Sunderland U23 2-1 Arsenal U23
Sunderland under-23s came from behind to clinch their first Premier League 2 victory in 2017 at the expense of Arsenal at Eppleton Colliery Welfare on Saturday.
Chances were aplenty in the opening period for a Black Cats’ side which included three regular first-team faces, Lynden Gooch, Donald Love and George Honeyman.
But for all of their added experience, Arsenal remained resolute as Rees Greenwood volleyed over and Joel Asoro had two quick-fire attempts kept out by Hugo Keto.
The Gunners were much improved after the midway interval, Donyell Malen providing a neat finish on 55 minutes to break the deadlock in a tight affair.
Sunderland weren’t behind long, though, and just 13 minutes later Gooch’s strike squirmed underneath Keto to level things up in Hetton.
From there it was pretty much one-way traffic as Sunderland lay siege to the Gunners goal, but it was a counter-attack which proved most decisive for the Lads.
Luke Molyneux, only just on as a substitute, latched onto a long clearance from Ethan Robson and fired home to turn the game on its head.
Ha’way the Lads!
Chasing their first league win in 2017, Elliott Dickman selected a strong starting XI which included first-team faces Love, Honeyman and Gooch.
Arsenal, meanwhile, were dealt a slight blow as the first-team’s Emirates FA Cup involvement against Manchester City on Sunday meant no senior faces made the trip to the north east.
A nip and tuck opening saw both sides happy to trade blows in the midfield, Robson left his mark on Ainsley Maitland-Niles with an assertive challenge before Joseph Willock had an effort deflect wide from close range.
Sunderland didn’t have to wait long for their moment at the other end, but when it came neither Asoro nor Robson could take it.
Lax finishing cost the Lads with nine minutes on the clock, Hugo Keto making a superb double stop to deny Asoro before Robson was crowded out on the edge of the box.
Love joined in on the act minutes later, a neat one-two with Honeyman on the right flank worked a yard of space for a cross and the former Manchester United man delivered just that as Arsenal could only watch on in admiration.
The full-back’s searching cross picked out the advancing run of Greenwood, but the winger was unable to direct his volley goalwards and it flashed wide of Keto’s goal.
Love continued to be the instigator for everything that was good in the Lads’ first-half display, confidently striding forward and picking out cross-field passes time after time which created further chances for Greenwood and Gooch.
But the Gunners weren’t without their sights of goal in an end-to-end opening half, Maitland-Niles stinging the palms of Stryjek from 17 yards with 34 minutes played.
Arsenal picked their game up after the midway interval and inside 10 minutes of the retart found themselves in front through Malen.
The centre forward managed to squeeze himself in between George Brady and Tom Beadling, and made no mistake and arrowed his strike into the far corner.
Steeling grit and determination saw Sunderland hit back, Embleton flashed a through ball inches beyond Asoro who got in behind before Gooch, finally, provided the magic touch.
The American fired low after he was played in by Greenwood, and while Keto was able to get a touch on the ball, it wasn’t enough to prevent Sunderland levelling things up.
Game on.
Arsenal were rocked and the Lads seemed to grow an inch or two in stature as wave upon wave of attacks crashed against Arsenal’s backline.
But it was a counter-attack which proved most decisive for the Lads, Molyneux, who had only just come on as a substitute, latched onto a long clearance from Robson and composed himself well before firing under Keto.
Sunderland win 2-1.
Sunderland: Stryjek, Love (J Robson, 45), Hume, Brady, Beadling, E Robson, Embleton, Greenwood, Gooch (Molyneux, 82), Honeyman, Asoro (Maja, 64)
Subs not used: Talbot, Brotherton
Arsenal: Keto, Johnson, Bramall, Maitland-Niles, Olowu, Sheaf, Da Silva, McGuane, Malen (Dragomir, 82), Willock (Fortune, 82), Willock
Subs not used: Virginia, Fortune, Medley
Attendance: 320