safc.com’s Sam Lightle reviews the action from Manchester as Sunderland’s two-game unbeaten run came to an end on Saturday.
Here’s how the action unfolded…
THE WRAP
Mark Atkinson asked for his players to play without fear and that’s exactly what they did as they attacked Manchester City throughout. While undefeated City stretched their unbeaten run against the Black Cats, the hosts had to be patient and work hard for it as they netted three goals in the final 20 minutes. Lee Connelly put Sunderland ahead before Nabil Touaizi levelled. City had to wait until the second period to get their noses in front, with Felix Nmecha’s strike flicking off the post on its way past Anthony Patterson.The Black Cats fought back through Connelly who made it 2-2, but Touaizi connected with Ryan Corrigan’s cross to make it 3-2 and from there the Citizens didn’t look back. Rabbi Matondo netted a hat-trick for the hosts in the final 19 minutes to add some gloss onto the scoreline which arguably didn’t represent the performance from Sunderland.
TEAM NEWS
There was no doubting the task that faced the young Black Cats as they travelled to City on Saturday morning. Undefeated in the U18 Premier League so far, Atkinson was keen to field a side that showed his side’s intent to end that run. Naming a 4-3-3 formation, the youth team attacked from the off, with inform frontman Connelly spearheading the front three.
AMONG THE GOALS
The Scottish striker Connelly went into this match with four goals in his last two matches, and it didn’t take him long to find his footing at Manchester City. The Black Cats began the match on the front footing and Connelly put the lads in front, finishing first-time past Pawel Sokol from inside the area. The Citizens worked their way back into the match, Matondo smacked wide and then Tommy Doyle shaved the upside of the bar with a well-struck free-kick. But moments later, the hosts did level – with, Touaizi producing an ice-cool finish to fire past Patterson.
ON FOR A SECOND
City had to wait until the second period to get their noses in front, Nmecha collected Doyle’s deep corner and the forward’s effort somehow squeezed its way in off the post. Sunderland though, refused to give up and got themselves back on level terms through the prolific Connelly. The Scottish striker produced a fine poacher's finish, notching his sixth goal in his last three fixtures for Atkinson’s side.
RUNNING AWAY
Sunderland were resilient, resolute and hardworking throughout but as the match entered the final stages, City’s class came to the fore and they edged their way to victory. Touaizi made it 3-2 with a neat header off Corrigan’s cross from the left before Matondo fired home a 19-minute hat-trick to add some gloss on the scoreline. His first was a fierce shot which nestled in the bottom corner and then five minutes later he broke the offside trap to round Patterson and tap home. Matondo then rounded off the scoring by repeating City’s fifth goal, clipping the ball over Patterson and then knocking home. Game over.
Sunderland U18: Patterson, Howard, Williams (Dunne 75), Derbali, Young, Evans, Best (Mumba, 67), Hackett, Kimpioka, Connelly, McAugtrie