Ivan Pinto’s 89th-minute strike denied Sunderland three points on Wearside, as Norwich City clinched a late point at the Stadium of Light.
After missing a penalty in an enthralling opening period, the Lads finally took one of their chances as George Honeyman’s seventh goal of the season secured the advantage.
The midfielder’s effort looked like winning the game as time ticked towards 90 minutes, but the Canaries refused to be beaten and levelled late on.
Recap all the action below…
QUICK OUT THE BLOCKS
Sunderland started like a house on fire and goalkeeper Angus Gunn was forced into action within 20 seconds of the restart, but the on-loan Manchester City man was equal to Ashley Fletcher’s low effort. A marauding run from Lynden Gooch followed as the Black Cats continued to pile on the pressure, but City soaked up the early pressure and grew in stature as the opening 15 minutes unfolded. And with 12 minutes played, Mario Vrancic exploded into the final third and found Josh Murphy who was denied as he looked to pull the trigger.
TAKE A CHANCE
The next big chance also fell to the Canaries, but ball fell in the Lads’ favour – literally – as Lee Camp smothered the loose ball after a scramble in the six yard-box. Seconds later, Honeyman was in the right place at the right time to clear Nelson Oliveira’s goalbound header off the line. And the striker was left frustrated again seconds after that, as he fired a first-time effort back across the face of goal. Sunderland responded with a couple of chances themselves, but Gooch fired wide before playing a ball just behind Fletcher soon after.
LUCKLESS
Murphy should have put Norwich ahead after a fine ball from James Madisson looped over the Sunderland defence, but the forward lifted the ball over Camp and onto the roof of the net. With 39 minutes played, Fletcher played a one-two with McGeady and showed great strength to hold off his man to draw the foul – penalty. The Lads hadn’t missed one since December 2011 when Seb Larsson was denied at Wolves, and when McGeady sent Gunn the wrong way the Stadium of Light waited to explode into life. But the Republic of Ireland’s effort cannoned off the post, and to safety.
UNDETERRED
Sunderland were forced to dust themselves down, and quickly, as Norwich piled forward, but they spurned another glorious opportunity to take the lead before the break. Gooch engineered the move and his perfectly-weighted pass unleashed Ejaria one on one with time and space on his side, but the on-loan Liverpool midfielder hesitated and was crowded out by the Canaries. The restart brought about multiple changes as Bryan Oviedo replaced Adam Matthews, with the visitors introducing Timm Klose and Jamal Lewis.
PUNISHED
As the fog rolled in and the hour mark approached, the visitors fired a warning shot as McGeady gave the ball away and the Canaries broke in numbers. Oliveira had to men over to his left in acres of space, but he opted to go it alone and sent the ball inches wide. And, somehow, someway, the Lads escaped again moments later as Maddison struck the post from just three yards after the ball looped over Camp and towards the midfielder. They paid the price. Cometh the hour, cometh the man. After McGeady’s 20-yard effort rattled the inside of the post, Honeyman gobbled up the rebound and sent the Lads into the lead.
SUCKER PUNCH
Sunderland were a team possessed in the stages that followed and not for the first time since coming on, Klose handled in the box and all eyes turned to the referee – but as he had moments after the restart, he waved play on. The Lads continued to pile on the pressure while defending, but a second remained elusive heading into the final few minutes as a last-ditch blocked denied Fletcher. And it proved oh costly, as a free-kick was headed down for Pinto who buried with one minute of normal time remaining. Camp denied Murphy in added time, and it ended level.
Attendance: 24, 894
Sunderland: Camp, Love, Matthews (Oviedo 45), O’Shea (Clarke-Salter 69), Kone, Cattermole, Ejaria, Honeyman, Gooch (LuaLua 90), McGeady, Fletcher.
Subs not used: Steele, McManaman, Asoro, Robson.
Norwich City: Gunn, Pinto, Husband (Klose 45), Reed, Zimmermann (Srbeny77), Vrancic, Oliveira, Murphy, Hoolahan (Lewis 45), Maddison, Hanley.
Subs not used: McGovern, Leitner, Raggett, Tettey.