Sunderland U23 1-1 Legia Warsaw
Safc.com’s Sam Lightle reviews the action from Eppleton CW as Sunderland under-23s continued their European venture this evening.
THE WRAP
Sunderland under-23s’ persistence paid off as Andrew Nelson marked his return with a late equaliser against Legia Warsaw this evening.
After spending the last month on loan at Harrogate, Nelson returned to the Black Cats squad this evening but watched from the sidelines as Grzegorz Aftyka gave the visitors a half-time lead.
But the combative striker was called into action with 66 minutes when he replaced Joel Asoro, and supplied the all-important touch 20 minutes later to deservedly earn Sunderland a point in their Premier League International Cup Group B match.
SCENESETTER
Victory over Hertha Berlin in October saw the Black Cats begin this season’s International Cup campaign in fine fettle. Runners-up to FC Porto last season, Elliott Dickman’s side made light work of their opening tie, defeating the German opposition 2-0. Tonight’s opponents provided an unknown test. Yet to play in this season’s competition, Warsaw headed to the North East of England for their opener in group B which had Sunderland eyeing top spot. Unlike the first group match, Dickman wasn’t able to use any regular first-team faces but named a line-up to attack from the off. Asoro led the line, with Luke Molyneux, Jack Diamond and Rees Greenwood provide creative reinforcements behind him. Under-18 starlets Benji Kimpioka, Lee Connelly and Jake Hackett were named on the bench after impressive displays in recent weeks.
STRONG SWEDE
And so to the action. A drab opening saw flashes of quality from both sides. Firstly, Grzegorz Aftyka drilled an effort harmlessly wide of James Talbot’s goal before Molyneux peeled off his man, came inside and then threaded a ball through to Asoro. The Swede tussled with his man but was nudged away as he looked to race in behind. Slowly but surely the cracks began to appear, and with 22 minutes played Asoro was freed. Diamond played a perfectly weighted defence-splitting pass which carved the Warsaw backline in two, freeing Asoro to steam through. However, Jakub Szumski was more than alert to the danger and raced off his line to deny the 18-year-old.
SUCKER PUNCH
Asoro fronted the Black Cats’ attack, but it was Owen Gamble who looked to take matters into his own hands as he arrowed a venomous strike soaring towards Szumski. The stopper got down to the strike but unconvincingly turned it behind for a Sunderland corner. However, Warsaw were disciplined from the resultant corner and flew forward on the counter, with Bartczak applying a cool finish to put the visitors in front and round off a rapid move. It was cruel, but a reminder to Sunderland the importance of being clinical after Szumski had produced two vital stops to keep his side in the tie.
THAT LEVELLER…
Sunderland had done everything but score in the first period and somehow, they found themselves a goal behind. Andrew Nelson’s introduction just after the hour mark, replacing Asoro, gave the Black Cats a physical and robust look. Diamond offered up the first opening of the second 45, powerfully breaking through the lines before feeding Greenwood who got his angles all wrong as his cross come shot sailed behind. Denver Hume then collected the ball on the left byline in Sunderland’s next attack, his clipped cross had Molyneux and Nelson interested but the visitors held firm to see off the latest onslaught.
SPARKLING DIAMOND
Sunderland gave it all they had in the closing stages, with Diamond bursting forward in an attempt to make something happen. Diamond collected the ball midway inside his own half, strode over the halfway line, breezed past one, then two, but his effort was unfortunately dragged wide. But with the game almost up, Sunderland did find a route back into it, when Nelson somehow squeezed the ball past Szumski. Persistence paid off for Nelson as the ball flashed across from goal from the right, the striker chased it down and then hooked the ball towards goal to earn Sunderland a point.
Sunderland: Talbot, Gamble, Hume, Bale, Taylor, Beadling, Molyneux, Robson, Asoro (Nelson, 66), Diamond (Connelly, 83), Greenwood (Kimpioka, 83)
Subs: Storey, Woud, Hackett, Allan
Legia Warsaw: Szumski, Turzyniecki, Welnicki, Zyra, Barczak, Cichocki (Wiedlocha, 72), Moneta, Nishi, Praszelik (Bondarenko, 83), Aftyka (Szczepanski, 59), Goral
Subs: Kochalski,
Attendance: 275