Sunderland U23 0-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers U23
Sunderland under-23s were dealt a late blow as Premier League 2 title hopefuls Wolverhampton Wanderers clinched all three points.
Oscar Buur’s deflected 85th minute strike proved to be the game’s only goal as the visitors moved top of the league on goal difference.
Swedish youth international Benji Kimpioka squandered the hosts’ best chance moments before, latching onto a mistake before seeing his effort kept out the ‘keeper’s feet.
Andrew Nelson was handed his first start of the season as Sunderland played host to Wolverhampton Wanderers at Eppleton CW. Having previously slipped to a 7-0 defeat to the visitors earlier in the season, it was no surprise the Black Cats made a cautious start to proceedings as they looked to bed their way into the match.
Little, if any, chances were created in the opening half of the first 45, with Wolves arguably just shading possession. But Elliott Dickman’s side acquitted themselves well as Anthony Patterson remained untroubled until Benny Ashley-Seal headed over Ryan Giles’ cross in the 25th minute.
Jacob Young was then spared his blushes by the post as Niall Ennis’ cross was miscued onto the frame of the goal by the Australian defender. From there, Wolves continued to ask questions, but Sunderland were more than resolute against the league’s third place side as the first-half finished level.
The second 45 followed a similar pattern to the first-half, neither side applied any real assertive pressure as both backlines remained relatively untroubled for large spells.
Ashley-Seal continued to be a threat up top as his powerful strike was blocked before Carlos Heredia was next to try his luck for the visitors as his curled effort was off target.
First-team fringe player Kimpioka then latched onto an effort from the Wolves backline but was wasteful with his finish as Andreas Sondergaard smartly denied the Swede with his feet.
And Sunderland were made to rue that missed chance as minutes later full-back Buur saw his effort deflect past Patterson to hand Wolves all three points.
Sunderland U23s: Patterson, Hunter, Young, Mumba, Taylor, Bainbridge, Diamond, Hackett, Nelson (Bale, 82), Neil (Connelly, 65), Kimpioka
Subs: Storey, Johnstone, Connolly
Wolves U23s: Sondergaard, Buur, Iorfa, Molberg, John, Giles, Heredia (Alves, 63), Watt, Ashley-Seal, Diallo, Ennis
Subs: Csoka, Beasley, Dias, Sauvage
