotting into the net.
Less than 10 minutes later, the White Cats equalised through PC’s stunning free-kick against the run of play.
Rigg then had a chance to put the Lads back in front, but this time Jose Mercado was equal to his effort.
On the stroke of half-time, Sunderland did retake the lead – Lynden Gooch raced down the right and fizzed in a low cross for Hemir to turn home his second of pre-season.
Nectarios Triantis was introduced alongside nine others for the second half, making his first appearance for the Club, with only Anthony Patterson completing the full 90 minutes.
Jack Clarke almost made it three after the second-half drinks break, but fired narrowly wide following Pierre Ekwah’s driving run and inch-perfect pass.
In the final minute of the game, Bennette raced down the right, shifted the ball onto his left foot and fizzed a strike in the bottom corner.
Next up on Sunderland’s tour of the USA is a trip to New Mexico United on Wednesday 19 July (KO 8pm CT).
First half XI: Patterson, Gooch, Ballard, O’Nien, Huggins, Neil, Jobe, Roberts, Rigg, Ba, Hemir.
Second half XI: Patterson, Hume, Batth, Triantis, Anderson, Matete, Ekwah, Taylor, Lihadji, Clarke, Bennette.