Sunderland U18 1-4 Birmingham City U18
Sunderland under-18s were knocked out of the FA Youth Cup at the third-round stage as they lost 4-1 to Birmingham City on Thursday night.
The Blues drew first blood after just 13 seconds through Adan George, and shocked the Black Cats even further by making it 2-0 after just 90 seconds.
Paul Bryson’s young side did regroup though, and pulled one back through James Foster, but the Blues got their two-goal advantage back on the stroke of half-time as Josh Andrews got on the scoresheet.
George completed his hat-trick 10 minutes from time as the Lads’ FA Youth Cup journey came to a halt.
Bali Mumba and Dan Neil both started for Sunderland, with second round hat-trick hero Joe Hugill partnering skipper Cole Kiernan up top.
The visitors made an electric start at Eppleton CW, scoring two goals in a matter of minutes to shell-shock the young Black Cats.
First, Josh Andrews charged down Harry Ord from Sunderland’s kick-off, the ball then deflected straight off the tall striker and into the path of George, who slotted home.
And the Blues had their second just 90 seconds later, when George found himself unmarked in the right side of the area, before firing in a low effort that squirmed through the grasp of Jack Newman.
Sunderland rallied and grew into the game, with Kiernan and Hugill looking a handful up top, and their pressure paid off on the 30-minute mark as they pulled one back.
And the Black Cats pressure paid off on the 30-minute mark as they pulled one back.
Foster played a neat one-two with Hugill as he drove into the box, before slotting home low to the ‘keepers right.
But Birmingham had their two-goal cushion back as Sunderland were dealt a sucker punch deep into first-half injury time.
The lively Kyle Hurst weaved his way down the left and pulled the ball back to Andrews, who fired home from 10-yards.
There were little chances for either side after the interval, until George rounded off a fine display by completing his hat-trick in the 78th minute.
He played a neat one-two with substitute Ameri Miller and powered the ball through Newman in the Sunderland net.
Sunderland U18s: Newman, Smith, Pye, Neil, Armstrong, Ord, Wombwell, Hugill, Kiernan, Foster, Mumba
Subs: Watts, Richardson, Miller, Compper, Baggs, Jones, Taylor
Birmingham City U18s: Bradley-Hurst, Oakley, Campbell, Gordon, Browne, Williams, Walker, Andrews, George, Hurst
Subs: Dugmore, Rowe, Miller, Zohore, Chang, Nguepissi, Finnegan
